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Page 12
Asmund came in his ship to Hunavain, where Thorkell Krafla was
chief of the Vatnsdalers. On hearing of Asmund's arrival
Thorkell went to the ship and invited him to stay, and Asmund
went to visit him in Marsstadir in Vatnsdal where he lived.
Thorkell was a son of Thorgrim, the Godi of Karnsa, and a man of
great experience. This was soon after the arrival of Bishop
Fridrek and Thorvald the son of Kodran, who were living at
Laekjamot when these events happened, preaching Christianity for
the first time in the North of the island. Thorkell and many of
his men received the prima signatio. Many things might be told
of the dealings between the bishop's men and the Northerners,
which, however, do not belong to this saga.
There was a girl named Asdis who was being brought up in
Thorkell's house. She was a daughter of Bard the son of Jokull,
the son of Ingimund the Old, the son of Thorsteinn, the son of
Ketil Raum. Her mother's name was Aldis, whom we have already
heard of as the daughter of Ofeig Grettir. Asdis was not
betrothed as yet, and was a most desirable match, both on account
of her connections and her wealth. Asmund now became sick of
travelling about and wanted to settle down in Iceland. So he
spoke up and asked for Asdis as his wife. Thorkell knew all
about him and knew that he was a man of wealth, able to manage
his affairs, so the marriage was arranged. Asmund married Asdis,
and became a close friend of Thorkell. He was a great man of
affairs, learned in the law and very strenuous. Soon afterwards
Thorgrim Greyhead died at Bjarg; Asmund succeeded to his property
and took up his residence at Bjarg.
CHAPTER XIV
ASMUND'S CHILDREN. GRETTIR'S CHILDHOOD
Asmund Longhair now set up a large and sumptuous household in
Bjarg, where he maintained a numerous retinue and became very
popular. His children were as follows: The eldest was Atli, an
able and accomplished man, tactful and easy to deal with; he was
much liked by all. His second son was called Grettir. He was
very hard to manage in his bringing up. He spoke little and was
rough in his manners and quarrelsome, both in words and deeds.
He got little affection from his father Asmund, but his mother
loved him dearly. Grettir was a handsome man in appearance, with
a face rather broad and short, red-haired and somewhat freckled;
not very precocious in his youth. There was a daughter named
Thordis, who afterwards married Glum the son of Ospak, Kjallak's
son from Skridinsenni. Another daughter was named Rannveig; she
married Gamli the son of Thorhall of Vineland, and they dwelt at
Melar in Hrutafjord and had a son named Grim. Glum and Thordis
had a son named Ospak who fell into a dispute with Odd the son of
Ofeig, which is told of in the "Saga of the Banded Men."
Grettir grew up at Bjarg until he was ten years old, when he
began to develop a little. Asmund told him that he must do some
work. Grettir said that would not suit him very well, but asked
what he was to do.
"You must mind the geese," said Asmund.
"That is wretched work, only fit for an idiot," Grettir answered.
"You do that properly," his father said, "and we shall get on
better together."
So Grettir went to mind the geese. There were fifty of them, and
a number of goslings. Before long he began to find them
troublesome, and the goslings would not come on quickly enough.
This put him out, for he could never control his temper. Soon
afterwards some wanderers found the goslings lying outside dead,
and the geese with their wings broken. This was in the autumn.
Asmund was very much annoyed and asked Grettir whether he had
killed the birds. Grettir grinned and answered:
"Always when winter is coming on
I like to wring the goslings' necks.
If among them there are geese
I treat the creatures all alike."
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