Kettle of the Mark had to wife Thorgerda Njal’s daughter, but he
was Thrain’s brother, and he thought he was come into a strait,
so he rode to Njal’s house, and asked whether he were willing to
atone in any way for Thrain’s slaying?
“I will atone for it handsomely,” answered Njal; “and my wish is
that thou shouldst look after the matter with thy brothers who
have to take the price of the atonement, that they may be ready
to join in it.”
Kettle said he would do so with all his heart, and Kettle rode
home first; a little after, he summoned all his brothers to
Lithend, and then he had a talk with them; and Hogni was on his
side all through the talk; and so it came about that men were
chosen to utter the award; and a meeting was agreed on, and the
fair price of a man was awarded for Thrain’s slaying, and they
all had a share in the blood-money who had a lawful right to it.
After that pledges of peace and good faith were agreed to, and
they were settled in the most sure and binding way.
Njal paid down all the money out of hand well and bravely; and so
things were quiet for a while.
One day Njal rode up into the Mark, and he and Kettle talked
together the whole day; Njal rode home at even, and no man knew
of what they had taken counsel.
A little after Kettle fares to Gritwater, and he said to
Thorgerda, “Long have I loved my brother Thrain much, and now I
will shew it, for I will ask Hauskuld Thrain’s son to be my
fosterchild.”
“Thou shalt have thy choice of this,” she says; “and thou shalt
give this lad all the help in thy power when he is grown up, and
avenge him if he is slain with weapons, and bestow money on him
for his wife’s dower; and besides, thou shalt swear to do all
this.”
Now Hauskuld fares home with Kettle, and is with him some time.
93. NJAL TAKES HAUSKULD TO FOSTER
Once on a time Njal rides up into the Mark, and he had a hearty
welcome. He was there that night, and in the evening Njal called
out to the lad Hauskuld, and he went up to him at once.
Njal had a ring of gold on his hand, and showed it to the lad.
He took hold of the gold, and looked at it, and put it on his
finger.
“Wilt thou take the gold as a gift?” said Njal.
“That I will,” said the lad.
“Knowest thou,” says Njal, “what brought thy father to his
death?”
“I know,” answers the lad, “that Skarphedinn slew him; but we
need not keep that in mind, when an atonement has been made for
it, and a full price paid for him.”
“Better answered than asked,” said Njal; “and thou wilt live to
be a good man and true,” he adds.
“Methinks thy forecasting,” says Hauskuld, “is worth having, for
