Frithiof was deemed peerless amid the young men of that time, and the king's sons envied him, whereas he was more praised than they.
Now King Beli fell sick; and when the sickness lay heavy on him he called his sons to him and said to them: “This sickness will bring me to mine end, therefore will I bid you this, that ye hold fast to those old friends that I have had; for meseems in all things ye fall short of that father and son, Thorstein and Frithiof, yea, both in good counsel and in hardihood. A mound ye shall raise over me.”
So with that Beli died.
Thereafter Thorstein fell sick; so he spake to Frithiof: “Kinsman,” says he, “I will crave this of thee, that thou bow thy will before the king's sons, for their dignity's sake; yet doth my heart speak goodly things to me concerning thy fortune. Now would I be laid in my mound over against King Beli's mound, down by the sea on this side the firth, whereas it may be easiest for us to cry out each to each of tidings drawing nigh.”
A little after this Thorstein departed, and was laid in mound even as he had bidden; but Frithiof took the land and chattels after him. Biorn and Asmund were Frithiof s foster-brethren; they were big and strong men both.
CHAPTER II. Frithiof wooeth Ingibiorg of those Brethren.
So Frithiof became the most famed of men, and the bravest in all things that may try a man.
Biorn, his foster-brother, he held in most account of all, but Asmund served the twain of them.
The ship Ellidi, he gat, the best of good things, of his father's heritage, and another possession therewith—a gold ring; no dearer was in Norway.