The Saga of

Half & his Heroes

© Peter Tunstall, 2003

 

1. Of King Alrek

There was a king called Alrek who lived at Alreksstadir. He ruled over Hordaland. He married Signy, the daughter of the king of Vors. He had a retainer called Koll, and Koll went north with the king to Sogn and he told the king all about the beauty of Geirhild Drif's daughter, because he'd seen her brewing ale, and he said he was happy to give the king that tip.

As Geirhild was sewing, Hott came to her. Hott was really Odin. He made a bargain with her, that King Alrek would have her, but she must call on Hott in all things. The king saw her on his way home, and they were wed that same autumn.

The king rewarded Koll well for his loyalty and gave him a jarldom and residence at Kollsey, south of Hardsea, and that's a well populated district.

King Alrek couldn't keep both wives, because of their squabbles, and so he said he'd keep the one who made the best ale for him, when he came home from the levy. They competed at the brewing. Signy prayed to Freyja, and Geirhild to Hott. He spat on the yeast and said he'd be back for what was between the tub and her. And that ale turned out good. Then Alrek said:

"Geirhild, girl,
good is this ale,
I can't complain
unless there's a catch.
I see hanging
on high gallows
your son, woman,
sacrificed to Odin."

Within the year, Vikar was born, the son of Alrek and Geirhild.

2. The Fall of King Ogvald

Ogvald king of Rogaland lived at Rogi on Josur Heath. That's between Rogaland and Telemark. It is now called Vidir, The Woods. He went hunting. His court came with him, and the queen had a son there, who was called Josur. He was fostered by Gunnvald the Jarl of Stord. Haekling the viking came with his raiders against King Ogvald. In that battle King Ogvald fell and he was buried at Ogvaldsnes.

Finn the Rich of Akranes, the settler, put in at Ogvaldsnes on his way to Iceland and asked how long it was since King Ogvald died. He heard this verse spoken in the howe:

"It was long ago
they laid a course
here in their hundreds,
Haekling's men,
sailed the salty
sea-trout's track.
That's when they crowned me
king of this mound."

3. The Fall of King Alrek and Koll

Jarl Gunnvald and Koll both asked for the same woman, and Gunnvald got her. After that, Koll came with a great army to Stord in secret, and they set fire to Gunnvald of Rogi's house. Gunnvald came out and was killed.

Then Josur was king for a while. Later he went with a great army to avenge his foster-father, and when Koll saw his sails, he ran to his warship and sailed north round Hardsea into Grafdale Bay. Then King Alrek came against King Josur and his forces, and King Alrek fell with the better part of his army. Vikar, Alrek's son, had not come out of the battle before King Josur left. In that expedition, Josur took all the lands that had been Koll's.

4. Vikar Avenges his Father

Many years later, King Vikar came against Josur, as he was in the land that Koll had owned, and they fought a battle and King Josur fell first, and with him all the farming men of the district. That's why it's called Kvennaherad, or Women's County, as only widows lived there after that. Then Vikar took possession all the region Koll had owned. But first, Hjor Josursson went against Vikar in battle, and they struggled a long while - first one, then the other getting the upper hand - and at last they came to a settlement. Vikar's son was Vatnar, who was buried in Vatnar's Howe - his sons were Snjall and Hjall, who lie in the Brothers' Howe.

5. King Hjorleif's Trip to Bjarmaland

King Hjor Josursson was a powerful king and died of sickness and was buried in Rogaland. His son was King Hjorleif of Hordaland. He ruled Rogaland and was a very powerful king. He was called Hjorleif the Ladies' Man. He married Aesa the Fair, daughter of Jarl Eystein of Valdres.

Hjorleif was lavish with his wealth, out of generosity. He had a ship specially made and went to Bjarmaland. Hogni the Wealthy lived on Njardo Island in the Namsfjord. He welcomed King Hjorleif and he was there three nights and got to marry Hild the Slender, Hogni's daughter, before he left, and she went with him to Bjarmaland along with her brother Solvi.
And when King Hjorleif came to the mouth of the Dvina, he split his crew into three groups. On his ship were ninety men. He fought the locals with one third of his crew, another lot kept watch on the ship with the skipper, and the third group broke into a barrow with the prowsman, that's the fighter whose post is at the front of a warship, and they got a great deal of treasure.

