CHAPTER X

OFEIG GRETTIR IS KILLED. VISIT OF ONUND TO AUD THE DEEP-MINDED

Onund was a man of such valour that few, even of those whose limbs were sound, could measure themselves against him.  His name, too, was renowned throughout the whole country on account of his ancestry.  It happened that a dispute arose between Ofeig Grettir and one Thorbjorn called Jarlakappi, which ended in Ofeig being killed by Thorbjorn in Grettisgeil near Haell.  The feud was taken up by Ofeig’s sons who assembled a large force of men.  Onund Treefoot was sent for, and in the spring he rode South to Hvamm, where he stayed with Aud the Deep-Minded.  He had been with her over the sea in the West, and she received him with welcome.  Her grandson, Olaf Feilan, was then grown up, and Aud was very infirm.  She consulted Onund concerning her kinsman Olaf, for whom she wished to ask in marriage Alfdis of the Barra Isles, the cousin of Onund’s wife Aesa.  Onund thought it a very suitable match, and Olaf rode with him to the South.  Then Onund met friends and kinsmen, who made him their guest.  The matter of the dispute was talked over between them, and finally laid before the Kjalarnes Thing, for the All-Thing had not yet been established.  Eventually it was settled by arbitration and heavy weregilds were imposed for the murder.  Thorbjorn Jarlakappi was exiled.  His son was Solmund, the father of Svidukari.  These kinsmen were long abroad after that.  Thrand invited Onund and Olaf with his party to stay with him, as did Thormod Shaft.  The matter of Olaf’s marriage was then pressed, and an agreement easily arrived at, for Aud’s rank and influence were well known to them.  The settlement was arranged and Onund’s party rode home again.  Aud thanked him for his aid in behalf of Olaf, who married Alfdis of the Barra Isles that autumn.  Then Aud the Deep-Minded died, as is told in the Laxdaela Saga.

CHAPTER XI

DEATH OF ONUND.  DISPUTES BETWEEN THE SONS OF ONUND AND OF EIRIK

Onund and Aesa had two sons; the elder was named Thorgeir, the younger Ofeig Grettir.  Soon afterwards Aesa died and Onund married a second wife, Thordis Thorgrim’s daughter of Gnup in Midfjord, a kinsman of Skeggi of Midfjord.  By her Onund had a son named Thorgrim, who grew up quickly to manhood, tall and strong, wise and a good manager.  Onund continued to live at Kaldbak until his old age.  He died a natural death and lies in Treefoot’s howe.  He was the boldest and most active one-legged man that ever came to Iceland.

Among Onund’s sons Thorgrim was the foremost, although the others were older.  When he was twenty-five years old his hair was grey, whence they nick-named him Greyhead.  His mother Thordis married again, taking as her second husband Audun Skokull.  They had a son named Asgeir of Asgeirsa.  Thorgrim Greyhead and his brothers had a large property, which they managed together without dividing it up.