Broddi.—Peace! Whoever heard of peace after violent dissensions, except the battles be won or—lost?
Brand.—You know, Broddi, that I egged on neither you nor others to take Thorolf Bjarnason's life. And yet have I done all in my power to collect many men. I sent Deacon Sigurd and Helgi Skaftason——
Broddi.—The priest and the executioner?—and, of course, only these two?
Brand.—Yes, I had but few men at home, at that time.
Broddi.—You do not know how to get a body of men together! You send the priest with the crucifix in his hand. All know that he wishes peace, and no one rises for him. You send the hangman with the axe on his shoulder to remind people of his business, but you forget that with such a fellow no one will speak. In such wise you will not get a pack of dogs to follow you. But if you want to raise a great host you will have to go out yourself with sixty men and kill two or three of the first that refuse to follow you. Thus did Kolbein the Young collect his troops at first, and because Kalf Guttormsson would not bear arms against Sighvat, his good friend, both he and his son were slain.
Jorun.—How often the murder of my father and brother is mentioned, and no one cares though I hear it.
Brand.—I have been heavily oppressed with care. I have been summoned before the tribunal of God because of having violated a pledged truce; and my kinswoman Helga will be intent on making me follow that summons. And now the priest in my house has dreamed thrice in the same night that I stood by his bedside and prayed God to receive my soul.
Broddi.—Dreams signify nothing. The summons you talk about I think nothing but old women's notions. The tribunal of arms is the one I believe in; they are to decide between us and Kolbein the Young.
Brand.—Is it your opinion that we can overcome my kinsman Kolbein with less force than he has himself?
Broddi.—The fortifications at Holar are impregnable now. Together with your men we have more than three hundred men, and I have moved victuals into the fort from the bishop's residence which ought to last us for three weeks.