Chapter 21: Concerning Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson

Chapter 21: Concerning Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson

Lúkr stood on a mountaintop and looked at where the sun was setting, and the glacier before him was like a mirror, and therein it seemed as though a second sun were setting. For this reason the mountain was called Tvísólatindr (Two Sun Mountain), and Lúkr would often stand there alone and recall the sagas about vikings and kings.

But then Thrípíó came and said that his brother Artú had run away.

“Did you try,” asked Lúkr, “To hinder him?”

“Yes, good sir,” said Thrípíó, “But he is much stronger than I am, and he talks still about Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson.”

“Say nothing to Uncle Óinn,” said Lúkr, “For he will be furious. But in the morning we must seek Artú, and if he is lying about having been the slave of Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson, I shall kill him right away. But I don’t wish to look for him tonight, because robbers, the sons of Tuskinn, live among the lava and the sand dunes, and Uncle Óinn will not allow me to bear weapons.”

Lúkr had a good horse, chestnut in color; this horse was named Landhraðfœrr (Land-Speedy). In the morning he and Thrípíó rode this good horse and they sought for Artú.

There is a great canyon in Tattúín River Valley, which is called Stafkarlsgjá (Beggar’s Canyon); there dwelt Óbívan the Old, and there they looked for Artú. They found him soon, but Artú did not wish to come with them.

“You are the thrall of Lúkr Anakinsson now,” said Thrípíó, “And why do you want to run away? He could bring you to this Óbívan if you would show him the message.”

But Artú said, “You are certainly a coward, my brother. This boy is no warrior. Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson must be found as soon as possible, or Veidr will kill Princess Leia, and sail the Death Star even to the Aldiran Regions. Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson is a good fighter and he hates King Falfadinn; he would be eager to help us. But your Lúkr would rather heed his uncle than go on a raid; he is a coward like you.”

“You slander me,” said Thrípíó, “And yet I have saved you twice.”

Artú said, “Do you hear something? I thought that I heard the sound of horsemen.”

Thrípíó said this to Lúkr.

“The sons of Tuskinn,” said Lúkr, “And I am unarmed. Let us leave this instant.”

But a man came riding at Lúkr. He was masked, and his horse was shaggy, big, and filthy. This man had a staff in his left hand, and a sword in his right. The sword hit Thrípíó’s hand and cut it off. But the staff hit Lúkr in the head; he fell to the ground unable to fight. But Artú was a small man and found a hiding place in a cave.

Other robbers followed now; they ransacked the possessions of Lúkr and Thrípíó. But when they had drawn their swords and were about to deal them their death blows, an old, white-bearded man came walking over a ridge; he made a great deal of noise. The robbers laughed at this old man, but then he drew his sword; he ran forward thereupon and swiftly killed a man. He cut with his right hand at the leg of another man, above the knee, and then he leapt at this man and stabbed him through. All the others fled.

This white-bearded man knelt next to Lúkr, and said that he was neither dead nor much injured.

Lúkr awoke. “Óbívan?” he asked, “Óbívan the Old? I rejoice that I see you.”

“The Gungan Lava Field is not easily traveled,” said Óbívan, “Tell me, young Lúkr, why have you come so deep into the Tattúín River Valley?”

Lúkr said, “Because of this thrall. He is searching for his master, who freed him. Never have I seen such a loyal thrall. He says that his master was named Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson. Is he a kinsman of yours? Do you know the man?”

But Óbívan said, “Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson. Víga-Óbívan. I have not heard that name in a long time.”

“I think that Uncle Óinn knows the man,” said Lúkr, “He told me that he was dead.”

“He is not dead,” said Óbívan, “But certainly all men must die.”

“You know him?” asked Lúkr.

“Certainly,” said Óbívan, “I am Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson. I have not used that name since your birth.”

Lúkr said, “Then Artú Dítússon must surely be your thrall.”

“Yes,” said Óbívan, “But I don’t seem to remember ever freeing a thrall. Now, we must get inside as soon as possible; I can easily startle the sons of Tuskinn, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers.”

XXI. Kapítuli: Frá Víga-Óbívani Kvægganssyni

XXI. Kapítuli: Frá Víga-Óbívani Kvægganssyni

Lúkr stóð á fjalltindi ok leit, hvar sól lægði, ok jǫkull fyr honum vas sem spegill, ok þar í horfði þat út, sem ǫnnur sól lægði. Því hét þat fjall Tvísólatindr, ok þar stóð Lúkr opt einn saman ok íhúga sǫgur um víkinga ok konunga.

En síðan kom Þrípíó þangat ok sagði, at bróðir hans Artú væri flýðr.

“Reyndir þú nekkvat,” segir Lúkr, “At hindra hann?”

“Já víst, bokki sæll,” segir Þrípíó, “En hann es mjǫk sterkari enn ek, ok talar hann enn of Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson.”

“Segiðu ekki frænda mínum Ónum,” segir Lúkr, “Því at hann mun vera inn reiðasti. En á morgin skulum vit leita Artús, ok ef hann lýgr til þess, at hann væri þræll Víga-Óbívans Kvægganssonar, þá skal ek drepa hann sem snarast. En ek vil hvergi leita hans í nótt, því at ránsmenn, Tuskinssynir, búa meðal hrauna ok sandbrekka, ok Óinn frændi vildi eigi at ek bæri vǭpn.”

Lúkr átti hest góðan, rauðan at lit; sá hestr hét Landhraðfœrr. At morni riðu þeir Þrípíó þessum góða hesti ok sóttu Artú.

Þat es gjá mikil í Tattúínárdal, es heitir Stafkarlsgjá; þar bjó Óbívan inn gamli, ok þar sóttu þeir Artú. Þeir fundu hann þegar; en Artú vildi eigi koma með.

“Þú ert þræll Lúks Anakinssonar nú,” segir Þrípíó honum, “Ok fyr hví vildirðu enn renna? Hann fengi fœrðan þik til þessa Óbívans ef þú mundi sýna honum boðit.”

En Artú kvað, “Ragr maðr ertu víst, bróðir minn. Sveinn es sjá en engi drengr. Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson má finnask sem skjótast, eða skal Veiðr drepa Leiu konungsdóttur, ok sigla Dauðastjǫrnu jafnvel til Aldiransveita. Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson es maðr drengilegr ok hatask við Falfaðin konung; hann vildi gjarna hjálpa øss. En Lúkr þinn vildi heldr hlýða frænda sínum enn fara á víking; es hann maðr ragr sem þú sjálfr.”

“Þú níðir mik,” segir Þrípíó, “En ek frelsta þik tvisvar.”

Artú mælti, “Heyrirðu nekkvat? Mér þóttisk at ek heyrða hestagný nekkvern.”

Þrípío sagði þetta Lúki.

“Tuskinssynir,” segir Lúkr, “Ok ek vápnlauss. Fǫrum vit sem skjótast.”

En maðr kom ríðandi at Lúki. Hann vas grímumaðr, ok hestr hans loðinn, stórr, ok mjǫk skitinn. Sjá maðr hafði staf í vinstri hendi, ok sverð í hœgri. Sverðit kom á hǫndina Þrípíós ok hjó af. En stafr kom á hǫfuðit Lúks; hann fell til jarðar óvígr. En Artú vas maðr stuttr ok fann leyni í helli nekkverjum.