One night, in the Gjardey Gulf, south of Lapland, Hjorleif laid anchor, and the boys had a fire on shore, and two men went to get water from a brook that fell from a nearby outcrop. They saw a fox-like creature called a brunnmigi there and told Hjorleif. Then the king heats a speartip in the fire and pokes it at him. The king said:

"Out the water!
Don't wind me up.
Off home with you,
horrible thing!
Hey wretch, I'll send
a singeing spear.
That'll wet
your whiskers with blood."

Then they took water and the monster shot into the cliff. But later, as they sat by the fire, it answered in verse from the rock:

"She doesn't know,
not exactly,
what awaits her,
your woman, king,
or what'll halt
her happy days.
We'll hurt you, Hild,
so keep your king
close by the fire."

Then Hjorleif stabbed the troll in the eyes with the same spear. Hogni asked for Solvi and Hild to stay behind with him, but the king refused. Two servants went with Hild, and twenty men with Solvi. Aesa was unhappy with the king and his crew, but happy with everyone else.

6. Hjorleif Married Hreidar's Daughter

Now taking this ship of his in which he'd sailed to Bjarmaland, King Hjorleif went to Konungahella. Hreidar, king of Zealand, and his men pitched their shelters nearby. Heri, King Hreidar's son, got friendly with King Hjorleif. Having met, he urged his father to invite King Hjorleif home. King Hreidar said no good would come of that, but still he gave his leave and offered to pay the expenses. They sailed together for Denmark. At the banquet, Hjorleif saw Hringja, Hreidar's daughter, and asked for her hand. Heri encouraged this course, and she left with Hjorleif and a shipful of crew and cargo as dowry.

In the Skagerrak, King Hjorleif lay becalmed. And when they set out at sunrise, he saw a great mountain come up from the sea, shaped just like a man. It said:

"I see a barrow
built for Hringja,
and Heri killed
by a keen spear.
I see fetters
forged for Hjorleif,
on Hreidar's neck
a noose quite soon."

The ships wouldn't go. So the king ordered them to take to the oars. Then Hringja felt ill. They put up the oars. No sooner had she taken sick than she died, and her coffin was cast overboard, and she went back south so fast, it seemed like it was being rowed on six oars. Heri found the casket adrift not far from his father's boatsheds and told him, and said King Hjorleif must have murdered her.

7. Prophesies of the Merman

That fall, a father and son, Handir and Hrindir, went fishing and caught a merman. They took him to Hjorleif. The king gave him into the hands of a woman of the court and told her to take good care of him. no one got a word out of him. The candle-boys were larking and wrestling and put the lights out. At that moment Hild hit Aesa's mantle with a horn. The king hit her with his hand, but Hild said it was the dog on the floor's fault. So the king pardoned the dog. Then the merman laughed. The king asked why he was laughing. He said, "Because you were stupid. Those two will save your life."

The king asked him to say some more. He didn't answer. So the king let him be taken back to sea and asked him to say what he needed to know. On his way to the sea, the merman sang:

"Far south at sea
I see the lights,
a Danish king
would avenge his daughter.
Out in the harbour
sit untold ships,
Hjorleif's invited
to an island fight.
Have a care king,
for what's to come -
I want to go back in the sea."

And as they rowed out to where they'd hauled him up, he said:

"A tale I can tell
to the tribe Haley,
hardly happy though,
hark if you like:
Odin's daughters
drawing northward
drenched all in blood
from Denmark's shore.

She has a helm
on her head buckled,
hard battle-crest,
no hanging back.
Not long have the lads
left to wait now,
for War's on her way,
she won't delay.

Shield-frames are smashed,
the maid's eyes flashing
round this district
to maim some thanes.
Swords there'll be
for all the soldiers,
for each man here
many a spear,
before the great storm
of steel appears.

But soon, if it's true,
when the battle's gone badly,
they'll have all bought
oars, when spring comes in."

Then King Hjorleif let him overboard. But first, a man grabbed him and asked, "What is best for a man?" The merman answered:

"Cold water for eyes,
and meat for teeth,
linen for your body,
let me back in the sea!
Nobody drags me
into daylight above,
no sailors on ships,
off the sea-bottom."

The king gave Handir and Hrindir land to farm and with it slaves and servants.

