may bring it about; and my will is, that you take
this choice in spite of the ties that bind you to
Helgi; for when men find themselves in such straits,
each must look after himself.” Thorstein
spake: “Will the same choice be given to
more of the men who are charged with guilt by the sons
of Bolli?” Thorgils answered, “The same
choice will be put to Lambi.” [Sidenote:
Lambi is persuaded to join them] Thorstein said he
would think better of it if he was not left the only
one in this plight. After that Thorgils called
Lambi to come and meet him, and bade Thorstein listen
to their talk. He said, “I wish to talk
over with you, Lambi, the same matter that I have
set forth to Thorstein; to wit, what amends you are
willing to make to the sons of Bolli for the charges
of guilt which they have against you? For it has
been told me as true that you wrought wounds on Bolli;
but besides that, you are heavily guilt-beset, in
that you urged it hard that Bolli should be slain;
yet, next to the sons of Olaf, you were entitled to
some excuse in the matter.” Then Lambi
asked what he would be asked to do. Thorgils
said the same choice would be put to him as to Thorstein,
“to join with the brothers in this journey.”
Lambi said, “This I think an evil price of peace
and a dastardly one, and I have no mind for this journey.”
Then said Thorstein, “It is not the only thing
open to view, Lambi, to cut so quickly away from this
journey; for in this matter great men are concerned,
men of much worth, moreover, who deem that they have
long had to put up with an unfair lot in life.
It is also told me of Bolli’s sons that they
are likely to grow into men of high mettle, and that
they are exceeding masterful; but the wrong they have
to wreak is great. We cannot think of escaping
from making some amends after such awful deeds.
I shall be the most open to people’s reproaches
for this by reason of my alliance with Helgi.
But I think most people are given to ‘setting
all aside for life,’ and the trouble on hand
that presses hardest must first be thrust out of the
way.” Lambi said, “It is easy to
see what you urge to be done, Thorstein; and I think
it well befitting that you have your own way in this
matter, if you think that is the only way you see open,
for ours has been a long partnership in great troubles.
[Sidenote: The journey settled] But I will have
this understood if I do go into this business, that
my kinsmen, the sons of Olaf, shall be left in peace
if the revenge on Helgi shall be carried out.”
Thorgils agreed to this on behalf of the brothers.
[Sidenote: The party leave home] So now it was
settled that Lambi and Thorstein should betake themselves
to the journey with Thorgils; and they bespoke it
between them that they should come early on the third
day (Tuesday)[8] to Tongue, in Hord-Dale. After
that they parted. Thorgils rode home that evening
to Tongue. Now passes on the time within which
it was bespoken they should come to Tongue. In
the morning of the third day (Tuesday), before sunrise,
Thorstein and Lambi came to Tongue, and Thorgils gave
them a cheerful welcome.