SCENE I
(So-called 'Little Hall' in BRAND'S manor-house at Reynistad. Enter the DEACON SIGURD, THOROLF BJARNASON, ALF OF GROF, and EINAR THE RICH, of Vik.)
Deacon Sigurd.—Thorolf, Lady Jorun bade you wait here until her husband comes.
Thorolf.—Where is Brand Kolbeinsson? I bear a message for him from my Lord Kolbein the Young.
Sigurd.—Why comes he not himself?
Alf.—Kolbein is nigh unto d——
Thorolf.—Are you garrulous again, Alf?
Sigurd.—He lies sick with his wound, I ween.
Thorolf and Alf (remain silent).
Einar the Rich (aside).—That news I ought to bring secretly to Thord Kakali.
Thorolf.—Why will Lady Jorun not speak to her guests?
Sigurd.—She bade me say that she had seen you last, Thorolf Bjarnason, at such business that she cares not to see you any more.
Thorolf (laughs).—Last I saw her at the slaying of Kalf Guttormsson, her father, and of Guttorm, her brother.
Sigurd.—Much good reason has my lady if she cares to see you no more.
Einar.—You are the man who most egged on to the deed, that father and son should be slain.
Thorolf.—No, Urækja it was, the son of Snorri Sturlason. A most useful deed it was. Ever since Kolbein's men have obeyed his commands without gainsaying.
Einar.—More useful still, I suppose you think that you snatched from out of Kalf's hands the crucifix he held when kneeling to receive the mortal stroke.
Thorolf.—His blood would have spurted on the cross, had it been held so near. (Wrathfully.) And likewise would I do to you, Einar the Rich, if Kolbein struck off your head. Your wife is a kinswoman of Thord Kakali, and dreamt have I that you will find an earlier grave than will I.
Einar.—An evil business it is to threaten me with death. No one knows who will be buried first. A faithful follower of Kolbein I have been.
Thorolf.—'Scarce shall I trust you,
Troll, quoth Haustkoll.'
Sigurd.—Wicked speech this is and witless.
(Enter BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI THORLEIFSSON, HELGI SKAFTASON, and others.)
Brand.—You here, Thorolf Bjarnason?
Thorolf.—Ay, sir; and with a message for you, for Broddi, and for other chieftains, from Kolbein the Young.
Brand.—Is it that Thord Kakali is expected from the West with war?
Thorolf.—Not to my knowledge. He is still busy drinking the arvel after Tumi his brother, whom we put to death this last week!
Alf.—Yes, and he and his men are now drinking the ale by the bowlful, they say.
Brand.—What of it, if Thord does give his men in plenty?
Thorolf.—And why should we not speak of it, we who know what folly it is for men to drink heavily before going to war?
Einar.—A generous chieftain is Thord Kakali, and likely to accomplish great deeds. No chieftain in this land has ever lost so many men as has he. It is not seeming to make sport of his sorrow.
Thorolf.—None have I ever seen flee so fast as these men of Thord's, they urge each other on to flight.
Brand.—Idle speech is this, Thorolf!
Thorolf.—I say what I will, and care not whether others like it or no.
Broddi.—Where is the message my brother-in-law sends us?
Thorolf (handing the letter to BRAND).—I have lived all my life in warfare and am not able to read.
Brand (handing the letter to DEACON SIGURD).—Read for us, deacon!
Einar the Rich (while SIGURD is undoing the strings with which the parchment is tied, aside to ALF OF GROF).—I know you are no friend of Thorolf; stay behind here and help me to persuade Brand Kolbeinsson.
Alf (aside to EINAR THE RICH).—Broddi and all of Thorolf's neighbors hate him because he elbows himself forward ruthlessly. Against my will I left my home with Thorolf; but how shall I help you?
Einar (aside to ALF).—Help me dye Thorolf's white coat of mail as red as blood.
Alf (aside).—Hush! We would have to fight against great odds.
Einar (aside).—Not if Brand Kolbeinsson were on our side.
Alf (aside).—Brand—indeed! No, if Broddi Thorleifsson were with us.
Sigurd (has now untied the parchment, reads).—'To Brand Kolbeinsson of Stad, to Broddi Thorleifsson, to Kolbein Kaldaljos, and to Paul Kolbeinsson, Kolbein Arnorsson of Flugumyr sends God's greetings and his own. Little we know of Thord Kakali's affairs after Easter. After the slaying of his brother Tumi it is but likely that he is preparing for war against us, and in such case, if he came upon us from the West, we of the North Quarter would want to subject him to a severe test. But now it is so ill with our health that we may no longer conceal it from you. Because of this it is our will that all of you meet me here as soon as possible. Only in this wise may we prevent the danger now threatening both the entire quarter and our district.'