8. Of Hjorleif and Hreidar

Then King Hjorleif had the war-arrow sent out and raised himself an army. At night King Hreidar came with his troops and drew up a ring around Hjorleif's residence. That same night his dog Floki barked, and Floki never barked unless he knew the king was in danger. King Hjorleif leapt over the besiegers and flung back a spear at the army. Then he heard someone shouting that Heri had fallen. The king saw the smoke from his burning court and King Hreidar sailing away with much booty, including the women.

That same autumn, King Hjorleif came with a single ship in the night to King Hreidar's dwelling, and walked alone into the sleeping-house, but none of the women were there in bed except Aesa. Hjorleif told her to get him close to King Hreidar. She shut him in her washtub and then went and told King Hreidar that Hjorleif was there. On Aesa's advice, King Hjorleif was strung up by his own shoestraps between two fires in Hreidar's hall. Meanwhile Hild woke and poured beer on the fire. She set him free by cutting the thongs with a sword. King Hreidar sat asleep in his throne and Aesa in his lap. King Hjorleif stabbed him in the chest and then went to his ship to fetch his soldiers and has them tie up the whole court, and afterwards he let them off, but as for King Hreidar, he hung his corpse up on the very gallows that Hreidar had intended for him.

On the very evening that Hjorleif arrived, Hreidar had heard a voice intoning:

"Remember Hreidar
where you felled Heri.
Woe woke there
before the west door.
She's yet to get
to your hall, sir -
still waiting king?
for that woman with the wind behind her."

King Hjorleif took possession of all the lands that Hreidar had owned, and he put Solvi Hognason in charge of it and gave him a jarldom, but Hjorleif went back to Norway and took Hild and Aesa with him and summoned a thing. The people voted that Aesa should be drowned in a bog, but Hjorleif sent her up onto the land with her dowry.
Hjorleif and Aesa had a son called Oblaud, who was the father of Otrygg, father of Hogni the White, father of Ulf the Squint, from whom the folk of Reyknes are descended.

9. Of Hjorolf Hjorleifsson

Hjorleif and Hild the Slender had two sons. The oldest was called Hjorolf and the youngest Half. King Hjorleif was killed while out raiding. There was a king called Asmund. He took Hild the Slender as his wife and fostered Hjorleif's sons.

When Hjorolf was thirteen, he got ready to go raiding. He got every ship he could get his hands on, little and big, new and old, and every man he could find, free or forced. They had lots of things for weapons: sticks and staves, posts and poles. That's why, since then, any business that's a bit clumsy is called a Hjorolf's Chance. And when he got into a battle with some vikings, he rallied the troops and attacked. He had an inexperienced and ill-equipped force, and many his men were killed, but some fled, and he got back home with that lot by autumn, and he didn't amount to much as a man.

10. Of King Half and Half's Heroes

The following spring, Half was twelve years old, and nobody could match him for size or strength. Then he got ready to go raiding, and he had one ship, new and well-made.
In Hordaland there lived a jarl whose name was Alf the Old. His wife was Gunnlod, sister of Lord Hamund the Bold - their father was the berserk Hromund. Gunnlod and Alf had two sons and both were called Stein. The oldest was eighteen. He was then adviser to King Half. no one younger or more immature than him was allowed to go on the expedition. In the courtyard stood a big stone. no one was allowed to go unless they'd lifted that stone off the ground. no one who got scared was allowed to go, or who spoke despondently, or who winced at wounds. Stein junior couldn't go because of his age, as he was twelve years old.
Lord Hamund had two sons, one called Rook the Black and the other Rook the White. They were chosen for this expedition. Aslak was a major landowner. Egil and Erling were his sons. They were fine men. Half's standard bearer was called Vemund. Four men from the king's following were attached to him. Now the eleven districts were scoured. There they found twelve men. There were the two brothers, Hawk and Val, Styr the Strong, Dag the Dashing, Bork and Brynjolf, Bolverk, and Haki, Hring and Halfdan, Stari and Steingrim, Stuf and Gauti, Bard and Bjorn. There were twenty-three of them in all when they set out.

That first evening, as they laid anchor, it rained heavily. Stein asked for a tent. The king answered, "Still want to live in a tent? You're not at home now, you know." So from then on they called him Innstein.