Aðrir ránsmenn fylgðu nú; þeir rannsǫkuðu vistir Lúks ok Þrípíós. En es þeir brugðu sverðum sínum ok vildu hǫggva þeim banahǫgg, gekk gamall maðr hvítskeggjaðr yfir ás; hann gerði mikinn dyn. Ránsmenn hlógu hátt at þessum inum gamla manni, en þá brá hann sverði sínu; hann hleypr þegar fram ok hjó þegar mann til bana. Hann hjó með hœgri hendi á fót annars manns fyr ofan knét ok hljóp at honum við og hratt honum. Allir aðrir flýðu.

Sjá inn hvítskeggjaði maðr hné við Lúki, segir at hann sé eigi dauðr ok lítt særðr.

Lúkr vaknar. “Óbívan?” segir hann. “Óbívan inn gamli? Ek gleðjumk við, at sjá þik.”

“Eigi es Gunganhraunit auðfœrt,” segir Óbívan. “Segi mér, Lúkr ungi, fyr hví ferrðu svá lengi inn Tattúínárdalinn?”

Lúkr mælti, “Sakir þessa þræls. Hann leitar þess herra, es leysti hann. Aldregi hefik þann þræl sén svá trúlegan. Hann segir, at herra hans væri kallaðr Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson. Es hann frændi þinn? Þekkirðu manninn?”

En Óbívan mælti, “Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson. Víga-Óbívan. Þat nafn hefik lengi eigi heyrt.”

“Mér sýnisk, at Óinn frændi minn þekkir manninn,” segir Lúkr, “Hann sagði mér, at hann sé dáinn.”

“Eigi es hann dauðr,” segir Óbívan, “En vissulega deyja allir.”

“Þú þekkir hann?” segir Lúkr.

“Já víst,” segir Óbívan, “Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson em ek. Þat nafn hefik eigi nefndan mik síðan fæðing þína.”

Lúkr kvað, “Þræll þinn víst es þá Artú Dítússon.”

“Já,” segir Óbívan, “En mér þykkir eigi muna til þess, at ek þræll leysta. Nú fǫrum vér snart innanhúss; ek fæ Tuskinssyni hrædda auðveldlega, en þeir munu koma aptr snart, ok munu fjǫlgask.”

Chapter 20: Concerning the Message of Princess Leia

Chapter 20: Concerning the Message of Princess Leia

At Water-Farm Thrípío took a bath, and was very glad for it; he praised God and the holy Bishop Patrick.

But Lúkr Anakinsson complained about his Uncle Óinn. “He is unfair,” said Lúkr, “My friend Biggs spoke truly: I will never get out of Iceland.”

Thrípíó heard his words and asked, “Can I help you, good sir?”

“Definitely,” said Lúkr, “If your Christ has given you the power to speed up time or to grant me wings so that I can fly off of this rock.”

“No, good sir,” said Thrípíó, “I am a priest and no wizard. And I must admit that I don’t know where I am in Iceland.”

Lúkr said, “If there is a valley in Iceland where one might see a fair hillside, shining fields, and a freshly-mown yard – you’re in the valley that it’s furthest from.”

“I see, good sir,” said Thrípíó.

But Lúkr said, “I am named Lúkr Anakinsson.”

“I am named Thrípíó Dítússon, and this man is my brother Artú,” said Thrípíó.

“Your clothes are very bloody,” observed Lúkr, “Were you in a fight?”

Thrípíó said, “We were on a ship when a battle broke up. But we ourselves are no warriors.”

But Lúkr took Artú’s bloody cape and there found the message written by Princess Leia. He began to read it. “I am no runemaster,” he said, “But these words say, ‘Help me, Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson; you alone would dare to avenge me.’ I don’t know how to read any more words, because they are written poorly and hastily. What is this?”

Artú pretended not to speak Norse, and asked in Irish, “What is what?”

“What is what?” responded Thrípíó, “That was a question. What was written on that message which Princess Leia gave you?”

“That’s nothing,” said Artú, “An old message. I think that Princess Leia is long dead.” Thrípíó translated his words into Norse.

“Who is Princess Leia?” asked Lúkr, “What family is she from?”

Thrípíó began to answer, but Artú told him to be silent, saying, “This should not be hidden from you. I am not your slave, but rather I am a freedman of Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson, and that man lived here in the Tattúín River Valley for a long time. This message is intended for him, and for no others. Do you know where he lives, or whether he lives?”

“I don’t know a Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson,” said Lúkr, “But a man is named Óbívan the Old, who lives in the interior of Tattúín River Valley. Is he the same man?”

Artú said, “I don’t know. But that is most likely. Will you show me the way to this man’s house?”

“Certainly,” said Lúkr, “If you give an account of everything that is written in that message.”

“I cannot read runes,” said Artú.

“But I can read them,” said Thrípíó.

“Shut up, Thrípíó,” said Artú, “Or are you a coward? This man is not the one that Princess Leia wanted to ask for help from, and he is only a boy, and with little courage.”

Lúkr heard that his Aunt Bera called to him and said that it was a mealtime.

“Good sir,” said Thrípíó, “If you wish it, I will read this message while you eat, and afterward will tell you everything that is written in it.”

Lúkr said that this was most likely, because he was getting angry, and would attack Artú if he held on to the message longer. Then he went to his meal.

“I have saved you a second time,” said Thrípíó, “And I don’t know why. If you don’t give me that message and let me read it to him, he’ll kill you. How can we escape?”

“Truly you are a coward,” said Artú, “If I want to escape, I walk away.”

*

Lúkr went to the meal table, and said that he thought that the short slave had been stolen.

“Why do you think so?” asked Óinn.

“Because I found a message on him,” said Lúkr, “Written in runes, for a man named Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson. And I thought it most likely that this man was the same as Óbívan the Old.”

“I don’t think so,” said Óinn, “I think that Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson is dead; he died the same time as your father.”

“Did he know my father?” asked Lúkr.

“What would that matter to you?” asked Óinn, “He is dead. In the morning, take these new thralls to the south ridge; I want them to work there.”

“And if they work well,” said Lúkr, “I want to request again, Uncle, that in the summer you buy me a ship and weapons, and let me go on viking raids.”

“The summer is when I need you the most,” said Óinn, “And you shall not leave.”

Lúkr was extremely angry, as red as blood; he left the house and went into the mountains.

“Óinn,” said Bera, the wife of Óinn, “Why do you deny him again? Most of his friends go on raids and kill many men, and come back to Iceland with treasure and thralls. He doesn’t want to stay here and sow grain; he is no farmer. He is bold and ambitious like his father.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” said Óinn Kléggsson.

XX. Kapítuli: Frá Boði Leiu Konungsdóttur

XX. Kapítuli: Frá Boði Leiu Konungsdóttur

At Vatnabœ laugaðisk Þrípíó, ok gleddisk mjǫk við; lofaði hann guð ok inn heilaga Patrek byskup.

En Lúkr Anakinsson kvartaði um frænda hans Óin. “Hann es ójafnaðarmaðr,” segir Lúkr, “Vinr minn Biggs sagði satt; aldregi mun ek komask undan Íslandi.”

Þrípíó heyrði orð hans ok segir, “Fæ ek þér holpnum, bokki sæll?”

“Já víst,” segir Lúkr, “Ef Hvíta-Kristr þinn hefir þér gefinn þann krapt, at þú kannt at skunda tíð, eða at veita mér vængi, svá at ek má komask undan steini þessum.”

