The king of Norway was at that time Magnus the Good.  Thorsteinn soon went to meet him, and was well received because of the fame which he had earned through having avenged Grettir the Strong.  Scarcely an example was known of a man from Iceland having been avenged in Constantinople, excepting Grettir the son of Asmund.  It is said that Thorsteinn entered his bodyguard.  Thorsteinn remained nine years in Norway, both he and his wife being in high honour.  After that King Harald the son of Sigurd returned from Constantinople, and King Magnus gave him the half of Norway.  Both kings were together in Norway for a time.  After Magnus’s death some who had been his friends were less contented, for he was beloved of all, but Harald was not easy to get on with, since he was hard and severe.  Thorsteinn Dromund then began to grow old, but was still very vigorous.  Sixteen winters had now passed since the death of Grettir.

CHAPTER XCI

ABSOLUTION IN ROME

There were many who urged Thorsteinn to visit King Harald and become his man, but he would not.  Spes said to him:  “I would not, Thorsteinn, that you go to Harald, for a larger debt remains unpaid to another King, whereto we must now turn our thoughts.  Our youth is now passed; we are both becoming old, and we have lived more after our desires than after Christian doctrine or regard for righteousness.  Now I know that neither kinsmen nor wealth may pay this debt if we pay it not ourselves.  I would therefore that we now change our way of life and leave the country to betake ourselves to Pafagard.(1) I have hope that so I shall be absolved from my sin.”

Thorsteinn answered:  “The matter of which you speak is as well known to me as it is to you.  It is right that you should rule now, and most seemly, since you allowed me to rule when our matter was much less hopeful.  And so shall it be now in all that you say.”

This resolve of theirs took men by surprise.  Thorsteinn was then two years past of sixty-five, but still vigorous in all that he undertook.  He summoned all his kinsmen and connections to him and told them his plans.  The wiser men approved of his resolve, while holding his departure a great misfortune for themselves.  Thorsteinn said there was no certainty of his return.  He said: 

“I wish now to thank you all for the care of my goods which you took while I was absent.  Now I ask you to take over my children along with my property, and to bring them up in your own ways; for I am now come to such an age that even if I live there is much doubt about whether I shall return.  Manage all that I leave behind as if I should never return to Norway.”

The men answered that matters would be more easily managed if his wife remained to look after them.

She answered:  “I left my own country and came from Mikligard with Thorsteinn, I bade farewell to my kinsmen and my possessions, because I wished that one fate should befall us both.  And now it has seemed pleasant to me here, but no desire have I to remain in Norway or in these Northern lands after he has departed.  There has always been goodwill between us and no dissension.  Now we must both depart together; for we ourselves know best about many things which have happened since we first met.”