Hafni's Tale, Part 9

Dark portents. Stone-Skull arrives. The Álvarhamrmaðr quit Myrkyrland.

They had all gone to Berghamar that winter, at the King's behest. It was long and cold, and the Myrkyrlanders starved in great numbers. There was a cold wind off the Gritwater, and Rurik Þengmursson openly cursed Or Æfi. Much would be made of this later, for the God of the Desolate Coast heard his mockery and was not pleased.

Old Olaf had made Odegaard Sverrir Jarl of Berghamar, and he was uneasy with his new duties. Those who had served Fine-Beard did not like him – he was young and beautiful, and they thought him a poor leader. He relied on the Ferðu much that winter.

In late winter, when trees were bursting in the Traaverk from the cold, Bjorn Most-Beard arrived in a fierce storm. The King, he said, was dead, and he asked the Álvarhamrmaðr to swear loyalty to his son, Noberg. He feared a civil war, for Jarl Arvid Hoen of Haldisvagen had remained mute concerning his intentions. The Ferðu refused Most-Beard, for with the King, so died their vow to him. Most-Beard told them that the Álvar had rebuffed his entreaties, and that he feared for the kingdom upon Olaf's death. The Ferðu had been ill-treated and were eager to return home, and his words meant little to them.

Their friend Hallstein loudly criticized the King and threw his lot in with Arvid Hoen, and his kinsmen, the Bierkelands, were shamed and angered. They told him to quit Myrkyrland forever, and he was happy to comply. They cursed his name and scorned him openly.

And so they made plans to leave in the early spring. Bjorn Stone-Skull visited them not long after Most-Beard. He had a Myrkyr longship that he had won, and a great pile of treasure, and a few able Ferðu who were also eager to leave that blighted land. These included Smiðni , son of Kolus, Korsteinn Open-Hand , son of Ásvarður, and Ægur the priest. Stone-Skull also had with him his beautiful Varmalek thræll, Thela. He offered to return Olgrimur's farm as payment, should they agree to accompany him as crewmen on the dangerous winter journey. They readily agreed, and Hallstein as well. It was not long before they feasted Odegaard and gave him gifts, promising to return if ever he should need them. Then they departed.

Hallstein Beirkeland had made numerous enemies, and these sent two knarrs to capture and kill him. They met Stone-Skull's ship in the Gritwater and there was a battle which the Fer ðu won. They delayed their return long enough to sell these men their freedom and gather marks for the boats.

“Now we will not return to Ferðuhvalurland empty-handed,” Bard said.

Hafni's fortunes had fallen with his men in Myrkyrland. His raiding had gone poorly, and he had been plagued by terrible dreams. Olaf had treated him disdainfully and shamed Hafni with his treatment of the Ferðu in his service. Back in the Ætlanvik country, word of his bad luck spread, and luck in a Goði was second only to power in importance. Hafni found many of his people slipping away to other Goði, and his influence was much diminished. Here ends his tale.

Previous | Home