“Nei, bokki sæll,” segir Þrípíó, “Ek em prestr en engi fordæðumaðr. Ok satt at segja, veit ek eigi, hvar á Íslandi ek em.”

Lúkr kvað, “Ef þat es dalr á Íslandi, þar es má sjá hlíð fagra, bleika akra, ok slegna tún – it eruð í dal þeim, es liggr í þeim stœrta fjarska frá.”

“Ek skil, bokki sæll,” segir Þrípíó.

En Lúkr segir, “Ek nefndumk Lúkr Anakinsson.”

“Ek heiti Þrípíó Dítússon, ok sjá maðr es bróðir minn, Artú,” mælti Þrípíó.

“Klæði ykkar eru mjǫk dreyrugir,” segir Lúkr, “Eða bǫrðuzk it nekkvat?”

Þrípíó segir, “Vit vǭrum á skipi, er bardagi tóksk. En vit sjálfir erum eigi hermenn.”

En Lúkr tók ina blóðga kǭpu Artús, ok þar fann boðit skrifat af Leiu konungsdóttur. Hann tók til at lesa þat. “Eigi em ek rúnmeistari,” segir Lúkr, “En segja þessi orð, ‘Hjálpa mér, Víga-Óbívan Kvægganson; þú einn þørðir at hefna mín.’ Ek kann eigi at lesa fleiri orð, því at þau eru skrifuð vándslega ok hraðlega. Hvat es þetta?”

En Artú lét sem hann talaði eigi norrœnu, segir á írsku, “Hvat es hvat?”

“Hvat es hvat?” segir Þrípíó, “Þat vas spurning. Hvat vas skrifat á boði því, es Leia konungsdóttir gaf þér?”

“Þat es ekki,” segir Artú, “Gamalt boð. Mér sýnisk, at Leia konungsdóttir sé lengi dáin.” Þrípío sneri orðum sínum í norrœnu.

“Hverr es Leia konungsdóttir?” segir Lúkr, “Eða hvat manna es hon?”

Þrípíó tók til at svara, en Artú bað hann þegja, segir, “Eigi es at dylja frá þér. Em ek eigi þræll þinn, heldr em ek leysingi Víga-Óbívans Kvægganssonar, ok sá maðr bjó hér í Tattúínárdal lengi. Þetta boð es ætlat honum, en engum ǫðrum. Veiztú, hvar hann býr eða ef hann lifir?”

“Enga Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson þekki ek,” segir Lúkr, “En maðr heitir Óbívan inn gamli, es býr í innanverðum Tattúínárdal. Es hann inn sami maðr?”

Artú segir, “Ek veit eigi. En þat es líklegast. Villtú sýna mér þá leið, es kømr til hússins þessa manns?”

“Vissulega,” segir Lúkr, “Ef þú segir frá ǫllum, es skrifuð eru á þessu boði.”

“Ek fæ eigi lesnar rúnar,” segir Artú.

“En ek fæ þær lesnar,” segir Þrípíó.

“Þegi þú, Þrípíó,” segir Artú, “Eða ert þú maðr ragr? Sjá maðr es eigi sá, es Leia konungsdóttir vildi biðja liðsinni, ok es hann sveinn, ok með litlum drengskap.”

Lúkr heyrir, at frænka hans Bera kallar til hans, ok segir frá matmáli.

“Bokki sæll,” segir Þrípíó, “Ef þú vill, skal ek lesa boðit meðan þú etr, ok síðan segja þér ǫll, es þar eru skrifuð.”

Lúkr segir at þetta væri líklegast, því at hann reiddisk, ok vildi hǫggva til Artús, ef hann haldi boðinu lengr. Þá ferr hann til borðs.

“Annat sinn hefi ek þér borgnum,” segir Þrípíó, “Ok veit ek eigi fyr hví. Gefir þú eigi mér boðit ok látir mik lesa honum þat, drepir hann þik. Hvé fengum vit komizk undan?”

“Sannlega ert þú maðr ragr,” segir Artú, “Ef ek vil komask undan, geng ek undan.”

*

Lúkr ferr til borðs, segir þar, at honum sýndisk inn stutti þræll stolinn.

“Fyr hví sýndisk þér svá?” segir Óinn frændi hans.

“Fyr því ek fann boð í kǭpu hans,” segir Lúkr, “Skrifat í rúnum ok ætlað manni þeim, es heitir Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson. En mér þóttisk þat líklegast, at sá maðr sé inn sami ok Óbívan inn gamli.”

“Mér þykkir eigi svá,” segir Óinn, “Því at ek ætla Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson dauðan; hann dó samstundis ok faðir þinn.”

“Þekkti hann fǫður minn?” segir Lúkr.

“Hvat myndi þik þat skipta?” segir Óinn, “Hann es dauðr. Á morgin tak þessa nýju þræla til ins syðra áss; ek vil at þeir þar vinni.”

“Ok ef þeir vel vinna,” segir Lúkr, “Ek vilda bidja þik aptr, frændi, at í sumar þú kaupir mér skip ok vǭpn, ok látir mik fara á víking.”

“Í sumar ert þú mér gagnsamlegast,” segir Óinn, “Ok skaltú eigi fara.”

Lúkr vas inn reiðasti ok rauðr sem blóð; ferr ýr húsi ok í fjǫll.

“Óinn,” kvað Bera, kona Óins, “Fyr hví neitir þú honum aptr? Flestir vinir hans fara í hernað ok drepa marga menn, koma aptr til Íslands með skatt ok þræla. Hann vildi eigi búa hér ok sá korni; hann es engi búandi. Hann es drengiligr ok framgjarn eptir feðr sínum.”

“Þat óttumk ek,” mælti Óinn Kléggsson.

Chapter 19: Concerning the Sons of Dítú and Lúkr Anakinsson (English translation)

Chapter 19: Concerning the Sons of Dítú and Lúkr Anakinsson

Thrípíó and Artú Dítússon came ashore on Iceland near the Tattúín River Valley; there was a great deal of lava, for a volcano had erupted twenty years before, and there was much sand also, for the high tide was extreme in the Tattúín Fjord.

Thrípíó became angry. “What kind of deserted place is this?” he asked, “And probably no Christian men either, I guess.”

“There are Christian men on Iceland,” said Artú, “But they are mostly slaves. Follow me and let us find Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson as soon as possible; his farm was nearby here. Still it is most likely that he is dead.”

“I don’t want to follow you,” said Thrípíó.

Artú asked where he would rather go.

“Where you aren’t going,” said Thrípíó, “For it is your fault that I am on this dangerous journey, and I would rather find some merchants who are going to Ireland or Norway. The devil take you and your heathen friend Víga-Óbívan.”

“I don’t believe that you have spoken in a Christian fashion,” said Artú, “But it is your decision. Still I shall seek Víga-Óbívan, though relations are cool between us. But I think that it’s most likely that the devil will take you, if you go the other way all on your own; there are many Icelanders who would want to enslave or kill an Irish man and Christian.”

“But it will still be your fault,” said Thrípíó, “If I am slain.”

“He is not to blame, who warns another,” said Artú.

*

Thrípíó walked a long time and saw neither man nor cattle. Finally he saw some men riding; he hailed them, but they did not hail him. They bound him and led him to their tents; there Thrípíó saw Artú Dítússon, his brother, and the brothers were glad to meet. Many thralls, men and women, were in these tents – they had captured by the sons of Javi, malicious robbers; the oldest of them was named Útíni.