Brand.—To what danger to the district does the letter refer? Is Kinsman Kolbein sick anew, then?
Thorolf.—Answer that yourself; but well may these words mean that it were better now to take off the 'velvet glove' and bestir one's hands.
Brand (angrily).—Get you gone, Thorolf, at once! Astonishing it is that you should be sent hither to Stad, such enemies as we two have been.
Thorolf.—My course I shall steer wheresoever it take me, whether or no you like it, Brand Kolbeinsson. To horse, yeoman Alf!
Alf.—Unwillingly I followed you, Thorolf, and left my farm work behind. Take with you the two companions that always have followed you—death and the devil!
Thorolf.—Right, you insolent fool, death has ever been my companion. (BRAND KOLBEINSSON goes to the door and opens it.) Now you precede me to the door, Brand Kolbeinsson, for higher-born than I you are. But in all tests of manhood, in assemblies and in battles, I have gone before you. There is no danger in going before me now; it is quite safe! (Exit.)
Broddi.—An astonishing thing it is that base men should dare to speak in such wise to chieftains!
Brand.—He is a greater friend of my kinsman Kolbein than any other man.
Einar.—And in greater favor even with Lady Helga than with Kolbein.
Sigurd.—He journeyed to Rome with Kolbein. Such a pilgrimage atones for many a sin.
(Enter LADY JORUN with her and BRAND'S sons, KALF and THORGEIR.)
Jorun.—What errand brought Thorolf Bjarnason hither to Stad?
Brand.—Kolbein the Young sent him.
Jorun.—Then we shall have to put up with that insult.
Alf.—Your husband he called a 'velvet glove!'
Jorun.—Gentle have his hands ever been to me, and I might well call him so.
Alf.—And a coward he called him.
Jorun.—Slower he is to ill deeds than Thorolf.
Einar.—Me Thorolf threatened with death, and to wrench out of my hands the crucifix, whenever I should lie down for the blow, just as he did to Kalf Guttormsson.
Jorun (moved to tears).—Was that done to my father?
Sigurd.—It was indeed done to him, and a mighty ill deed it was.
Jorun.—I had not thought that men who were to lose their lives would be thus cruelly dealt with.
Alf.—These men have indeed done enough to forfeit their lives, and ought to live no longer.
Helgi Skaftason.—If no one can be prevailed upon to kill them I shall undertake it.
Alf.—No one's duty it is as much as yours, Brand Kolbeinsson, to take revenge for the murder of Kalf Guttormsson.
Jorun.—Let no one be so bold as to seek revenge for my father. Full composition did Kolbein the Young pay for reconciliation, after the death of father and son, with the fine of hundred marks silver, which were paid out to my mother and me as stipulated.
Einar.—And yet might Brand and others take revenge for the wrongs they have suffered at the hands of Thorolf, even though Kalf Guttormsson's death be atoned for.
Jorun.—Do not undertake so dangerous an enterprise, my husband. Well you know that if you slay Thorolf his friend Kolbein will slay you all in revenge.
Alf.—Kolbein lies nigh unto death.
Broddi.—Is his condition so dangerous?
Brand.—Why, have you not told news so important and so—sad until now?
Alf.—I could not, on account of Thorolf. Kolbein holds his malady secret as long as he can.
Brand.—Then my kinsman Kolbein must have summoned us to dispose of his dominions before he dies.
Sigurd.—That is, all the North Quarter and the Westfirths!
Brand.—About the Westfirths we have been at war until now.
Einar.—And his heir? (All look at BRAND.) They say that it is the wish of Lady Helga to set Thorolf Bjarnason over all the dominions.
Many.—Thorolf Bjarnason?
Alf.—Impossible!
Broddi.—It would mean the death of one man or many men.
Brand.—Helgi Skaftason, have the saddles laid upon twelve horses! I and eleven men shall ride forthwith to Flugumyr. (Exit HELGI.)
Kalf.—Lay saddle on my horse also. I shall ride to Flugumyr to my foster-mother.
Broddi.—What will you of her, my young fellow?
Kalf.—I want to get the weapons she has promised to give me.
Jorun.—No weapons, Kalf! You will not go to Flugumyr, this time; rather too long you have been there as a child. (Towards BRAND KOLBEINSSON.) My husband, remember my words. To kill one of my kinsman Kolbein's or Lady Helga's men is to conjure up odds against you, whatever be the provocation. (Exit with the boys.)
Broddi.—Never shall that come to pass that a man of low birth govern so large a dominion. (Exeunt all.)