The next day, they rowed around a headland in choppy weather. A man was standing on the ness, and he asked for passage. The king said he could stand on the rudder-post till evening. He said that was very kind of him, and said he guessed then he'd be standing at the king's right hand. And he did just that. This man was Gunnlod's other son, Stein the Younger. From then on, he was called Utstein - outside Stein.

They kept lots of rules, out of exuberance and a sense of competition. One was that none of them could have a sword any longer than half a yard. So they had saxes, a sort of cleaver or short-sword, made for them, in such as way that the blows would be heavier. None of them had less then twelve times the strength of an average man. They never stole women and children on raids. They never bound a wound till a whole day had passed. no one was accepted who failed to meet these standards of strength and courage. King Half was raiding for eighteen summers. It was their custom to always drop anchor right in front of a headland. It was another of their customs to never pitch tents or awnings on deck and never to reef the sail in a storm. They were called Half's Heroes, and there were never more than sixty of them on the ship.

11. Asmund Invited King Half

King Half came home from war to own his kingdom. They had a big storm at sea. Their ship was taking water and no one had been baling. Then the decision was taken to cast lots for who should go overboard, but there was no need for that, as each man volunteered to go overboard on behalf of his comrades. And as they all climbed over the gunwales, they said, "There's no straw on these boards!"

Anyway, when King Half reached Hordaland, King Asmund came to see him and did homage to him and swore oaths of allegiance and became his man, and he invited King Half to a feast together with half his army. But the next morning, as the king got ready and said that half his troops were to stay on the ships, Innstein declared:

"We ought all of us
up from our ships
with burning brands,
best of warriors,
take fire to our foe
first while we can,
extinguish all
of Asmund's band."

The king said:

"Half this host
of heroes goes
in peace to the place
of the party by sea.
Asmund's asked
us to a banquet,
red-gold the rings,
a regal offer."

Innstein said:

"You don't see all
of Asmund's mind,
that chief conceals
deceit in his breast.
So think, my king,
we all caution,
please trust your foster
father less."

The king said:

"Asmund's granted
oaths untold,
promised peace,
pledged his friendship.
No lord well-born
would abuse a truce,
betray the trust
of a true ally."

Innstein said:

"Odin's fury
will fall on you
if gullable
to Asmund you go.
He'll dissemble,
hoodwink us all,
unless you keep
a look out, lord."

The king said:

"You always twist
the talk to terror,
but a bold king never
goes back on his word.
Gold we'll get there
and glittering gems,
red rings sprinkled
from the ruler's hoard."

Innstein said:

"Half, I had a dream,
pay heed to me,
fierce flame played
on our forces there.
It was tough in that place
until we escaped.
What meaning, sire,
do you make of that dream?"

The king said:

"I'll give a gilt helm
to each of my heroes,
those bold fellows
who follow me.
That would look
to a lord's warband,
all too similar
to smouldering flame."

Innstein said:

"I dreamed again,
a dreadful scene:
it seemed that shoulders
shone with flame.
I've a feeling, sire,
that something's wrong.
Any idea
what this dream might mean?"

The king said:

"Chain-links chime
on the chief's retainers,
king's men clinking
covered in mail.
Byrnies burn
bright shoulder-light,
looks very much
like bonfire and blaze."

Innstein said:

"I dreamed again,
a third dream also,
that we took a dive
in deep water.
It's got to imply
some great deceit.
What meaning, sire,
do you see in this dream."

The king said:

"What's it to me?
I've heard all I want,
now fasten your mouth,
it means just nothing.
Enough of this nonsense,
not a word
of your dreams and drivel
from this day on."

Innstein said:

"Listen up, you two Rooks,
in the ranks of the king,
and heed these words
of warning, Utstein.
Up from the strand
let's stride together,
not liking too well
the words of our lord."

Utstein said:

"We'll let the warlord,
our warrior king,
lead with daring
our expedition.
Let's chance it, brother,
as the chief orders,
risk our bodies
for a brave master."

Innstein said:

"The ruler's relied
while roaming abroad,
our lord many times,
on my loyal advice.
Yet now it seems
there's nothing I can say -
the king won't listen
since we came this way."

12. King Asmund's Treachery

King Half went up to Asmund's hall with half of his warriors. There were masses of people there. The banquet was bountiful and the drink so strong that Half's Heroes were soon fast asleep. King Asmund and his men set fire to the hall.