A man was named Óinn; he was the son of Kléggr. Óinn was tall, with wolf-gray hair and thick, but he had begun to bald early. With him was his brother’s young son, who was named Lúkr Anakinsson; Óinn said that his brother Anakinn was dead. Lúkr was a big man, with light-brown hair and a broad reddish face, the noblest of men. Lúkr wanted to go on viking expeditions and raids, but Óinn forbade him that. Óinn and Lúkr were looking at the thralls.

Óinn saw the brown clothes of Thrípíó and said, “You must be a priest.”

“You are correct, good sir,” said Thrípíó, “And I speak many languages. I can speak Irish, Norse, English, Latin, French, German, Welsh -”

“Shut up,” said Óinn, “What I need is a thrall who speaks Scottish.”

“Scottish?” asked Thrípíó, “Good sir, I am an Irishman, and the Irish tongue is much like the Scottish. Scottish is like my mother-tongue, even though all languages are like my mother-tongue, because I rejoice in languages -”

“Shut up,” said Óinn. He told the robbers that he wanted to buy this man – “And do you have any good and skillful workmen?”

Útíni Javason said that the red-haired man was a very skillful workman; Óinn bought this man also.

Óinn said to Lúkr, “Take these men home and prepare them for work as soon as possible.”

Lúkr said then, “But I wanted to go to Taki Farm, where there are going to be horse-fights tonight.”

“You can play at the horse fights with the other boys some other day,” said Óinn, “Take these men home to Vatnabœr (Water-Farm).”

But the red-haired man walked slowly, and finally fell to the ground. Lúkr saw that he was covered with sores. “Uncle Óinn,” he said, “This red-haired man is sick.”

Óinn was extremely angry; he drew his sword and wanted to cut at Útíni Javason. But Thrípíó said to Lúkr, “Good sir, the short man there is very skillful with wood and iron; we have been enslaved together before. And he would be cheaper than before, if Útíni Javason fears the wrath of your uncle.” This short man was Artú Dítússon, his brother.

“Uncle Óinn,” said Lúkr, “Buy this short man.” Óinn did so, and the sons of Dítú followed Lúkr Anakinsson home.

“Don’t forget this,” said Thrípíó to his brother, “And why did I save you? You’re as heathen as they are.”

XIX. Kapítuli: Frá Dítússonum ok Lúki Anakinssyni

XIX. Kapítuli: Frá Dítússonum ok Lúki Anakinssyni

Þeir Þrípíó ok Artú Dítússynir kómu til fjǫru á Íslandi nær Tattúínárdal; þar vas mikit hraun, því at eldfjall hafði gosit þat fyr tuttugu vetrum, ok mikill sandr, því at háflœðr vas ákaflega stór þar í Tattúínárfirði.

Þrípíó reiddisk. “Hvat eyðistaða es sjá?” spurði hann, “Eða engir kristnir menn heldr, svá ek get til.”

“Þat eru kristnir menn á Íslandi,” segir Artú, “Enn eru þeir flestir þrælar. Fylg mér ok lát okkr finna Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson sem snarast; bœr hans vas hér nálegr. Enn es þat trúlegast, at hann sé dauðr.”

“Ek vil eigi fylgja þér,” segir Þrípío.

Artú spurði, hvert hann vildi fara heldr.

“Hvert þú eigi ferr,” segir Þrípíó, “Því at þat es þér at kenna, at ek em á háskafǫr þessi, ok vilda ek heldr finna nekkverja kaupmenn, es fara til Írlands eða Noregs. Fjándinn taki þik ok þinn heiðna vin Víga-Óbívan.”

“Mér sýnisk, at þetta sé eigi kristilega sagt,” segir Artú, “En þú skalt ráða. Enn skal ek leita Víga-Óbívans, þótt þat es fátt með okkr Víga-Óbívani. En mér sýnisk þat enn líklegast, at fjándinn taki þik, ef þú ferr aðra leið einn saman; þat eru margir Íslendingar, es vildu þrælka eða drepa írskan mann ok kristinn.”

“Enn es þat þér at kenna,” segir Þrípíó, “Ef ek verð drepinn.”

“Eigi veldr sá es varar annan,” segir Artú.

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Lengi gekk Þrípío, ok sá hvárki mann né kvikfé. At lyktum sá hann reið nekkverra manna; hann heilsar þessum mǫnnum, en þeir heilsar eigi honum. Bundu þeir hann ok fœrðu hann til tjalda sinna; þar fiðr Þrípíó Artú Dítússon, bróður sinn, ok glaðlega funnusk þeir brœðr. Margir þrælar ok margar þýjar vǭru í þessum tjǫldum; vǭru þeir haptar Javasona, illgjarnlegra ránsmanna; hét inn elzti þeira Útíni.

Maðr hét Óinn; hann vas Kléggsson. Vas Óinn vel í vexti, úlfgrátt hárit ok þykkt ok varð snemma skǫllóttr. Bróðurson ungan átti hann, es hét Lúkr Anakinsson; Óinn kvað bróður hans Anakin vesa dauðan. Lúkr vas mikill maðr vexti, ljósjarpr á hár ok rauðlitaðr, breiðleitr ok inn kurteisasti. Lúkr girndisk til þess at fara í víking ok hernað, en Óinn bannaði honum þat. Þeir Óinn ok Lúkr litu á þrælana.

Óinn sér brún klæði Þrípíos, segir: “Þú munt prestr vesa.”

“Þú hefir rétt at mæla, bokki sæll,” segir Þrípíó; “Ok mæli ek mǫrgum mǭlum. Ek kann at mæla írsku, norrœnu, ensku, latínu, vǫlsku, þýzku, brezku -”

“Þegi þú,” segir Óinn, “Þess es ek þarf es sá þræll es mælir skozku.”

“Skozku?” segir Þrípíó, “Bokki sæll, ek em maðr írskr, ok in írska tunga es mjǫk glík skozku. Skozka es sem móðurmál mitt, jafnvel þó allar tungur eru sem móðurmǭl mín, því at ek gleðjumk af tungum -”

“Þegi þú,” segir Óinn. Hann segir ránsmǫnnum, at hann vili kaupa þenna mann – “Ok hafið ér nekkverja vinnumenn góða ok haga?”

Útíni Javason segir, at sjá inn rauðhærði maðr sé vinnumaðr mjǫk hagr; Óinn keypir ok þenna mann.

Óinn segir Lúki, “Fœr þessa menn heim ok bú þá í vinnu sem skjótlegast.”

Þá segir Lúkr, “En ek vilda fara til Takabœ, þar es hestavígr skal vera í nótt.”

“Þú fær þér leiknum á hestavígum með sveinum annan dag,” segir Óinn, “Fœr þessa menn heim til Vatnabœjar.”

En inn rauðhærði maðrinn gekk seint, ok fell hann at lyktum til jarðar. Lúkr sér, at hann es sárafullr. “Óinn frændi,” segir hann, “Sjá inn rauðhærði maðr es sjúkr.”

Óinn vas inn reiðasti, brá sverði ok vildi hjó til Útína Javasonar. En Þrípíó kvað, “Bokki sæll,” segir hann til Lúki, “Sjá inn lágvaxni maðr þar es maðr hagr við járn ok tré; vit vǭrum áðr samþrælar. Ok væri hann ódýrari en áðr, ef Útíni Javason óttisk reiði frænda þíns.” Sjá inn lágvaxni maðr vas Artú Dítússon, bróðir hans.

