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“O giver of gold, O ring-breaker,
If the gods and the high fates befriend me,
I'd pledge me to Frodi's blithe brother
And bind him that he should be mine.”
Then she told him to make friends with her father and get her in
marriage. So for her sake Cormac gave Thorkel good gifts. Afterwards
many people had their say in the matter; but in the end it came to
this,--that he asked for her, and she was pledged to him, and the
wedding was fixed: and so all was quiet for a while.
Then they had words. There was some falling-out about settlements. It
came to such a pass that after everything was ready, Cormac began to
cool off. But the real reason was, that Thorveig had bewitched him so
that they should never have one another.
Thorkel at Tunga had a grown-up son, called Thorkel and by-named
Tooth-gnasher. He had been abroad some time, but this summer he came
home and stayed with his father.
Cormac never came to the wedding at the time it was fixed, and the hour
passed by. This the kinsfolk of Steingerd thought a slight, deeming that
he had broken off the match; and they had much talk about it.
CHAPTER SEVEN. How Steingerd Was Married To Somebody Else.
Bersi lived in the land of Saurbae, a rich man and a good fellow: he was
well to the fore, a fighter, and a champion at the holmgang. He had been
married to Finna the Fair: but she was dead: Asmund was their son,
young in years and early ripe. Helga was the sister of Bersi: she was
unmarried, but a fine woman and a pushing one, and she kept house for
Bersi after Finna died.
At the farm called Muli (the Mull) lived Thord Arndisarson: he was
wedded to Thordis, sister of Bork the Stout. They had two sons who were
both younger than Asmund the son of Bersi.
There was also a man with Vali. His farm was named Vali's stead, and it
stood on the way to Hrutafiord.
Now Thorveig the spaewife went to see Holmgang Bersi and told him her
trouble. She said that Cormac forbade her staying in Midfiord: so Bersi
bought land for her west of the firth, and she lived there for a long
time afterwards.
Once when Thorkel at Tunga and his son were talking about Cormac's
breach of faith and deemed that it should be avenged, Narfi said, “I see
a plan that will do. Let us go to the west-country with plenty of goods
and gear, and come to Bersi in Saurbae. He is wifeless. Let us entangle
him in the matter. He would be a great help to us.”
That counsel they took. They journeyed to Saurbae, and Bersi welcomed
them. In the evening they talked of nothing but weddings. Narfi up and
said there was no match so good as Steingerd,--“And a deal of folk say,
Bersi, that she would suit thee.”
“I have heard tell,” he answered, “that there will be a rift in the
road, though the match is a good one.”
“If it's Cormac men fear,” cried Narfi, “there is no need; for he is
clean out of the way.”
When Bersi heard that, he opened the matter to Thorkel Toothgnasher, and
asked for Steingerd. Thorkel made a good answer, and pledged his sister
to him.
So they rode north, eighteen in all, for the wedding. There was a man
named Vigi lived at Holm, a big man and strong of his hands, a warlock,
and Bersi's kinsman. He went with them, and they thought he would be
a good helper. Thord Arndisarson too went north with Bersi, and many
others, all picked men.
When they came to Thorkel's, they set about the wedding at once, so that
no news of it might get out through the countryside: but all this was
sore against Steingerd's will.
Now Vigi the warlock knew every man's affairs who came to the steading
or left it. He sat outmost in the chamber, and slept by the hall door.
Steingerd sent for Narfi, and when they met she said,--“I wish thee,
kinsman, to tell Cormac the business they are about: I wish thee to take
this message to him.”
So he set out secretly; but when he was a gone a little way Vigi came
after, and bade him creep home and hatch no plots. They went back
together, and so the night passed.
Next morning Narfi started forth again; but before he had gone so far as
on the evening, Vigi beset him, and drove him back without mercy.
When the wedding was ended they made ready for their journey. Steingerd
took her gold and jewels, and they rode towards Hrutafiord, going rather
slowly. When they were off, Narfi set out and came to Mel. Cormac was
building a wall, and hammering it with a mallet. Narfi rode up, with his
shield and sword, and carried on strangely, rolling his eyes about like
a hunted beast. Some men were up on the wall with Cormac when he came,
and his horse shied at them. Said Cormac,--“What news, Narfi? What folk
were with you last night?”
“Small tidings, but we had guests enough,” answered he.
“Who were the guests?”
“There was Holmgang Bersi, with seventeen more to sit at his wedding.”
“Who was the bride?”
“Bersi wed Steingerd Thorkel's daughter,” said Narfi. “When they were
gone she sent me here to tell thee the news.”
“Thou hast never a word but ill,” said Cormac, and leapt upon him and
struck at the shield: and as it slipped aside he was smitten on the
breast and fell from his horse; and the horse ran away with the shield
(hanging to it).
Cormac's brother Thorgils said this was too much. “It serves him right,”
cried Cormac. And when Narfi woke out of his swoon they got speech of
him.
Thorgils asked, “What manner of men were at the wedding?”
Narfi told him.
“Did Steingerd know this before?”
“Not till the very evening they came,” answered he; and then told of his
dealings with Vigi, saying that Cormac would find it easier to whistle
on Steingerd's tracks and go on a fool's errand than to fight Bersi.
Then said Cormac:--
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“Now see to thy safety henceforward,
And stick to thy horse and thy buckler;
Or this mallet of mine, I can tell thee,
Will meet with thine ear of a surety.
Now say no more stories of feasting,
Though seven in a day thou couldst tell of,
Or bumps thou shalt comb on thy brainpan,
Thou that breakest the howes of the dead.
Thorgils asked about the settlements between Bersi and Steingerd. Her
kinsmen, said Narfi, were now quit of all farther trouble about that
business, however it might turn out; but her father and brother would be
answerable for the wedding.
CHAPTER EIGHT. How Cormac Chased Bersi And His Bride.
Cormac took his horse and weapons and saddle-gear.
“What now, brother?” asked Thorgils.