EGIL’S SAGA: Chapter 31; (Part 1) Egil’s Childhood; The invitation

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Finally! Finally I – – – Egil Skallagrimson – – – get to speak again.

Now I can tell you about myself and why there has been a saga written by me, about me. Let us hope that Snorri Sturluson does not interject too much.

My father and mother, Skallagrim and Bera, had many children but the earliest ones did not survive. They had a son, sprinkled him with holy water and named him Thorolf. Everyone agreed that he looked and had the mannerisms of my dead uncle Thorolf. You remember him, right? He was the one that King Harald Fair Hair killed.

Thorolf grew in stature and became one of the strongest and most popular boys in the area. It was said that he had the strength of a grown man. Everyone loved him. He was a great speaker and never at a loss for words. In games he was a hard one to handle.

One spring Yngvar, my grandfather on my mother’s side, came over to Borg with an invitation for my mother and father to come to his house for a feast. Yngvar made a point to tell mother to bring Thorolf and anyone else she wished to.

When the day of the feast arrived my mother and father got dressed up. So did Thorolf and others who were going. I asked my father where my good clothes were. He said “You are not going.”

When I pressed him about it he said “You do not know how to behave yourself. When there are a lot of people and drinking going on you are hard to handle. It is bad enough when you are sober.”

As I sat there dejected, the party rode off on their horses.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 30; (Part 2) Skallagrim the Blacksmith and his Stone

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Skallagrim used his winters to smelt iron he obtained from a bog. He built an ironsmith facility away from Borg. He had some men working with him.

He was closer to the forest than he was in his homes. He could not find a stone substantial enough to hammer on when he was forging. One night, while everyone was sleeping, Skallagrim went to a boat and rowed himself out into the bay. Once there, he dropped anchor, stripped off his heavy clothes and dove into the water. He came up with a boulder that was hard and polished smooth by the waves. He slipped it over the side and into the bottom of the boat. He donned his heavy cloths and rowed back the the ironsmith shop.

Skallagrim carried the boulder from the ship back to his smith-shop. He set it outside the door and it remains there to this day. There he forged his iron implements and weapons. The area remains strewn with slag remnants.

Four men together can not lift this boulder.

This is a verse he wrote for his workers who did not care to get up early in the morning.

Early must the ironsmith

Arise to forge ore,

Aided by air blasting

From the blown bellows,

Hard the hammer blows

Blazing on the hot iron

I beat, while busily

Working the wind-bellows.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 30; (Part 1) The arrival of Yngvar

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King Harald’s hatred for Skallagrim, Kveld-Úlf and Thorolf was so deep that he hunted down anyone who had helped them in any of their efforts. Many good men left Norway or hid there in anonymity.

Yngvar, Skallagrim’s father in law, invested everything he could in moveable property. He got a ship, hired and crew and headed for Iceland. He had heard Skallagrim had settled there and was becoming prosperous.

Yngvars ship saw a southern landfall and they continued westward. They put in at Borgarfjord and continued up Lang River until they hit the waterfall. They unloaded the cargo there.

Skallagrim invited Yngvar and his men to stay at his home in Borg. They spent the winter there. The following spring Skallagrim gave Yngvar his farm and a large piece of land at Alftaness and Leiru Brook. Yngvar turned out to be a good farmer and multiplied his riches.

Skallagrim then built another farm at Knarrarness which he kept for a good many years.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 29; Skallagrim the Farmer

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Skallagrim was a great man for hard work. He always had group of men working for him. Their job was to bring in the provisions needed for winter. The meager amount of livestock they brought with them was left in the winter woods to provide for themselves.

Skallagrim was a great shipbuilder also. There was driftwood to be found along the shoreline. It was collected for shipbuilding.

The men would also go out and collect eggs of the wildfowl, they would fish and hunt seals for food.

Skallagrim built a second farm at Alftaness, were swans gathered, and a third home and sowed there; it was called Akrar or cornfields.

Other men had been looking for Salmon. Skallagrim settled Odd the Lone-Dweller at Gljufur River to look after the Salmon fishing. Similarly, Skallagrim settled Sigmund on the Nordur River to look after the salmon fishing there.