“Óinn frændi,” segir Lúkr, “Kaup þenna inn lágvaxna mann.” Óinn gørði svá, ok þeir Dítússynir fylgðu Lúki Anakinssyni heim.

“Eigi þessu gleym,” segir Þrípíó bróður sínum, “Ok fyr hví bjargaða ek þér? Þú ert heiðinn sem þeir.”

Chapter 18: Concerning Leia and the Sons of Dítú (English translation)

Previously I have posted the English translation for each chapter under the Old Norse original; with this chapter I am beginning to post the chapter separately in each language.

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Chapter 18: Concerning Leia and the Sons of Dítú

A woman was named Leia; she was the daughter of Beilorgana, king of the Aldiran Regions in Ireland. Relations were cool between Beilorgana and Falfadinn, for Falfadinn, King of Norway, claimed to be King of Ireland as well, and he raided widely in the Aldiran Regions.

There were many chieftains in many lands who greatly disliked King Falfadinn, but did not like Jabbi, King of the Danes, either. Many went to new lands, to the Faroes or to Iceland or to the Hebrides or to the Orkneys or to the Shetlands. But the army of Falfadinn was great, and he had many large warships, and he raided the lands of those who would not acknowledge his absolute authority. He had many good men killed, and others he enslaved. He was a very unpopular king. And because King Falfadinn wanted to intimidate all who stood against him, he ordered to be built the greatest ship which men had ever seen upon the seas, and that ship held such a store of men and weapons that they could pillage an entire large city. And a name was given to that ship, and it was called Daudastjarna (Death-Star).

A man was named Thrípíó Dítússon; he was an Irish man and a priest. And because Ireland was a Christian land, and Thrípíó knew many languages, he went to Norway, in Koruskantborg, and wished to teach men the true faith. There he met his brother, Artú Dítússon, who had been a slave to Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson of the Jedi Fjord family in Iceland. And because he had long been among heathen men, Artú himself had become heathen.

Artú Dítússon disliked his enslavement, but he liked King Falfadinn the less because he had ordered Kvæggan Dúkússon killed, and Kvæggan had promised that he should free Artú from his enslavement. But the son of Kvæggan, Víga-Óbívan, who survived, did not wish to free Artú, and Artú had become a free man only after Víga-Óbívan hastened back to Iceland one time and left Artú in Norway.

Artú Dítússon was a skilled carpenter and smith, and because of this talent the rumor of this skilled freedman soon reached King Falfadinn, who bade Artú counsel him in shipbuilding; the king did not know that Artú hated him intensely. And it was Artú’s advice that the king should have a great dragon-head built on the Death-Star, hollow inside, and that it should be filled with ale, and Artú said that this would be a sacrifice to Rán (Norse sea goddess). And King Falfadinn said that Artú was a wise man, for he wanted to protect the great ship from the wrath of this goddess.

And when he had given this advice, Artú went back to Ireland with his brother, and told all this to King Beilorgana.

King Beilorgana suspected that King Falfadinn would want to attack the Aldiran Regions with this ship, and King Beilorgana wanted to ask the Shetlanders to help him. But “Because King Falfadinn rules the sea with his great navy, I will send my daughter, and some monks with her, and King Falfadinn will not suspect that I am sending them in order to incite the Shetlanders against him.”

A man was named Veidi-Anakinn. He was a retainer of Falfadinn and captain of his army; he was a very overbearing man, but comported himself well, and he was a great sorcerer. None saw his face, for he always had a great raven-black helmet upon his head, and with it a raven-black mask upon his face and a raven-black cape. Veidi-Anakinn was not a talkative man, but when he spoke, his voice was awesome and dim, and every one of his breaths was as audible and as resounding as the greatest storm. Most men called him Veidr, but all feared him, and he could cast a spell that made men fall to the earth in anguish, even though Veidr did not touch them.

Veidr learned that Artú Dítússon had advised the ship-building in Koruskantborg, and he thought that this was ill news, for he remembered that Artú had been the slave of the Jedi Fjord men, his enemies. And when he learned that Artú was on the ship of King Beilorgana and made for Shetland, he suspected that Artú must have given King Falfadinn some kind of bad advice. Veidr sailed his ship Stjörnufreki (Star-Destroyer) and sought this ship, and found it off of Iceland. His men went up on that ship, and there was a hard battle.

Princess Leia saw that the Irish were losing the battle, and she bade Artú and Thrípíó swim to the shore and there seek Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson, if he still lived. She gave Artú a message that he should give to Víga-Óbívan; it was written in runes.

There were small boats on that ship, which hung from the stern; Princess Leia cut one of these loose, and the sons of Dítú swam under it.

One of Veidr’s warriors saw this boat, and said, “There sails another boat.”

“Don’t shoot it,” said another soldier, “There are no living things aboard. It must have been a stray axe blow that cut it loose.”

XVIII. Kapítuli: Frá Leiu ok Dítússonum

Previously I have posted the English translation for each chapter under the Old Norse original; with this chapter I am beginning to post the chapter separately in each language.

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XVIII. Kapítuli: Frá Leiu ok Dítússonum

Kona hét Leia; hon vas Beilorganasdóttir, írsks konungs í Aldiransveitum. Við Beilorgana ok Falfaðni vas þat fátt, því at Falfaðinn Noregskonungr kvazk vesa Írlandskonungr ok, en hann herjaði þar víða í Aldiransveitum.

Þat vǭru margir hǫfðingjar í mǫrgum lǫndum, þeim es mislíkaði mjǫk Falfaðinn konungr, en líkaði eigi vel Jabbi Danakonungr heldr. Fóru margir til nýja landa, beggja Færeyja ok Íslands ok Suðreyja ok Orkneyja ok Hjaltlands. En herrinn Falfaðins vas mikill, ok hann átti mǫrg herskip ok stór, ok hann herjaði lǫnd þeira, es vildu eigi viðkenna einvald hans; hann lét drepa ok marga góða menn, ok þrælka aðra. Vas hann allóvinsæll konungr. En því at Falfaðinn konungr vildi kúga alla þá, es stóðu í móti honum, lét hann gøra it stœrsta skip, es menn hǫfðu sét á sjóvum; helt þat skip svá mǫrgum mǫnnum ok vǭpnum, at þeir máttu ræna allt þat, es vas í einni stórri borg, ok vas því skipi nafn gefit, ok hét þat Dauðastjarna.

Maðr hét Þrípíó Dítússon; hann vas maðr írskr ok prestr. Ok því at Írland vas kristit land, ok Þrípíó kunni margar tungur, fór hann til Noregs í Koruskantborg ok vildi kenna mǫnnum þar ina rétta trú. Þar fann hann bróður hans, Artú Dítússon, es hafði verit þræll Víga-Óbívans Kvægganssonar af Jeðifirðingaætt á Íslandi. Ok því at hann hafði lengi búit milli heiðinna manna, vas hann sjálfr orðinn heiðinn.

Artú Dítússyni mislíkaði þrældómr hans, en mislíkaði honum því meira Falfaðinn konungr, því at hann hafði látinn drepinn Kvæggan Dúkússon, ok hafði Kvæggan því heitnu, at hann skyli leysa Artú af þrældómi. En sonr Kvæggans Víga-Óbívan, es lifði enn, vildi eigi leysa Artú, ok varð Artú eigi leysingi unz Víga-Óbívan flýtti sér til Íslands eitt sinn ok lét Artú aptr í Noregi.

