Thorer: "It may be that I have spoken heedlessly, if so be that thou art
sister's son of Erling."
Thereupon Asbjorn and his crew struck their tents, and turned the ship
to sea. Thorer called after them. "A good voyage, and come here again on
your way back." Asbjorn promised to do so, sailed away, and came in the
evening to Jadar. Asbjorn went on shore with ten men; the other ten
men watched the ship. When Asbjorn came to the house he was very
well received, and Erling was very glad to see him, placed him beside
himself, and asked him all the news in the north of the country. Asbjorn
concealed nothing of his business from him; and Erling said it happened
unfortunately that the king had just forbid the sale of corn. "And I
know no man here." says he, "who has courage to break the king's order,
and I find it difficult to keep well with the king, so many are trying
to break our friendship."
Asbjorn replies, "It is late before we learn the truth. In my childhood
I was taught that my mother was freeborn throughout her whole descent,
and that Erling of Sole was her boldest relation; and now I hear thee
say that thou hast not the freedom, for the king's slaves here in Jadar,
to do with thy own corn what thou pleasest."
Erling looked at him, smiled through his teeth, and said, "Ye
Halogalanders know less of the king's power than we do here; but a bold
man thou mayst be at home in thy conversation. Let us now drink, my
friend, and we shall see tomorrow what can be done in thy business."
They did so, and were very merry all the evening. The following day
Erling and Asbjorn talked over the matter again, and Erling said. "I
have found out a way for you to purchase corn, Asbjorn. It is the same
thing to you whoever is the seller." He answered that he did not care of
whom he bought the corn, if he got a good right to his purchase. Erling
said. "It appears to me probable that my slaves have quite as much
corn as you require to buy; and they are not subject to law, or land
regulation, like other men." Asbjorn agreed to the proposal. The slaves
were now spoken to about the purchase, and they brought forward corn and
malt, which they sold to Asbjorn, so that he loaded his vessel with what
he wanted. When he was ready for sea Erling followed him on the road,
made him presents of friendship, and they took a kind farewell of each
other. Asbjorn got a good breeze, landed in the evening at Karmtsund,
near to Augvaldsnes, and remained there for the night. Thorer Sel had
heard of Asbjorn's voyage, and also that his vessel was deeply laden.
Thorer summoned people to him in the night, so that before daylight he
had sixty men; and with these he went against Asbjorn as soon as it was
light, and went out to the ship just as Asbjorn and his men were putting
on their clothes. Asbjorn saluted Thorer, and Thorer asked what kind of
goods Asbjorn had in the vessel.