Alf.—­He is a coward!

Einar.—­None of you mentions what is of most importance.  Lady Helga it was, and not Kolbein the Young, who assigned Eyafirth to Thorolf.

Broddi.—­That is a lie, Einar!

Einar.—­Kolbein had become delirious when Helga asserted Eyafirth was given to Thorolf.

Alf.—­That, indeed, is the truth.

Several.—­Yes, that indeed is the truth.

Broddi.—­Does she mean to arrange the districts?  If so, we mean to make away with Thorolf.  You shall have no hand in this, Brand Kolbeinsson, but your men shall follow me.

Brand.—­And who is to follow me?

Broddi.—­No one!

Brand.—­That was the cause of my kinsman Kolbein’s greatness that all his men obeyed him without a murmur.  No one obeys me now!

Einar.—­But this obedience came first about after the fall of Kalf Guttormsson.

Brand.—­No need to remind me again that Thorolf was the foremost instigator to the killing of him.

Broddi.—­Let us then seize Thorolf, wherever we may find him, and slay him.

All (except BRAND).—­Yes, let us slay him!

Broddi.—­Or else let us surround his house and lead him out to be put to death.

Alf.—­Oh, let him perish in the flames of his own house.

Sigurd—­For shame, Alf!  I do not care to share the torments of hell with incendiaries.

Brand.—­Kolbein the Young will surely take revenge on us for his friend Thorolf.

Einar.—­Kolbein is no longer to be reckoned among living men.

Broddi.—­Kinsman Kolbein lay more sorely stricken with his wound this time than last, and even then was in danger of his life.

Alf.—­I cannot tell a doomed man if he ever arises again.

Sigurd.—­A great loss it would be if a chieftain so noble and so beloved should depart this world.

Broddi.—­And one so victorious!

Sigurd.—­Let us pray for his soul!

(Silence.  All present show marks of grief and of praying.)

Broddi.—­But you will lend us your aid, Brand, after the slaying of Thorolf, and will take steps to make Lady Helga leave the district?

Brand.—­It is not seeming that I give counsel to those who plan Thorolf’s death.

Broddi.—­We shall help you to obtain all the dominions in Skagafirth and west as far as Hrutafirth for it; because it is not so very sure whether all are willing to accept you as overlord.

Brand.—­I thank you, friend Broddi.  But I shall take no part in your dealings with Thorolf.  Afterwards I shall not part from you.

Alf.—­Let us touch our weapons to confirm it, according to Norse custom!

Many.—­Yes, let us brandish weapons!