And the first of the Heroes to wake up saw that the hall was nearly full of smoke. He said, "The smoke must be up to our hawks' perches by now." Then he lay down and went back to sleep.

And another one woke and he saw that the hall was burning, and he said, "I guess wax must be dripping off our blades by now." He lay back down.

And then King Half woke up. He got up and roused the men and told them to get their weapons. They charged at the wall then, so that the clasps on the corner-beams came loose.

And Innstein said:

"Smoke's to the hawks
in the hall of the king,
and wax from saxes
watery drips.
Now we're paid in inlaid
precious weapons,
Half's heroes handed
helms well-gilded, indeed.

Best wake fast, men,
that's my advice -
no want of kindling
for a conflagration.
Risk waiting no more,
ring-sharing king:
for a plotting parent
it's pay back time.

Ram the planks now,
push on the walls.
The props splinter,
split finally in two.
While there's life there's hope
for Half's fighters,
they'll battle on
while they've breath, for their lord.

With hard blows we'll go
and give up never.
The chief's champions
charge with short-swords.
They'll smear themselves
in bloody sores
before bowing down
to the blaze in here.

Look lively, lads,
leap out the fire,
dodge cinders gentlemen
just like your prince.
No man's likely
to live for ever,
so why should I fear
shield-clash with foes."

13. The Fall of King Half

It is said that Half and his Heroes came out of the fire and that Half fell before overwhelming odds together with his men. Innstein said, when the king had fallen:

"Here I saw armed-men
all follow one,
king's kin,
keen as each other.
We met in one piece
but parting from hence,
life's no nicer
than long sleep of death."

Then the rest of the Heroes joint the fight, those who'd stayed with the ships. There fell a great many of Half's Heroes. The battle dragged on till nightfall, before Innstein fell. Innstein said:

"Rook has fallen
by the feet of our leader,
defending to the last
his liege-lord staunchly.
Ill-will
we owe to Odin -
snatching victory
from such a king.

I've been at sea
eighteen summers,
the boss I've served
was bold enough.
Another lord
I'll never find
more gallant in war,
nor grow old now.

So now Innstein
sinks to the ground,
lays himself down
by his leader's head.
In latter times
at the telling of sagas,
they'll hear of how
Half died laughing."

14. Of Utstein and Rook the Black

Gunnlod went among the dead in the night, looking for her sons. She found Innstein dead, but Utstein was wounded, though barely alive, and likewise Bard and Bjorn. She put them on a cart and brought them to a cottage and healed them in secret and sent them south then to Sweden. Bjorn and Bard went to see King Solvi of Sweden, Half's uncle on his mother's side, but Utstein went to Denmark to King Eystein, his kinsman.

Rook the Black had many grave wounds. In the night, he walked from the battle field till he found a humble cotter whose name was Skogkarl. There he stayed, and his wounds were bandaged. The cotter smuggled him north to Sogn to Lord Geirmund, his father's brother. There he was healed in secret and in the fall he went to the Uplands and east to Gautland. He made it to King Haki in Skåne and stayed the winter with him.

15. Utstein Killed the Sons of Ulf

Utstein was with King Eystein. Ulf the Red was Eystein's advisor. He had eight sons, and they were great fighters and very malicious. They took a dislike to Utstein, and they fell out while drinking. Earlier, Utstein had told of King Half's death. He said:

"What makes me smile
most especially,
is that Asmund's not yet
out of the fire.
Three of Eynef's
offspring fell there
from wounds, it's true,
but one lives."

When Ulf taunted him and egged him on, Utstein said:

"Up we'll get
and out we'll go then,
shield on shield,
it shan't take long.
Something tells me
to trust to luck,
in Denmark here
our disir stand near."

Ulf said:

"All your disir
are dead I think,
your luck's run dry,
doughty Heroes.
I dreamt one dawn
our daring boys,
triumphed, topped you,
try as you might."

Utstein said:

"You seem to me
sadly mistaken,
get ready Ulf
for a rude awakening.
Soon a sword
will swipe it off,
from reddened neck,
your head rolling."

Ulf said:

"Oh, they'll succeed,
the sons of Ulf:
Odd and Ornolf,
Ati the Black,
Bork and Brynjolf,
Bui, Hardskafi,
Raud the Red,
or you'll run away."

