ill, and I will beg thee not to ride west, but I will get thee a
homestead in Skaptarfell, and I will send my brother, Thorgeir,
to dwell at Ossaby.”
“Then some will say,” says Hauskuld, “that I am flying thence for
fear’s sake, and that I will not have said.”
“Then it is more likely that great trouble will arise,” says
Flosi.
“Ill is that then,” says Hauskuld, “for I would rather fall
unatoned, than that many should reap ill for my sake.”
Hauskuld busked him to ride home a few nights after, but Flosi
gave him a scarlet cloak, and it was embroidered with needlework
down to the waist.
Hauskuld rode home to Ossaby, and now all is quiet for a while.
Hauskuld was so much beloved that few men were his foes, but the
same ill-will went on between him and Njal’s sons the whole
winter through.
Njal had taken as his fosterchild, Thord, the son of Kari. He
had also fostered Thorhall, the son of Asgrim Ellidagrim’s son.
Thorhall was a strong man, and hardy both in body and mind, he
had learnt so much law that he was the third greatest lawyer in
Iceland.
Next spring was an early spring, and men are busy sowing their
corn.
109. OF MORD AND NJAL’S SONS
It happened one day that Mord came to Berathorsknoll. He and
Kari and Njal’s sons fell a-talking at once, and Mord slanders
Hauskuld after his wont, and has now many new tales to tell, and
does naught but egg Skarphedinn and them on to slay Hauskuld, and
said he would be beforehand with them if they did not fall on him
at once.
“I will let thee have thy way in this,” says Skarphedinn, “if
thou wilt fare with us, and have some hand in it.”
“That I am ready to do,” says Mord, and so they bound that fast
with promises, and he was to come there that evening.
Bergthora asked Njal, “What are they talking about out of doors?”
“I am not in their counsels,” says Njal, “but I was seldom left
out of them when their plans were good.”
Skarphedinn did not lie down to rest that evening, nor his
brothers, nor Kari.
That same night, when it was well-nigh spent, came Mord Valgard’s
son, and Njal’s sons and Kari took their weapons and rode away.
They fared till they came to Ossaby, and bided there by a fence.
The weather was good, and the sun just risen.
110. THE SLAYING OF HAUSKULD, THE PRIEST OFWHITENESS
About that time Hauskuld, the Priest of Whiteness, awoke; he put
on his clothes, and threw over him his cloak, Flosi’s gift. He
took his corn-sieve, and had his sword in his other hand, and
walks towards the fence, and sows the corn as he goes.
Skarphedinn and his band had agreed that they would all give
him a wound. Skarphedinn sprang up from behind the fence, but
