OF WHAT HIARANDI SHOULD DO
Hiarandi spoke not at all of the suits against him, yet he was
continually gloomy. And one day he said:
"Much better were it now, had I never lighted the beacon that night."
"Thou knowest," responded Asdis, "that thou didst right."
"Still," said Hiarandi, "summer gales oft bring wrecks, and one ship
might pay the blood-fine for me."
"For all that," Asdis answered, "thou hast not now the heart to stop
lighting the beacon."
Then on the second night thereafter came a storm; but nothing was
said, except that Hiarandi bade the beacon be lighted. Yet he was
gloomier than ever.
One night Rolf asked him: "Why is it that thou art to answer for that
deed which my uncle has done?"
"One must answer for a kinsman's deed," answered his father, "when
that kinsman is dead."
"And what is the punishment," asked Rolf, "for slaying?"
"A fine or outlawry," replied Hiarandi.
"Tell me of outlawry," begged Rolf. "For I hear of outlaws who live
and work among men, and of those who flee into hiding, and of those
who go overseas."
"There are outlaws of many kinds," answered Hiarandi. "Some outlaws
are condemned not to leave a district, or even a farm; but some must
leave Iceland or else defend their lives. But most outlawries are like
this, that a man must go abroad three winters, and then he is free to
return. If he stays, his enemies may slay him if they can, and no man
may ask atonement. Thus they who burned Njal in his house did fare
abroad; but on the other hand Gisli our ancestor lived in hiding, and
would not go. And Grettir the Strong, as all men know, lives to-day an
outlaw, in one district or another; and no man has taken him, though
there is a great price set upon his head."
"If thou art made outlaw," asked Rolf, "what wilt thou do?"
"Ask me not," said Hiarandi. "For the matter troubles me. If I go
abroad, how will ye all live? And it will profit you nothing if I stay
and am slain. Yet if I am made outlaw, and go not, my goods and the
farm are forfeit."
As greatly as Hiarandi feared the outcome of these suits, so were
those at Fellstead pleased by their hopes. And no one heard the
carline Thurid, who sang to herself when she heard Ondott boast:
"He laughs too soon
Who doth forget,
Soursop blood
Binds kinsmen yet."
But Asdis thought rightly in the matter. For she said to Hiarandi:
"What wilt thou do for thy defence at law? Is there no lawyer to help
thee?"
"Help is offered," answered her husband, "to those who have money. And
I have none."
"Then wilt thou ask help of Snorri the Priest? There is no other to
give thee counsel."
"Not close," replied Hiarandi, "is the tie of blood between us, and
small is the friendship. Moreover, Snorri draws ever to those who wax
in fortune, and such is Einar; and he helps little those whose
fortunes wane, and such am I."
"Now," cried Asdis, "be not as a man who sees his own doom, and stirs
not to help himself. Where is thy manhood? Bestir thyself for my sake
and Rolfs, and do what thou canst for our good! Now promise me that
thou wilt ask help of Snorri."
Thus she stirred Hiarandi to shake off his gloom, so that he promised.
And when the time came for him to ride to the Althing, he went with a
better heart.