Utstein said:

"Where Stein's concerned
they'd stand no chance,
of inspiring fear,
Ulf's feeble sons.
Delusions of grandeur
are great in their place,
but I've seen birdshit
braver than your sons.

For the Rooks it was not,
nor to Halfdan,
a deed of fear
done on weaklings,
when we four
felled eight jarls
out there in front
of Annis ness.

Though Ulf's sons step
outside to fight,
eight warriors now
all against one,
Stein won't flee,
take flight from the mob,
even if cowards
come all at once.

Half, my king,
he came in a dream,
to me with kind
encouraging words.
He'd always be there,
that's what he told me,
watching over
wherever we went to war."

Then Ulf's sons went outside with Utstein and they fought. He killed all Ulf's sons and afterwards went in to the king and said:

"I'm here to give
grave news to Ulf -
his haughty sons
lie hacked to bits.
More men, Eystein,
if you wish it,
may come now for combat,
cold steel to test."

Eystein said:

"It's in your hands
to hold them back -
the Heroes of Half
are harder than any.
I know of none
more noble in war,
bolder than you, sir,
as eight would state."

Utstein said:

"I'd take on all
of Eystein's band,
bite them with my sword
under the same roof here,
if they can't see sense
and it comes to that,
but what's this dispute
to do with us?

no one's that keen
to cross me now,
for long ago
my life was shaped.
Hard is the heart
I have in my breast.
As a child I found
favour with Odin."

16. Of Rook the Black

Rook the black was with King Haki. The king's daughter was called Brynhild. A king called Svein the Victorious asked for Brynhild's hand in marriage, but Haki refused. Svein swore he'd kill the man who got her, and her father too. King Haki had a jarl called Hedin, and Vivil was his son. He asked for Brynhild's hand, and this was promised him, if he could defend the land from Svein.

Rook the Black was unknown there, and no one thought anything of him. He sat in the guest's seat. One day, the men of the court went hunting, and the women went gathering nuts. Brynhild saw a big man stood near a nearby oak. She heard him saying:

"Now Hamund's son
will say something
of the brothers Rook,
their birth and line.
More doughty I deem
my dad to have been,
a keen falcon
compared to your father.

no one would want
to waste time on Weevil,
though he may have herded
Hamund's flock.
I didn't find
a feebler mind
than that swine-herd
son of Hedin.

My station was higher
when we stood by Half,
followed the wise king
the world over,
with single mind
we marched as one,
always fighting
far and wide.

Each of us had
hawkmen to hand,
wherever the chief chose
to chance his luck.
We advanced,
visors down,
on nine countries,
captured them all.

Half I saw hew
two-handed there,
no shield sheltered
our chief that day.
A worthier warrior
you wouldn't find,
though hard you hunt,
or stouter-hearted.

Some men who know
no better than this,
they think our king
had the courage of a fool.
But they never knew
that noble ruler,
Half, Haloga-king,
if that's all they've heard.

His boys were forbidden
to blanch at death
or to utter a word
out of worry.
None were allowed
to go with that lord
unless this law
to the letter they held.

None were allowed
to let out a groan
at cuts incurred
in the clash of war,
or bind a sore,
bandage up wounds,
until an entire
day's time was done.

He commanded that no man
in manacles be harmed,
nor any woman
by his warriors attacked.
Honourably he ordered
should all girls be bought,
with fairest gold
and their fathers' leave.

We never met
so many enemies
in all our time
that we turned and fled,
even when eleven
eager hostile
warriors awaited
each one of us.

Where valkyries flew
the victory was ours,
with sharpened edge,
shield-rims clashing.
One prince alone
was the peer of my lord,
hard-knit Sigurd
in the halls of Gjuki.

Many I could mention
who marched with us,
who battled for the boss,
brave men and good:
Bork and Brynjolf,
Bolverk and Haki,
Egil and Erling,
Aslak's sons.

In my estimation
of men the best
were Rook, my brother,
and bold King Half,
Styr and Steinar,
strong men both,
Lady Gunnlod's
gallant boys.

Hring and Halfdan
were hawks in war,
Dag the Dashing,
no doubting his judgement.
Stari and Steingrim,
Styr and Gauti -
you'll hear nowhere
of more handsome lads.

Val and Hawk,
on viking raids,
fine fellows marched,
at their master's side.
I doubt you'd find
fighters as handy
here in Haki's
humble land.

