Now tells the tale of those brethren, that they met King Ring, and he
had more folk than they: then went men betwixt them, and sought to make
peace, so that no battle should be: thereto King Ring assented on such
terms that the brethren should submit them to him, and give him in
marriage Ingibiorg their sister, with the third part of all their
possessions.
The kings said Yea thereto, for they saw that they had to do with
overwhelming might: so the peace was fast bound by oaths, and the
wedding was to be at Sogn whenas King Ring should go see his betrothed.
So those brethren fare home with their folk, right ill content with
things. But Frithiof, when he deemed that the brethren might be looked
for home again, spake to the king's daughter:
“Sweetly and well have ye done to us, neither has goodman Baldur been
wroth with us; but now as soon as ye wot of the kings' coming home,
spread the sheets of your beds abroad on the Hall of the Goddesses, for
that is the highest of all the garth, and we may see it from our stead.”
The king's daughter said: “Thou dost not after the like of any other:
but certes, we welcome dear friends whenas ye come to us.”
So Frithiof went home; and the next morning he went out early, and when
he came in then he spake and sang:
“Now must I tell
To our good men
That over and done
Are our fair journeys;
No more a-shipboard
Shall we be going,
For there are the sheets
Spread out a-bleaching.”
Then they went out, and saw that the Hall of the Goddesses was all
thatched with white linen. Biorn spake and said: “Now are the kings come
home, and but a little while have we to sit in peace, and good were it,
meseems, to gather folk together.”
So did they, and men came flocking thither.
Now the brethren soon heard of the ways of Frithiof and Ingibiorg, and
of the gathering of men. So King Helgi spake:
“A wondrous thing how Baldur will bear what shame soever Frithiof and
she will lay on him! Now will I send men to him, and wot what atonement
he will offer us, or else will I drive him from the land, for our
strength seemeth to me not enough that we should fight with him as now.”
So Hilding, their fosterer, bare the king's errand to Frithiof and his
friends, and spake in such wise: “This atonement the kings will have of
thee, Frithiof, that thou go gather the tribute of the Orkneys, which
has not been paid since Beli died, for they need money, whereas they are
giving Ingibiorg their sister in marriage, and much of wealth with her.”
Frithiof said: “This thing only somewhat urges us to peace, the good
will of our kin departed; but no trustiness will those brethren show
herein. But this condition I make, that our lands be in good peace while
we are away.” So this was promised and all bound by oaths.
Then Frithiof arrays him for departing, and is captain of men brave and
of good help, eighteen in company.
Now his men asked him if he would not go to King Helgi and make peace
with him, and pray himself free from Baldur's wrath.
But he answered: “Hereby I swear that I will never pray Helgi for
peace.”
Then he went aboard Ellidi, and they sailed out along the Sognnrth.
But when Frithiof was gone from home, King Halfdan spake to Helgi his
brother: “Better lordship and more had we if Frithiof had payment for
his masterful deed: now therefore let us burn his stead, and bring on
him and his men such a storm on the sea as shall make an end of them.”
Helgi said it was a thing meet to be done.
So then they burned up clean all the stead at Foreness and robbed it of
all goods; and after that sent for two witch-wives, Heidi and Hamglom,
and gave them money to raise against Frithiof and his men so mighty a
storm that they should all be lost at sea. So they sped the witch-song,
and went up on the witch-mount with spells and sorcery.