The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade) | Page 2

dead. Forthwith Gunnhild chose messengers and
equipped them handsomely both with weapons and wearing apparel:
thirty men chose she, and their leader was Hakon, a man of influence
and a friend to herself. She bade them make their way to Oprostad to
Eirik and from thence take the son of Tryggvi and bring him unto
herself.
Thereupon the messengers set out on their way, but when they were
come nigh to Oprostad learned the friends of Eirik concerning their
journey and went one evening unto him with the tidings.
Straightway when night had fallen, Eirik bade Astrid make ready to
leave, furnished her with sure guides, & set her eastwards with her face
towards Sweden, to his friend Hakon the Old, who was a man in the
exercise of potent sway. They adventured when the night was not far
spent, & next day, towards even, were they come to a country-side
called Skaun, and seeing there a homestead thither went they craving
lodging for the night. Of their names they made a secret & their garb
was but meanly. The yeoman who abode in the place was called Biorn
Venom-Sore, a wealthy man was he but withal churlish, and he drave
them away, & they came that same evening to another homestead
which was called Vizkar.
Thorstein was the yeoman who dwelt there & he gave them shelter and
good cheer for the night, and there they slept in good beds.
¶ Next day betimes came Hakon with the men of Gunnhild to Oprostad
and asked for Astrid and her son, but Eirik said that she was not there,
so Hakon and his men ransacked the homestead and bided till late even

toward sundown, and gat them some tidings of Astrid's road. Then rode
they forth the same day and came almost as night fell to the house of
Biorn Venom-Sore in Skaun, and there took harbour.
Then Hakon asked Biorn if he had aught to tell concerning Astrid; and
he said that some wayfarers had come there during the day and had
asked for a night's lodging, 'I sent them away, and it is likely they
sought a refuge elsewhere in the neighbourhood.' Now a workman that
had been of the household of Thorstein, being on his way to pass out
from the forest, that same even happened to chance on the homestead
of Biorn and learned that guests were tarrying, & further of what
fashion was their errand; and all this he forthwith sped back to tell to
Thorstein the yeoman.
So while there was still a third of the night unspent, Thorstein aroused
his guests and bade them begone, urging them harshly to bestir
themselves. When they had passed a little way from the house then did
Thorstein open unto them that the emissaries from Gunnhild were hard
by at the house of Biorn seeking for them.
They besought him for succour, and he set them on their way with a
guide & some food, and their guide led them into the forest where there
was a lake & an islet overgrown with reeds. They were able to wade
out unto the islet & thereon hid they themselves among the reeds.
Early on the morrow Hakon rode out from the homestead of Biorn over
the countryside, asking withersoever he went for Astrid. When he was
come unto the house of Thorstein demanded he if they had thither been
and Thorstein said that certain folk had fared thither & had gone on at
daybreak eastwards through the forest. Then did Hakon bid Thorstein
come with him because he was skilled in the knowledge of the tracks
and hiding-places: and Thorstein set forth. But when they were come to
the forest led he them away from where Astrid was.
The whole of that day did they go seeking for them, but found them not.
Then they came back on their road & related unto Gunnhild what had
befallen. Astrid & her followers went forth on their way till they were
come unto Sweden to the home of Hakon the Old, and there Astrid and

her son dwelt a long while, and it was well with them.
¶ Gunnhild, she that was mother to the King, hearing that Astrid & her
son Olaf were in Sweden, once more sent forth Hakon and a brave
following with him, this time eastward to Eirik King of Sweden, with
goodly gifts and fair words. The messengers were made welcome and
given good entertainment, and thereafter Hakon made known his errand
to the King, saying that Gunnhild had sent craving the King's help so
that he might take Olaf back with him to Norway: 'Gunnhild will foster
him,' quoth he.
Then did the King give him men to go with him, and they rode to the