Skallagrims livestock grew in numbers and started heading for the mountains during the summer months. The livestock, especially the sheep, were in much better condition when grazing up on the mountain valleys. So he built another farm there and put Gris in charge of it.

After Skallagrim had been in Iceland for some time a rich man from a prominent family brought his young family there. His name was Oleif Hjalti. Skallagrim invited them to stay with them that winter. That spring Skallagrim offered Oleif land near the Hvit River. Olief accepted it and settled there.

Oleif had many children who became prominent in Iceland.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 28; Skallgrim’s land-claim.

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Skallagrim put in near a large headland that jutted out into the sea.  He and his men unloaded the cargo and set out to explore the area.

They found plentiful fish and seals. Between the mountains and the sea were great flat-lands, bogs and timber. They continued exploring and found a great fjord. They walked toward the head of the fjord and were joyful when they met Grim and his men.

Grim told Skallagrim about Kveld-Úlf’s death, where they found the coffin, and where they had given him a decent burial. Grim took Skallagrim to the spot. Skallagrim decided it was a good place for a farm stead and settled there.

Afterwards he took possession of all the land from the mountains to the sea and between the two rivers that bounded it. This included Myrar up to Selon on the west, Borgarun on the north, and Hafnarfells on the south. He moved his home to the spot where Kveld-Úlf had landed and called it Borg.

Skallagrim gave Grim, who captained the ship after Kveld-Úlf died, a large piece of land near the Andakil River.

Skallagrim gave land to his crew.

They soon realized that all the rivers were teaming with fish and birds.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 27; (Part 2) Kveld-Úlf and Skallagrim sail towards Iceland.

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What people say about shape-changers or those who go into berserk fits is this. As long as they are in a frenzy nothing is too much for them. But when they come out of it they become much weaker than normal. That is what happened to Kveld-Úlf.

Kveld-Úlf was in charge of the ship that they had taken from Hallvard. Once out in the open sea Kveld-Úlf went to his bed. He could see Skallgrim’s ship and Skallgrim his.

As he grew weaker he called his crew together and told them his time was near. He asked that, when he died, he be put in a coffin and thrown into the sea. He told them “When you meet with Skallagrim tell him he is to build his home wherever I land.”

Kveld-Úlf died and his coffin was the typical Viking skiff.

There was a wealthy man from a good family on board. His name was Grim. He took over the ship from Kveld-Úlf. He had taken part in all the Kveld-Úlf’s family expeditions; including those of Thorolf.

That is why King Harald hated him.

The ships reached Southern Iceland and the continued sailing west. They hoped to find the previous settler of Iceland named Ingolf.

Grim, who had replaced Kveld-Úlf as captain of the ship sailed up to Borgarfjord and then up an estuary now called the Gufa River. They unloaded the ship and explored the land along the coast.

There, they found Kveld-Úlf’s coffin.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 27; (Part 1) Kveld-Úlf and Skallagrim take revenge

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All that summer Kveld-Úlf and Skallagrim kept a close watch on the coastal area.

Skallagrim, having a good eye at a distance, spotted the ship that belonged to Thorolf. This was the same ship that Hallvard and Sigtrygg Hallvard had taken from Thorgils Gjallandi. Skaallagrim determined who and what were aboard and relayed the information to his father.

Kveld-Úlf, Skallagrim and their men sailed that night and found the ship at port. The ship had its awnings up and the men were asleep. Watchmen saw Kveld-Úlf’s ship approaching and called the alarm.

By that time Kveld-Úlf was aboard and had the ropes to the awnings cut. He and his men stalked the ship in a frenzy killing every man they found. Neither father nor son would let up until the decks had been cleared of the enemy. Kveld-Úlf reached the forecastle where he found Hallvard. Kveld-Úlf buried his halberd through Hallvard’s helmet and through his entire head. He then ran him through and catapulted him over the rail and into the sea.

Some men had escaped overboard but Skallagrim rowed after them and killed every last one; except for three who he needed information from.

It was determined that Gutthorm’s sons had jumped overboard and drowned. The three men were released with the following message from Skallagrim. “Return to the king and tell him precisely what happened here. Give him the following message;

 

Complete is the valiant man’s

Vengeance on the King;

Wolves and eagles walk

Wading through his skin;

Hacked to bits, Hallvard

Was heaved into the waves;

Spiteful, at Sigtryggs wounds,

Snatches the grey eagle.

