Grettir the Strong, an Icelandic Saga | Page 6

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occupation. Balki took up some land at Hrutafjord, and had his abode
in two places called Balkastad. Hallvard occupied
Sugandafjord and
Skalavik as far as Stigi, where he lived.
Thrand and Onund went to visit Eyvind the Easterner, who
welcomed
joyfully his brother Thrand; but when he heard that Onund had also
come, he became very angry and wanted to fight him. Thrand asked
him not to do so, and said it would ill become him to quarrel with men
from Norway, especially with such as had given no offence. Eyvind
said that he had given offence before, when he made war on Kjarval the
king, and that he should now pay for it. The brothers had much to say
to each other about the matter, till at last Thrand said that he and Onund
should share their fortune together. Then Eyvind allowed himself to be

appeased. They stayed there a long time in the summer and went

with Eyvind on his expeditions. Eyvind found Onund to be a man of
the greatest valour. In the autumn they went to the Hebrides, and
Eyvind made over to Thrand all his share in their father Bjorn's
patrimony in the event of Bjorn dying before Thrand. They stayed in
the Hebrides until they married and some years after.
CHAPTER VI
DEATH OF BJORN; DISPUTES OVER HIS PROPERTY IN
NORWAY
The next thing that happened was the death of Thrand's father Bjorn.
When the news of it reached Grim the Hersir he proceeded against
Ondott Crow and claimed Bjorn's estate. Ondott held Thrand to be the
rightful heir of his father, but Grim contended that Thrand was away in
the West. Bjorn, he said, came from Gautland, and the succession to the
estate of all foreigners passed to the king. Ondott said that he would
hold the property on behalf of Thrand, who was his daughter's son.
Grim then departed, having effected nothing by his claim.
Thrand, when he heard of his father's death, prepared to leave the
Hebrides, and Onund Treefoot decided to go with him. Ofeig Grettir
and Thormod Shaft went to Iceland with all their
belongings, landing
at Eyrar in the South. They spent the first winter with Thorbjorn the
Salmon-man, and then occupied
Gnupverjahrepp. Ofeig took the
outer part lying between the rivers Thvera and Kalfa, and lived at
Ofeigsstad near Steinsholt, while Thormod took the eastern part, living
at Skaptaholt.
Thormod's daughters were named Thorvor and Thorve;
the former afterwards became the mother of Thorodd the Godi at Hjalli,
Thorve of Thorstein the Godi the father of Bjarni the Wise.
We now return to Thrand and Onund, who sailed back from the West to
Norway. A strong wind blew in their favour, so that they arrived at the
house of Ondott Crow before any one knew of
their journey. He
welcomed Thrand and told him of the claim which Grim the Hersir had
raised for Bjorn's estate.

"To my thinking, kinsman," he said, "it is better that the
property
should go to you than to the king's thralls. It is a fortunate thing for you
that no one knows of your having come here, for I expect that Grim
will make an attack upon one or the other of us if he can. I should
prefer if you would take over your property and stay in other
countries."
Thrand said that he would do so. He took over the property and
prepared to leave Norway. Before leaving he asked Onund Treefoot
whether he would not come to Iceland. Onund said he wanted first to
visit some of his relations and friends in the South.
"Then," said Thrand, "we must part. I should be glad if you would give
my kinsmen your support, for our enemies will
certainly try to take
revenge upon them when I am gone. I am going to Iceland, and I want
you to come there too."
Onund said he would come, and they parted with great friendship.
Thrand went to Iceland, where he met with a welcome from Ofeig and
Thormod Shaft. He took up his dwelling at Thrandarholt to the west of
Thjorsa.
CHAPTER VII
MURDER OF ONDOTT CROW, AND THE VENGEANCE
THEREFOR
Onund went to Rogaland in the South and visited many of his relations
and friends. He lived there in concealment with a man named Kolbeinn.
He there learned that King Harald had taken all his property and given
it into the charge of a man named Harekr, one of his officials. Onund
went by night to Harekr's house and caught him at home; he was led to
execution. Then Onund took possession of all the loose property which
he found and burnt the building.
That autumn Grim the Hersir murdered Ondott Crow because he had
not succeeded in getting the property for the king. Ondott's wife Signy
carried off