Thorgils, the son of Ari, rode to the Thing with a large following. All
the magnates were there from all parts of the country, and he soon met
with Skapti the Lawman and had some talk with him. Skapti said:
"Is it true, Thorgils, that you have been giving winter entertainment to
three of the most unruly men in the country, all three of them outlaws,
and that you kept order so well that none of them did any harm to the
other?"
Thorgils said it was true.
Skapti said: "Well, I think it shows what authority you possess. But
how did their characters appear to you? Who is the most valorous among
them?"
"They are all entirely valiant," he answered, "but of two of them I will
not say that they never fear; only there is a difference. Thormod fears
God, and is a man of great piety; and Grettir fears the dark. He will
not, if he may follow his own inclination, venture anywhere after
nightfall. But Thorgeir, my kinsman, he I think cannot fear."
"They must be each of them as you say," said Skapti, and there their
conversation ended.
At the Thing Thorodd Drapustuf laid his complaint in the matter of the
slaying of Thorbjorn Oxmain, for he had failed in the Hunavatn Thing
through the influence of Atli's kinsmen. Here he thought that there was
less likelihood of his case being overborne. Atli's party sought counsel
of Skapti the Lawman; he said that their defence appeared to him a good
one, and that full blood-money would have to be paid for Atli. Then the
case was brought before the judges, and the opinion of the majority was
that the slaying of Atli was set off by that of Thorbjorn. Skapti when
he heard of it went to the judges and asked them on what grounds their
decision rested; they said that the two slain bondis were of equal rank.
Skapti asked: "Which happened first, the outlawing of Grettir or the
death of Atli?"
They reckoned up and found that a week had elapsed between the two
events. Grettir was outlawed at the All-Thing and Atli was killed just
after it.
"That was what I expected," Skapti said. "You have overlooked the facts;
you have treated as a party to the suit a man who was an outlaw, a
man who was stopped from appearing either as plaintiff or defendant. I
maintain that Grettir has no standing in the case, and that it must be
brought by the kinsmen of the deceased who are nearest at law."
Thorodd Drapustuf said: "Who then is to answer for the slaying of my
brother Thorbjorn?"
"See to that yourself," said Skapti. "Grettir's kinsmen are not liable
to pay for his deeds unless his sentence be removed."
When Thorvald the son of Asgeir learned of Grettir's status in court
having been disallowed, inquiry was made for Atli's nearest of kin, and
these were found to be Skeggi the son of Gamli at Melar and Ospak
the son of Glum of Eyr in Bitra. Both were valiant and strenuous men.
Thorodd was then mulcted in blood-money for the slaying of Atli and had
to pay two hundreds of silver.
Then Snorri the Godi spoke:
"Men of Hrutafjord! Are you willing now to agree to the remission of
the fine in consideration of Grettir's sentence being commuted? I expect
that as an outlaw he will bite you sorely."
Grettir's kinsmen welcomed this proposal, and said they did not care
about the money if Grettir could have peace and freedom. Thorodd said he
saw that his case was beset with difficulties, and that for his part he
was willing to accept the proposal. Snorri said that inquiry must first
be made whether Thorir of Gard would agree to Grettir being freed. When
Thorir heard of it he was furious, and said that never should Grettir
either go or come out of his outlawry. So far from consenting to his
being amnestied, he would put a higher price upon his head than was put
upon any other outlaw.
When they knew that he would take it so ill, nothing more was said about
the amnesty. Ospak and Skeggi took the money that was paid and kept it,
while Thorodd Drapustuf got no compensation for his brother Thorbjorn.
He and Thorir each offered a reward of three marks of silver for
Grettir's head; this seemed to men to be an innovation, for never before
had more than three marks in all been offered. Snorri said it was very
unwise to make such efforts to keep a man outlawed who could do so much
mischief, and that many would suffer for it. Then they parted and men
rode home from the Thing.