A king reigned over Gordum in Denmark, who was called Olaf. He was the son of Gnodar-Asmund, and he was a famous man. Two brothers, Kari and Arnulf, were the kings land-wardens and great warriors. There was a powerful farmer named Grip who married a woman named Gunnlod, the daughter of Hrok the Black, and they had nine sons, named Hrolf, Haki, Gaut, Throst, Angantyr, Logi, Hromund, Helgi, and Hrok. They were all promising men, though Hromund was greater than the rest. He knew no fear, and was handsome, fair-haired and mighty, great and strong, much like Hrok, his uncle. With the king were two men, one named Bild, the other Vali. They were evil and crafty. The king was mighty. One time, Olaf sailed east to Norway with his fleet, and sailed to the Ulfar Skerries, harrying until he laid anchor at an island. The king told Kari and Arnulf to go up to the island and see if they could see any warships. They went ashore, and soon saw six warships. There was one most magnificent dragon-ship. Kari called to the occupants and asked who was in charge of the ships. An ugly man stood up in the dragon-ship and said that he was named Hrongvid, - and what is your name? Kari said to him and his brother: I know none worse than you, and moreover, I shall cut you into tiny pieces. Hrongvid said: I have harried summer and winter for thirty-three years, fighting sixty battles and always had the victory. My sword is named Brynthvari, and it never goes blunt. Come here tomorrow morning, Kari, and I shall sheath him in your breast. Kari said he would not fail, and Hrongvid might choose the day to face the swords point.The brothers came back to the king and told him the news. The king decided to accept the challenge, and so it was done. They met, and there they received hard battle. The brothers went well forward. Kari always felled eight or twelve men in each stroke. Hrongvid saw that. He ran up to the kings ship, to Kari and thrust his sword through him. As soon as Kari had taken a wound, he said to the king: Live well, sire, I go to be the guest of Odin. Hrongvid fought Arnulf, felling Karis brother with his spear. Then Hrongvid told them all that they should give up. An evil murmur came from the kings troop. Iron did not bite Hrongvid. Now the saga says that Hromund Gripsson was in the kings following. He took a club in his hand, bound to himself a long goat-beard and put a hood on his head, then stormed forward to find both the brothers dead. Then he took up the kings standard and beat the black men to death with his club. Hrongvid asked, who he was, -- or was Kari your father that you are so wrathful? Hromund gave his name and said he would avenge the brothers, --Kari was not my father. All the same, I shall kill you. Then he gave Hrongvid so great a blow that he bowed his head and said: I have been widely in battle and never taken such a stroke. Hromund gave to Hrongvid another stroke, so that his skull broke. In the third stroke, he lost his life. After that they went, those who lived, to the king, and so the battle ended Now Hromund searched the ship and he found one man hiding up in the prow. He asked this man his name. The man said he was called Helgi the Valiant, and that he was the brother of Hrongvid, --and I cannot bear to sue for peace. Hromund allowed Helgi the Valiant time to heal his wounds, and later he sailed to Sweden and became a land-warder there. King Olaf sailed west to the Hebrides with his fleet, and here they went ashore and rounded up a herd of cattle. A farmer lived nearby. The kings men took his cow and drove it down to the ships. He was greatly grieved by that loss. Hromund came and asked him where he dwelt. The man said that his name was Mani, and that he lived a short way away, and added that it would be a greater deed for them to break into a barrow and rob the drows wealth. Hromund asked him to tell him if he knew anything about that. Mani said that certainly he knew and added: Thrain, who conquered Gaul and was king there, he who was a great and mighty berserk, and an excellent sorcerer - he entered a barrow with his sword, armour and much wealth. But you must go there quickly. Hromund asked how long it would take them to sail there. Mani said that they should sail due south for six days. Hromund thanked the man for this information, gave him his wealth and let him take back his cow. Then they sailed as the man had advised them, and in six days time they saw the barrow before the prow of the ship.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 03:02:17 +0000
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