Artú Dítússon vas hagr við járn ok tré, ok af þessi íðn varð leysingi brátt málkunnigr Falfaðni konungi, sá es bauð Artú ráða skipgørðinni; vissi konungr aldri, at Artú hataðisk við hann. En þat vas Artús ráð, at konungr láti gøra drekahǫfuð stórt á Dauðastjǫrnu ok holt innan, ok láti fylla af ǫli, ok kvað Artú, at þetta væri Ránarblót. Ok Falfaðinn konungr kvað Artú vesa vísan mann, sá es vildi hlífa inu stóra skipi frá reiði gyðju þessar.

Ok es hann hafði svá ráðit, fór Artú aptr til Írlands með bróður sinn, ok sagði allt þat Beilorgana konungi.

Beilorgana konung grunar, at Falfaðinn konungr vildi sœkjask Aldiransveitir með þetta skip, ok Beilorgana konungr vildi biðja Hjaltlendinga hjálpa sér. En “Því at Falfaðinn konungr með mikit her sinn ræðr fyr sjóvi, skal ek senda dóttur mína ok nekkverja munka með hana, ok Falfaðin konungr mun eigi grunaðr verða um þat, at ek sendi þau til þess at hvetja Hjaltlendinga í mót honum.”

Maðr hét Veiði-Anakinn. Hann vas hirðmaðr Falfaðins ok stýrði liði hans; hann vas inn mesti ójafnaðarmaðr, en vel menntr, ok vas hann fordæðumaðr mikill. Engi sá yfirlit hans, því at hann hafði jafnan yfir hǫfðinu mikinn hrafnblán hjálm, ok fylgði þeim hjálmi hrafnblá gríma fyr andlitinu ok hrafnblá kápa. Máligr maðr vas Veiði-Anakinn eigi, en þá es hann talaði, vas raustin hans hræðileg ok dimm, ok hverr andi hans svá auðheyranleg ok byljandi sem inn mesti stormr. Menn flestir kǫlluðu hann Veiðr, en allir óttuðusk hann, ok kunni hann svá yrkja, at menn falli til jarðar kveljandi, þeygi Veiðr snerti þá.

Veiðr frá, at Artú Dítússon hafði ráðit skipgørðinni í Koruskantborg, ok hann kunni illa tíðendum þessum, því at hann mundi eptir, at Artú hafði áðr verit þræll Jeðifirðinga, hans óvina. En þá es hann spurði hvar Artú vas á skipi Beilorganas konungs ok sótti Hjaltland, hann grunar at Artú møndi hafa ráðit Falfaðni konungi illa. Sigldi Veiðr skipi sínu Stjǫrnufreka ok leitaði skips þessa, ok fann þat af Íslandi. Menn hans gingu upp á skipit, ok vas þar bardagi inn harðasti.

Leia konungsdóttir sér, at írskir tapaðask, ok bauð hon Artú ok Þrípíó svimma til fjǫru ok þar leita Víga-Óbívan Kvæggansson, ef hann lifði enn. Gefr hon Artú boð, þat es hann skyli gefa Víga-Óbívani; vas þat boð skrifit með rúnum, ok kunni Artú eigi ráða rúnar.

Þat vǭru nekkverir smábátar á því skipi, þeir es hingu á skutstafni; einn þeirra leysti Leia konungsdóttir, ok undir honum summu Dítússynir.

Hermaðr Veiðrar sér smábát, ok hann segir, “Þar siglir annarr smábátr.”

“Eigi skjót þeim,” mælti annarr hermaðr, “Þat es etki kvikvendi á báti. Þat mun hafa verit gallat øxarhǫgg, es leysti hann.”

XVII. Kapítuli: Frá Hólmgǫngu-Hana (Chapter 17: Concerning Hólmgöngu-Hani)

XVII. Kapítuli: Frá Hólmgǫngu-Hana (Chapter 17: Concerning Hólmgöngu-Hani)

As I’ve alluded to before, the manuscript upon which the sequentially later chapters of Tattúínárdœla saga are preserved is actually older than the manuscript which preserves the first sixteen chapters by about two decades, while the action in these chapters picks up about two decades later than that of the earlier chapters. And while the manuscript with the earlier chapters appears to have been written by a single scribe who had an imperfect knowledge of the story underlying the saga, the later chapters can be confidently assigned, on paleographic evidence, to three separate scribes, each with a quite different, though detailed, command of the tradition behind the saga. It is not always, however, clear that these three scribes worked together closely, as for instance Scribe A (responsible for the first third of this manuscript) seems hardly to have been aware that Leia was Lúkr’s sister, and even shows ignorance – or at best imperfect foreshadowing – of Veiði-Anakinn’s identity as Lúkr’s father.

The manuscript as preserved does have chapter headings, and the first leaf of the manuscript is headed “XVII. Kapítuli” – “Chapter 17.” This suggests that these earlier scribes were aware that sixteen earlier chapters of the saga had once existed, but they were apparently unaware of the contents of those chapters, a hypothesis which is lent support by the fact that numerous important characters and events in the earlier chapters are never mentioned again. Chapter 17, despite its explicit numbering as seventeenth, opens like the very first chapter of a new saga, and the following chapters essentially assume no prior knowledge of the earlier sixteen chapters, indeed relying on the reader’s ignorance of the content of those chapters in setting up Veiði-Anakinn as the archenemy of his own son, Lúkr.

With that being said, Chapter 17 is commonly held by critics to mark a watershed moment in the saga as a literary construction, and it is chiefly the contents of these later chapters that are quoted and alluded to in later Icelandic literature. Whoever the three scribes were who recorded it for us around the year 1200, they have left us with an imperfect, but enduring and timeless saga of mythic proportions.

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ÞAT ES UPPHAF AT ÞESSI SǪGU, at Jabbi konungr inn digri réð fyr Danmǫrk, ok Falfaðinn konungr eldingaflug fyr Noregi; ófriðr mikill vas í milli þeira.

Hani hét maðr, norrœnn at ætt; hann vas Sólósson jarls. Hann vas góðr maðr, víkingr mikill;  menn flestir kǫlluðu hann Hólmgǫngu-Hana. Vel samir at segja frá yfirlitum Hana. Hann vas fámálugr ok fálátr jafnan, en fríðastr sýnum, hár maðr vexti ok nǫkkut skolbrúnn, jarpr á hár.

Því at Hólmgǫngu-Hana líkaði stórilla stjórn Falfaðins konungs, fór hann til Danmerkr ok vas með Jabba konungi um hríð; í sumar vas hann í víkingu, ok gørði hann opt skaða mikinn lǫndum ok skipum Falfaðins konungs; herjaði hann víða þar ok hvar sem hann kom við land í Noregi. En í vetr seldi hann í hendr Jabba konungi þær vǫrur, es hann fekk í Noregi. Jabba konungi líkaði vel sjá skattr, ok hann gaf Hólmgǫngu-Hana øxi mikla, ok vas sú øx snaghyrnd ok gullbúin, upp skellt skaftit með silfri, ok vas sú inn virðilegsti gripr. Hólmgǫngu-Hani hafði annan virðilegan grip, ok vas þat skipit hans, þat es hann fekk eptir þat at hann vann sigr á Landó Kalrissianssyni í kappróðri á Kesseley. Þetta skip hét Þusundár-Fálkinn; þat vas it skjótasta skip.