 

The ship and its contents were taken back to where Skallagrims smaller ship was. The contents of the small ship were loaded on the Thorolf’s much larger ship.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 26; King Harald and the sons of Guttorm

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Guttorm, the son of Sigurd Hart, was Harald’s uncle and foster-father. He had acted as regent when Harald came to the throne as a child.

Guttorm was the leader of the king’s army when Harald was on his conquest of all Norway. As a reward Guttorm received charge over Vestfold, East-Agder, Ringerike and all the land that had belonged to the king’s father, Halfdan the Black.

Gutthorm fell sick and died. King Harald sent Hallvard the Hardsailing and his brother Sigtrygg to bring Gutthorn’s two sons back to Trondheim. They were to leave the two daughters of Gutthorm at home where he had arranged for their foster-care.

Hallvard and Sigtrygg prepared to sail with a group of hand-picked men in Thorolf’s ocean going ship wich had been re-confiscated. They were to load up as much of Gutthorn’s goods as possible.

The two brothers, Hallvard and Sigtrygg accomplished their task but were held up by strong winds on their return.

 

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 25; (Part 2) Skallagrim escapes with his life

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Once more the king was in a rage over a member of Kveld-Úlf’s family.

Olvir told Skallagrim that he should step outside. Once there Olvir said “For your own sake, have your men take up their arms and row out of here – – – now!”

Skallagrim followed Olvir’s instructions. Olvir had some other men destroy whatever skiffs remained behind.

Meanwhile the king was gathering some of his men to follow Skallagrim and kill every last man. He was convinced that Skallagrim was a vengeful man and would cause trouble.

When the king’s men reached the shoreline they found the remaining boats damaged and not worthy to sail. 

Skallagrim watchored the kings men run down to the shore’s edge and stop. He knew what it meant.

When Skallagrim reached home he told his father what had happened. Kveld-Úlf was pleased with Skallagrim’s actions.

They made a plan to load up whatever goods they could and to sail abroad. Iceland was their destination.

They loaded several large ships and two cargo ships with thirty able-bodied men, their children and their wives. They took all the property that they could. No one would purchase their farms for fear that the king would confiscate them anyway.

They put out for the Sullen Islands where there were many hidden ports.

Back in Norway there was a good friend and blood-brother of Skallagrim. His name was Thorir Hroaldsson. He had been raised as a foster child by Kveld-Úlf. Thorir was now a land-holder of King Harald; however, Skallagrimson’s attitude toward the king made no difference in Thorir’s respect for Skallagrimson and Kveld-Úlf.

 

EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 25; (Part 1) Skallagrim seeks retribution from King Harald

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Skallagrim prepared for the journey I have been speaking of. He chose from his neighbors and friends the strongest and most stouthearted men that he could find. Some of their names were Ani, Grani, Grimolf and Grim; all members of Skallagrims household. Others were the brothers Thorbjorn Krum and Thord Beigaldi known collectively as Thorarnasons; their mother was a witch. Then there was Thorir Troll, Thorgier Land-long, Odd the Lone-Dweller and Gris the Freedman.

Altogether there were twelve men. The rowed, then went by land, borrowed a skiff and rowed the remainder of the way. They got there just as the king was settled down and ready to eat.

So they waited outside and talked to some of the men. Skallagrim asked someone to go get Olvir. Olvir came directly out and warmly welcomed Skallagrim and asked him to come into the hall.

Skallagrim told his men that the protocol was to leave their arms outside. So six men disarmed and prepared to go inside with Skallagrim. The others remained with their weapons outside.

Olvir and Skallagrim approached the king. Olvir spoke.

“Grim Kveldulfsson had journeyed here to see you, thinking that his trip would be worthwhile, while I believe it would.”

Olvir continued speaking well and at length.

The king asked Skallagrim to come forward.

Skallagrim stepped forward and the king said “What I would like is for you to stay here and serve me. If you do well I can give you more than compensation. I can make you an important man. However, you must not follow in Thorolf’s footsteps and you must watch your intentions.”

Skallagrim replied to the king that he could not match the skills of Thorolf and therefore was not fit to serve the king. He refused the king as well as any man with a lack of oratory skills could.

The king turned crimson.