Örnulf.
Slain! Thorolf? Thorolf? Ha, thou liest!
Gunnar.
I would give my warmest heart-blood to know him alive!
Hiördis.
[To Örnulf.] Thorolf was himself to blame for what befell; with dark sayings he gave us to wit that thou hadst fallen upon Egil and slain him;—we had parted half in wrath, and thou hast ere now brought death among my kindred. And moreover—Thorolf bore himself at the feast like a wanton boy; he brooked not our jesting, and spoke many evil things. Not till then did Gunnar wax wroth; not till then did he raise his hand upon thy son; and well I wot that he had good and lawful ground for that deed.
Örnulf.
[Calmly.] Well may we see that thou art a woman, for thou usest many words. To what end? If Thorolf[Thorolf] is slain, then is his saga over.
Egil.
If Thorolf[Thorolf] is slain, I shall have no warriors.