The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald [Iceland] | Page 7

befriend me,
I'd pledge me to Frodi's blithe brother
And bind him
that he should be mine."
Then she told him to make friends with her father and get her in
marriage. So for her sake Cormac gave Thorkel good gifts.

Afterwards many people had their say in the matter; but in the end it
came to this, -- that he asked for her, and she was
pledged to him, and
the wedding was fixed: and so all was quiet for a while.
Then they had words. There was some falling-out about
settlements.
It came to such a pass that after everything was ready, Cormac began to
cool off. But the real reason was, that Thorveig had bewitched him so
that they should never have one another.
Thorkel at Tunga had a grown-up son, called Thorkel and by-named

Tooth-gnasher. He had been abroad some time, but this summer he
came home and stayed with his father.
Cormac never came to the wedding at the time it was fixed, and the
hour passed by. This the kinsfolk of Steingerd thought a slight,
deeming that he had broken off the match; and they had much talk
about it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
How Steingerd Was Married To Somebody
Else.
Bersi lived in the land of Saurbae, a rich man and a good fellow: he
was well to the fore, a fighter, and a champion at the
holmgang. He
had been married to Finna the Fair: but she was dead: Asmund was
their son, young in years and early ripe. Helga was the sister of Bersi:
she was unmarried, but a fine woman and a pushing one, and she kept
house for Bersi after Finna died.
At the farm called Muli (the Mull) lived Thord Arndisarson: he was
wedded to Thordis, sister of Bork the Stout. They had two sons who
were both younger than Asmund the son of Bersi.
There was also a man with Vali. His farm was named Vali's stead, and
it stood on the way to Hrutafiord.
Now Thorveig the spaewife went to see Holmgang Bersi and told him
her trouble. She said that Cormac forbade her staying in
Midfiord: so
Bersi bought land for her west of the firth, and she lived there for a
long time afterwards.
Once when Thorkel at Tunga and his son were talking about

Cormac's breach of faith and deemed that it should be avenged, Narfi
said, "I see a plan that will do. Let us go to the westcountry with plenty
of goods and gear, and come to Bersi in
Saurbae. He is wifeless. Let
us entangle him in the matter. He would be a great help to us."
That counsel they took. They journeyed to Saurbae, and Bersi

welcomed them. In the evening they talked of nothing but
weddings.
Narfi up and said there was no match so good as
Steingerd, -- "And a
deal of folk say, Bersi, that she would suit thee."
"I have heard tell," he answered, "that there will be a rift in the road,
though the match is a good one."
"If it's Cormac men fear," cried Narfi, "there is no need; for he is clean
out of the way."
When Bersi heard that, he opened the matter to Thorkel
Toothgnasher,
and asked for Steingerd. Thorkel made a good answer, and pledged his
sister to him.
So they rode north, eighteen in all, for the wedding. There was a man
named Vigi lived at Holm, a big man and strong of his hands, a
warlock, and Bersi's kinsman. He went with them, and they thought he
would be a good helper. Thord Arndisarson too went north with Bersi,
and many others, all picked men.
When they came to Thorkel's, they set about the wedding at once, so
that no news of it might get out through the countryside: but all this
was sore against Steingerd's will.
Now Vigi the warlock knew every man's affairs who came to the
steading or left it. He sat outmost in the chamber, and slept by the hall
door.
Steingerd sent for Narfi, and when they met she said, -- "I wish thee,
kinsman, to tell Cormac the business they are about: I wish thee to take
this message to him."
So he set out secretly; but when he was a gone a little way Vigi came
after, and bade him creep home and hatch no plots. They went back
together, and so the night passed.
Next morning Narfi started forth again; but before he had gone so far as
on the evening, Vigi beset him, and drove him back without mercy.

When the wedding was ended they made ready for their journey.
Steingerd took her gold and jewels, and they rode towards
Hrutafiord,
going rather slowly. When they were off, Narfi set out and came to Mel.
Cormac was building a wall, and hammering it with a mallet. Narfi