Hólmgǫngu-Hana fylgði maðr frískr, es Tsiubakka hét. Hann vas inn loðnasti maðr, stórr maðr vexti; svartjarpr á hár, þykkleitr ok mikill í brúnum. Tsiubakka kunni eigi at tala norrœnu, en hann skilði þau orð es menn sǫgðu, ok kunni Hólmgǫngu-Hani frísku.

Einhverju sinni, bar svá til at þeir Hólmgǫngu-Hani hǫfðu herjat í Noregi, ok þá es þeir váru búnir til hafs, riðu þar nekkverir norrœnir hǫfðingjar. Þeir spurðu, hverir þessir menn væri, ok hvaðan þeir kœmi.

“Ek heiti Hani Sólósson,” segir Hani, “Sumir kalla mik Hólmgǫngu-Hana. En sjá fylgðarmaðr minn es maðr frískr, Tsiubakka at nafni. Vit erum komnir hingat frá Danmǫrk ok erum kaupdrengir.”

“Ef it eruð sannarlega kaupdrengir,” segir hǫfðingi, “Þá munuð it hafa vǫrur á skipi ykkar, þær es it vilið selja, ok vér viljum kaupa, ok látið øss sjá varning ykkar.”

Þessir menn gingu síðan upp á skipit, ok þar fundu þeir margar gørsemar, þeim es Hólmgǫngu-Hani ok Tsiubakka hǫfðu stolnar frá þeim. Þessar þeir tóku, ok þeir vildu drepa Hólmgǫngu-Hana.

“Drepið hann eigi,” segir inn fyrsti hǫfðingi, “Því at ek kennda hann í fyrstunni, ok kennda ek fǫður hans ok. Hann es engi vinr Falfaðins konungs, ok erum vér heldr eigi. En vér skulum taka allar þessar vǫrur, þeim es hann stól, ok skulum honum ekki gjalda.”

En því at þat haustaði, ok Hólmgǫngu-Hani hafði ekki ránsfé, þat es hann skyli selja í hendr Jabba konungi, snaraðisk hann sem skjótast við Íslandi ok þar vildi forðask reiði Jabba konungs, unz hann fengi nekkverjan skatt, þann es hann fengi fœrðan konungi.

Maðr hét Vattó, maðr gamall ok stuttr, en góðr búandi ok móðurfrændi Hana. Hann bjó á Íslandi, at þeim bœ, es hét at Mósæslastǫðum; dvǫlðusk þeir Hólmgǫngu-Hani þar þann vetr. Þar gistu ok margir aðrir ránsmenn ok útlagar, því at Vattó vas sjálfr útlegðarmaðr ok elskaði eigi konunga. Enn hafa sumir sagt, at bœr hans væri it versta greni manna óráðvandra ok rógsmanna.

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Maðr hét Gríðó, hirðmaðr Jabba; honum líkaði illa Hólmgǫngu-Hani ok girnask á skipit hans. En þá es hann frá, at Hólmgǫngu-Hani vas stolinn ránsfé sínu ok farinn til Íslands, spurði hann konungi: “Líkar yðr vel ránsfé, konungr, es Hólmgǫngu-Hani fœrir yðr?”

“Vel,” sagði Jabbi konungr.

“Þá myndi yðr margt um finnask,” segir Gríðó, “Ef ér hefðið allan þann, sem ér eiguð, en nú fór þat fjarri. Es it miklu meiri hlutr, es Hani dregr undir sik. Hann sendr yðr at gjǫf bjórskinn þrjú, en ek veit víst, at hann hefir eptir þrjá tigu þeira, es ér eiguð, ok hygg ek, at slíkan mun hafi farit um annat. En nú hefi ek fregnat, at hann es farinn til Íslands með mikit fé, es hann vill selja þar, en eiguð ér allt þat. Satt mun þat, konungr, ef þú fær skipit hans it góða í hǫnd mér, at meira fé skal ek fœra þér.”

En allt þat, es Gríðó sagði á hendr Hólmgǫngu-Hana, þá bǭru förunautar hans vitni með honum. Kom þá svá, at Jabbi konungr vas inn reiðasti.

“Fœr mér,” segir Jabbi konungr, “Skipit ok allt þat, es á es, en drep Hólmgǫngu-Hana Sólósson ok Tsiubakka inn fríska, ef þeir vili eigi koma fyr mér.”

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It is the beginning of this saga, that King Jabbi the Stout ruled over Denmark, and King Falfaðinn Lightning-Bolt over Norway, and there was great enmity between them.

Hani was the name of a man from a Norwegian family; he was the son of Jarl Sóló. He was a good man and a great viking; most called him Hólmgöngu-Hani (Duel-Hani). It is fitting to say something about the appearance of Hani. He was a man of few words, rather reserved, but the handsomest of men, tall and rather sun-browned, with brownish hair.

Because Hólmgöngu-Hani did not like the reign of King Falfaðinn, he went to Denmark and was with King Jabbi for a while; in the summer he went out on viking raids, and he oft did great damage to the lands and ships of King Falfaðinn; he raided widely here and there, wherever he came to land in Norway. And in the winter he gave to King Jabbi the wares that he got in Norway. King Jabbi liked this tribute very well, and he gave Hani a great axe, and this axe was jagged-pointed and gilded, with a shaft done in silver, and it was the greatest of treasures. Hani had another great treasure, and that was his ship, which he had gotten when he won a swimming race against Landó Kalrissiansson at Kessel Island. This ship was called the Thousand Year Falcon; it was the fastest of ships.

A Frisian man accompanied Hólmgöngu-Hani; he was named Tsiubakka. He was the hairiest of men and very big, he had blackish-brown hair and was rather chubby-faced and broad across the brows. Tsiubakka did not know how to speak Norse, but he understood what men said, and Hani spoke Frisian.

One time it so happened that Hani had raided in Norway, and when he was ready to put out to sea, some Norwegian chieftains rode up in that place. They asked who these men were and where they came from.

“I am named Hani Sólósson,” said Hani, “Some call me Hólmgöngu-Hani. And this follower of mine is a Frisian man named Tsiubakka. We have come here from Denmark and we are merchants.

“If you really are merchants,” said a chieftain, “Then you will have wares on your ship which you will want to sell, and we will want to buy, and let us see your cargo.”

These men went up on the ship, and they found many treasures which Hani and Tsiubakka had stolen from them. They took these, and they wanted to kill Hólmgöngu-Hani.

“Do not kill him,” said the first chieftain, “For I knew him from the beginning, and I knew his father. He is no friend of King Falfaðinn, and neither are we. But we shall take all these wares which he has stolen, and we shall not pay him.”

But since it was getting toward autumn, and Hani had no loot to give to King Jabbi, he hastened as swiftly as possible to Iceland and there thought to avoid the wrath of King Jabbi, till he could acquire some kind of tribute which he could deliver to the king.

A man was named Vattó, an old man and short, but a good farmer and a relative of Hani’s on his mother’s side. He lived on Iceland, at the farm called Mósæsli; Hólmgöngu-Hani stayed there that winter. There were also many other robbers and outlaws who were staying as guests at Mósæsli, for Vattó was himself an exile and had no love for kings. Some have even said that his farm was the most wretched hive of scum and villainy.