Nor was I deemed
a nobody there,
a wretch in the ranks
of the royal troop.
Keenest of comrades
they called me indeed,
as each competed
for praise with his feats.

In the vanguard Vemund
advanced with the standard.
Bjorn and Bersi
bore all before them.
Those fine fighters
formed themselves up,
relented never
while life lasted.

The daring deeds
he did went unpaid,
there wasn't a welcome,
no reward for this lord.
At twelve the tyke
took to raiding,
and then when our thane
was thirty, he died.

I don't sleep well,
I wake all night,
I feel so bad
about my brother.
The thought of Rook
in that barn burning
alive with the last
of our lord's fighters.

The darkest day
I dared imagine,
worst one in the world,
has washed up on me.
I doubt that now
my dear kinsmen
will ever get
together again.

No pain could compare
with the possibility
of never avenging
my noble King Half,
or the fear that I fail
with flashing blade
to pierce the heart
of Half's killer.

Half the hero
has to be avenged,
for they betrayed
his trust in a truce.
Murder they committed
and manslaughter
for Asmund on that
ill-starred day.

There'll be a test,
a trial of strength,
if Svein we find
on the field of battle,
of who's hardier,
who has what it takes,
Hamund's boy
or Haki's thanes.

So what I say,
wise lady, to you,
is I'd not ask for beautiful
Brynhild's hand,
if I wasn't sure
of what she wanted:
to love Rook here,
Hamund's boy.

Wise descendants
I'd expect to see,
some good offspring
if we got together,
for I've not met
a smarter lass
than Haki's girl,
the whole world over.

I've yet to meet
on my many journeys,
a dearer lass
than Haki's daughter.
She is all
that I could wish.

I'm an outcast here
in Haki's kingdom,
ignored by all.
They've each a spot
to sit inside
all snug in the hall,
warmer by far
than Half's Heroes.

Brynhild, daughter of King Haki, told her father what she'd heard, and said that one of Half's Heroes must have arrived. And when the king realised that, he directed Rook to sit in the seat of honour, and they got on great. Rook the Black got to marry Brynhild. The following spring, Rook went with an army against Svein the Victorious, and they fought a battle. Svein fell there, but Rook triumphed and came back to King Haki.

Then in the summer, they set out with a big army, with King Solvi and King Haki and Rook the Black, King Eystein and Utstein with him. They went to Norway, fought a battle with King Asmund and killed him.

Then Half's son Hjor became king of Hordaland. Rook and Utstein went raiding for many years, and they were fine men. The daughter of Brynhild and Rook the Black was Gunnlod, who was Hromund Gripsson's mother.

17. The Birth of Hamund and Geirmund Hellskin

King Hjor Halfsson married Hagny, daughter of Haki Hamundsson. King Hjor went to a meeting of kings, and while he was gone, Hagny gave birth to two sons, and they were black and strikingly ugly, and one was called Hamund and the other Geirmund. A serving woman gave birth at the same time, to a son, and he was called Leif. He was very handsome. The queen swapped sons with the servant and brought Leif to the king. The king went away again, this time on a levy. The boys were now three years old. Leif was easily scared, as you'd expect at his age, but Hamund and Geirmund were enormous and spoke intelligently.
The skald Bragi came to a feast there. One day, all the men went to the forest, and the women to the hazel wood, and no one was home in the hall except Bragi, sitting in the seat of honour, and the queen was hiding there covered in a pile of clothes. Leif sat on the throne, playing with gold, but Hamund and Geirmund were down in the straw on the floor. They went over to Leif and shoved him off his chair, and took off him all his gold. He was crying. Bragi got up and went to where the queen lay, and poked the clothes with his staff and said:

"There's two in here,
Hamund and Geirmund,
and both I believe,
born to Hjor,
but the third one Leif,
is Lodhott's son.
You never gave birth
to that boy, woman."

After which, Hagny swapped her boys back with the servant. And when King Hjor came home, she took the boys to him and said that they were his sons.

"Away with them!" he said, "I never saw such hellish skin." They were both called Hellskin after this.

They were men of great achievements and strength, and a major family in Iceland is descended from them. Hamund's son was Thorir-at-Espihol. From him are descended the Esphaelings. Geirmund Hellskin settled in Medalfellsstrond in Breidafjord. His daughter was Yri, and a great family comes from her.