EGIL’S SAGA: CHAPTER 49; (Part 2) A Viking expedition

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Aki, Arinbjorn, Asgerd, Bard, Bera, Bjorgolf, Bjorn, Borg, Brynjolf, Courland, Egil, Eirik Bloodaxe, England, Eyvind, Finnmark, Fjord Province, Geir, Grim, Gunnhild, Halberd, Hallvard, Halogaland, Hildirid, Hildiridarsons, Hogni, Iceland, intrigue, Isle of Torg, Karelians, Ketil Trout, King Arnvid, King Faravid, King Harald, Kveldulf, Kvenland, Kylfings, Lapps, Namdalen, Norway, Olvir, Oslo Fjord, Sandness, Scandanavia, Shape-changer, Sigrid, Sigtrygg, Skallagrimsson, slander, Snorri Sturluson, Sweden, Thora, Thorfinn, Thorgils Gjallandi, Thorolf, Thorunn, treachery, Trondheim, Vikings, Yngvar

When spring came Thorolf and I readied for another Viking expedition. We planned on heading for the Baltic but once past Oslofjord we plundered in Jutland. Then we planned on heading for Friesland and Denmark.

It was evening when two men approached my ship. They told me that Aki the Wealthy had sent a message. Eyvind the Shaggy was laying off Jutland waiting for me so that he could murder me.  I immediately took the awnings down and headed for Eyvind’s ships. We found him at dawn. He was at anchor. We laid stones and weapons on his men. We slaughtered them in large numbers but Eyvind jumped overboard and escaped with others. We took his ships and all they contained, then headed back to where Thorolf was anchored.

Thorolf asked me where I had obtained the ships. I told him and then made up another verse.

 

It ws just off Jutland

That we jumped him:

The defender of Denmark

Was brave and dashing;

But ingenious Eyvind

Had to vault from his ocean-steed

And swim for life shorewards

To sandy safety.

 

“After what you have just done it would not be wise for us to go back to Norway this autumn” said Thorolf.

I agreed.