*

A man was named Grídó, a retainer of King Jabbi; he did not like Hani and he coveted his ship. And when he learned that Hani had had his plunder stolen from him and had gone to Iceland, he asked the king: “Do you like the plunder which Hólmgöngu-Hani brings you, king?”

“I like it well,” said King Jabbi.

“Then you would really like it,” said Grídó, “If you had all of that which you own, but as it stands you have far from it. It is the much greater part, which Hani keeps to himself. He sends you as a gift three bearskins, but I know for certain that he keeps thirty of them to himself, which you own, and I think that the same thing must be true of other things. But now I have learned that he has gone to Iceland with a great deal of property which he intends to sell there, and you own all of that. Truly, king, if you gave me his good ship, I would bring you more plunder.”

And everything that Grídó said about Hani, his companions bore witness to. It came to the point that King Jabbi was at his angriest.

“Bring me,” said King Jabbi, “The ship, and everything that is on it, and kill Hólmgöngu-Hani Sólósson and Tsiubakka the Frisian, if they refuse to come before me.”

XVI. Kapítuli: Frá þeiri mestu illgørð Falfaðins konungs (Chapter 16: Concerning the Greatest Evil Deed of King Falfaðinn)

Anakinn the Sky-walker becomes Jarl Veiðr, and the prequels come to an end. Thanks to everyone who’s kept reading this far, and thank you especially for all your helpful and critical comments. I’m looking forward to getting into the original trilogy.

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Um vetrinn frá Falfaðinn konungr at Anakinn himingangari var dauðr á Íslandi, ok hann fór þangat með her sinn ok fann Anakin lífs undir ǫskudyngju mikilli. Var þat hvárki fœtr né handleggir á Anakni himingangara, en andlitit var brennt ok blóðugt. Tala mætti hann hvárki, því at tungan var brennd, en hafði hann tennrnar enn ok hafði veidd mýss ok fugla með þær. Með seiðvǫgnun hafði hann lifat enn, en hann kunni ekki seiða þann seið, er skyldi grœða limuna aptr.

Jafnvel lofaði Falfaðinn konungr seið ok dirfð Anakins, því at hann var bitinn með sverðsegg ok með eld, en hann lifði enn marga mónuðr. “Sœmilega hefi ek þik nefndan Anakin seiðjarl,” segir Falfaðinn konungr, “Því at þú lifir enn fyrir þann seið, er þú namt at mér, jafnvel þó þú hefir enga limu.” En margir hermenn Falfaðins gǫbbuðu Anakin, kǫlluðu Veiðr-Anakin, því at þeim þóttisk hlœgiligt, at hann hafði veidd mýss með tennrnar. En þó at Anakinn mætti eigi tala, seiddi hann seið ok kœfði einn mann Falfaðins ór fjarska. Hermennirnir óttuðusk mann þann, er mætti kœfa þann mann er hann snart eigi við, en Falfaðinn konungr lofaði hann því meira, kallaði hann inn mesta seiðmann.

Falfaðinn konungr hafði lyfsteinn, ok hann fœrði Anakni steininn; síðan grœddi hann Anakin, ok nýir limir grøru við líkamann hans, skapaðir af seiðgaldri Falfaðins ór inu kalda svarta hrauni.

En andlitit var mjǫk ørrótt ok brennt, ok lungun ok augun váru eydd af reyki. Falfaðinn konungr kunni eigi seiða þann seið er grœddi nýja tungu eða lungu eða augu, ok fyrir því skapaði hann þann mikla hjálm, er heitir Ægishjálmr, en leizt sá hjálmr út sem hrafnblár hauss, ok fylgði hrafnblá kápa. Ok með þenn hjálm á hǫfði, mætti Anakinn anda ok tala ok sjá, en raustin hans varð hræðilega breytt, eigi lengr fǫgr en dimm ok þrumandi, ok hverr andi hans svá auðheyranleg ok byljandi sem mikil bylgja á knerri.

Anakinn himingangari lá enn á jǫrðu með nýju limu sína. En þá er Anakinn mætti hreyfask, gaf Falfaðinn konungr honum þat nafn alvǫrulega, er hermennirnir hans gáfu spottandi, ok hann kvað: “Rís, Veiðr.”

Veiðr reis ok andaði, ok þá er hermennirnir heyrðu raustina, sýndisk þeim, sem mikil þruma reiddi, ok þeir gugnuðu allir.

“Veiðr jarl,” segir Falfðinn konungr, “Fær þú mik heyrðan?”

“Já, herra,” kvað Veiðr, en þá spurði hann: “Eða hvar er Paðéma?”

“Eigi er at dylja þessa, vinr,” segir Falfaðinn konungr, “Þú veittir henni banasárit, þá er þú reiddisk ok kœfðir hana með seið á skipi hennar; firrsk þú gæfu þína.”

En Veiðr þagði.

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In the winter King Falfaðinn learned that Anakinn the Sky-walker had died on Iceland, and he went there with his army and found Anakinn alive under a great heap of ash. Anakinn the Sky-walker had lost his feet and arms, and his face was burnt and bloody. He could not talk, for his tongue was burnt, and yet he had his teeth still and had used them to hunt mice and birds. With his seið-magic he had survived, but he did not know the seið-spell that would allow him to grow new limbs.

Still King Falfaðinn praised Anakinn’s seið-magic and his courage, for he had been bitten by sword and by fire and yet had lived many months. “Fittingly have I named you Anakinn the seið-jarl,” said King Falfaðinn, “For you have lived by virtue of the seið-magic that you learned from me, even though you have no limbs.” But many of the soldiers of Falfaðinn mocked Anakinn, calling him Veiðr-Anakinn (Hunt-Anakinn), because they thought it laughable that he had hunted mice with his teeth. But though Anakinn could not talk, he cast a seið-spell and choked one of Falfaðinn’s soldiers from afar. The soldiers feared this man who could strangle a man whom he did not touch, but King Falfaðinn praised him the more, and called him the greatest of seið-men.

King Falfaðinn had a stone of healing, and he brought forth the stone before Anakinn; then he healed Anakinn, and new limbs grew upon his body, shaped by the magic of Falfaðinn from the cold black lava.

But his face was badly scarred and burnt, and his lungs and eyes had been destroyed by smoke. King Falfaðinn did not know the seið-spell that would grow a new tongue or lungs or eyes, and thus he crafted a great helm, which is called the Awe-helm, and that helm was like a raven-black skull, and with it there was a raven-black cape. And with that helm upon his head, Anakinn might breathe and speak and see, but his voice was strangely changed, no longer fair but dark and thunderous, and each breath that he took was as audible and resounding as a great breaker upon a longship.

Anakinn the Sky-walker lay still upon the earth with his new limbs. But when Anakinn could move, King Falfaðinn gave him in earnest that name which the soldiers had given him in mockery, and he said: “Rise, Veiðr.”

Veiðr rose and took a breath, and when the soldiers heard his voice, it seemed to them as if the thunder rolled, and they all quailed.

“Jarl Veiðr,” said King Falfaðinn, “Can you hear me?”

“Yes, master,” said Veiðr, and then he asked: “Where is Paðéma?”

“This should not be concealed from you, my friend,” said King Falfaðinn, “You dealt her death blow to her when, in your anger, you strangled her upon her ship with seið-magic; your good fortune has departed from you.”

But Veiðr was silent.