Flosi hears of Hauskuld's slaying, and that brings him much grief
and wrath, but still he kept his feelings well in hand. He was
told how the suit had been set on foot, as has been said, for
Hauskuld's slaying, and he said little about it. He sent word to
Hall of the Side, his father-in-law, and to Ljot his son, that
they must gather in a great company at the Thing. Ljot was
thought the most hopeful man for a chief away there east. It had
been foretold that if he could ride three summers running to the
Thing, and come safe and sound home, that then he would be the
greatest chief in all his family, and the oldest man. He had
then ridden one summer to the Thing, and now he meant to ride the
second time.
Flosi sent word to Kol Thorstein's son, and Glum the son of
Hilldir the Old, the son of Gerleif, the son of Aunund Wallet-
back, and to Modolf Kettle's son, and they all rode to meet
Flosi.
Hall gave his word, too, to gather a great company, and Flosi
rode till he came to Kirkby, to Surt Asbjorn's son. Then Flosi
sent after Kolbein Egil's son, his brother's son, and he came to
him there. Thence he rode to Headbrink. There dwelt Thorgrim
the Showy, the son of Thorkel the Fair. Flosi begged him to ride
to the Althing with him, and he said yea to the journey, and
spoke thus to Flosi, "Often hast thou been more glad, master,
than thou art now, but thou hast some right to be so."
"Of a truth," said Flosi, "that hath now come on my hands, which
I would give all my goods that it had never happened. Ill seed
has been sown, and so an ill crop will spring from it."
Thence he rode over Amstacksheath, and so to Solheim that
evening. There dwelt Lodmund Wolf's son, but he was a great
friend of Flosi, and there he stayed that night, and next morning
Lodmund rode with him into the Dale.
There dwelt Runolf, the son of Wolf Aurpriest.
Flosi said to Runolf, "Here we shall have true stories as to the
slaying of Hauskuld, the Priest of Whiteness. Thou art a
truthful man, and hast got at the truth by asking, and I will
trust to all that thou tellest me as to what was the cause of
quarrel between them."
"There is no good in mincing the matter," said Runolf, "but we
must say outright that he has been slain for less than no cause;
and his death is a great grief to all men. No one thinks it so
much a loss as Njal, his foster-father."
"Then they will be ill off for help from men," says Flosi; "and
they will find no one to speak up for them."
"So it will be," says Runolf, "unless it be otherwise
foredoomed."
"What has been done in the suit?" says Flosi.
"Now the neighbours have been summoned on the inquest," says
Runolf, "and due notice given of the suit for manslaughter."
"Who took that step?" asks Flosi.
"Mord Valgard's son," says Runolf.
"How far is that to be trusted?" says Flosi.
"He is of my kin," says Runolf; "but still if I tell the truth of
him, I must say that more men reap ill than good from him. But
this one thing I will ask of thee, Flosi, that thou givest rest
to thy wrath, and takest the matter up in such a way as may lead
to the least trouble. For Njal will make a good offer, and so
will others of the best men."
"Ride thou then to the Thing, Runolf," said Flosi, "and thy words
shall have much weight with me, unless things turn out worse than
they should."
After that they cease speaking about it, and Runolf promised to
go to the Thing.
Runolf sent word to Hafr the Wise, his kinsman, and he rode
thither at once.
Thence Flosi rode to Ossaby.