Ellidagrim’s son, and Gizur the White, Hjallti Skeggi’s son, and
Einar of Thvera. But Njal’s sons were at home at their booth,
and Kari and Thorleif Crow, and Thorgeir Craggeir, and Thorgrim
the Big. They sate all with their weapons, and their band looked
safe from onslaught.
Njal had already prayed the judges to go into the court, and now
the sons of Sigfus plead their suit. They took witness and bade
Njal’s sons to listen to their oath; after that they took their
oath, and then they declared their suit; then they brought
forward witness of the notice, then they bade the neighbours on
the inquest to take their seats, then they called on Njal’s sons
to challenge the inquest.
Then up stood Thorhall Asgrim’s son, and took witness, and
forbade the inquest by a protest to utter their finding; and his
ground was, that he who had given notice of the suit was truly
under the ban of the law, and was himself an outlaw.
“Of whom speakest thou this?” says Flosi.
“Mord Valgard’s son,” said Thorhall, “fared to Hauskuld’s slaying
with Njal’s sons, and wounded him with that wound for which no
man was named when witness was taken to the death-wounds; and ye
can say nothing against this, and so the suit comes to naught.”
121. OF THE AWARD OF ATONEMENT BETWEEN FLOSI AND NJAL
Then Njal stood up and said, “This I pray, Hall of the Side, and
Flosi, and all the sons of Sigfus, and all our men, too, that ye
will not go away but listen to my words.”
They did so, and then he spoke thus: “It seems to me as though
this suit were come to naught, and it is likely it should, for it
hath sprung from an ill root. I will let you all know that I
loved Hauskuld more than my own sons, and when I heard that he
was slain, methought the sweetest light of my eyes was quenched,
and I would rather have lost all my sons, and that he were alive.
Now I ask thee, Hall of the Side, and thee Runolf of the Dale,
and thee Hjallti Skeggi’s son, and thee Einar of Thvera, and thee
Hafr the Wise, that I may be allowed to make an atonement for the
slaying of Hauskuld on my son’s behalf; and I wish that those men
who are best fitted to do so shall utter the award.”
Gizur, and Hafr, and Einar, spoke each on their own part, and
prayed Flosi to take an atonement, and promised him their
friendship in return.
Flosi answered them well in all things, but still did not give
his word.
Then Hall of the Side said to Flosi, “Wilt thou now keep thy
word, and grant me my boon which thou hast already promised me,
when I put beyond sea Thorgrim, the son of Kettle the Fat, thy
kinsman, when he had slain Halli the Red.”
“I will grant it thee, father-in-law,” said Flosi, “for that
alone wilt thou ask which will make my honour greater than it
erewhile was.”
“Then,” said Hall, “my wish is that thou shouldst be quickly
atoned, and lettest good men and true make an award, and so buy
