OF HAVARD AND BRYNJULF.
ONE evening, when Jón and Kali had gone to bed, many remained drinking,
and talked a great deal. The guests were getting drunk, and at last they
began comparing men,[316] and disputing about who were the greatest of
the landed men of Norway. Brynjúlf said that Jón Pétrsson was the best
man, and of the noblest family of all the young men south of Stád.
Hávard, the companion of Kali, spoke of Sölmund, and said that he was in
nothing inferior to Jón, adding that the men of Vík would esteem him
more than Jón. Out of this a great quarrel arose, and as the ale spoke
in them, they kept so little within bounds that Hávard jumped up, took a
piece of wood, and struck Brynjúlf a blow on the head, so that he
fainted. Those present took hold of Brynjúlf, and sent Hávard away to
Kali, who again sent him to a priest called Rikgard, in Alvidra. “And
tell him from me,” said Kali, “to keep you till I come to the east.”
Kali sent a man with him, and they rowed to the south till they came to
Grœningiasund. Then Hávard said to his fellow-traveller: “Now, as we are
out of their reach, let us rest ourselves, and lie down to sleep.”
When Brynjúlf recovered, he was conducted to Jón, and he told him all
that had happened, and also that the man had been sent away. Jón guessed
the truth about Hávard’s destination, and ordered ten men, led by
Brynjúlf, to take a rowing boat, in which they rowed till they came to
Grœningiasund, and by that time it was daylight. They saw a boat on the
beach. Brynjúlf said: “Perhaps these men may be able to tell us
something of Hávard.” Then they went up and found them when they had
just woke up. Brynjúlf and his men attacked them immediately with arms,
and Hávard and his companion were both slain. After this they returned
to the town and told the news to Jón, and then it was known to the whole
town.
Kali considered these slaughters a great offence against himself; and
when mediators went between him and Jón, the latter said that he would
leave to him to say what amends he wished for the offence, without
prejudice to the right of the King and the parties to the suit. Kali
agreed to this, yet they were no friends from this time. Kali went home
after this occurrence, and when he saw his father he told him the news
and the result.
Then Kol said: “I think your judgment was rather strange, in that you
should have agreed to any terms of reconciliation before Sölmund knew. I
think your position is difficult, and that you can do little else than
try to be reconciled. But Sölmund would not have acted like you if your
man had been killed.”
Kali replied: “I suppose it is true, father, that I have judged rather
hastily in this matter, and you were too far away to advise me. It will
often appear that I am not so deeply wise as you. But I thought that
Sölmund had not a better chance of gaining honourable amends, though I
refused what was offered to me. And I consider it no dishonour for you
and Sölmund if he offers to allow you to determine your compensation,
though I doubt whether such an offer will be made. But I consider myself
under no obligation to Brynjúlf, while I have made no award and no money
has been received.”
Father and son had a long talk about this, and did not agree; then they
sent men to tell Sölmund the news.