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.