Thorstein Kuggson was suitor in the case about Thorgils Makson’s slaying along with Asmund the Greyhaired, who now sent word to Thorstein that he should come to meet him.  Thorstein was a great champion, and the wildest-tempered of men; he went at once to meet his kinsman Asmund, and they talked the blood-suit over together.  Thorstein was mightily wroth and said that no atonement should be for this, and said they had strength of kin enough to bring about for the slaying either outlawry or vengeance on men.  Asmund said that he would follow him in whatsoever he would have done.  They rode north to Thorvald their kinsman to pray his aid, and he quickly gave his word and said yea thereto.  So they settled the suit against Thorgeir and Thormod; then Thorstein rode home to his farmstead, he then farmed at Liarskogar in Hvamsveit.  Skeggi farmed at Hvam, he also joined in the suit with Thorstein.  Skeggi was the son of Thorarinn Fylsenni, the son of Thord the Yeller; the mother of Skeggi was Fridgerd, daughter of Thord of Head.

These had a many men with them at the Thing, and pushed their suit with great eagerness.

Asmund and Thorvald rode from the north with six tens of men, and sat at Liarskogar many nights.

CHAP.  XXVII.

The Suit for the Slaying of Thorgils Makson.

A man hight Thorgils abode at Reek-knolls in those days, he was the son of Ari, the son of Mar, the son of Atli the Red, the son of Ulf the Squinter, who settled at Reekness; the mother of Thorgils Arisen was Thorgerd, the daughter of Alf a-Dales; another daughter of Alf was Thorelf, mother of Thorgeir Havarson.  There had Thorgeir good kinship to trust in, for Thorgils was the greatest chief in the Westfirthers’ quarter.  He was a man of such bountifulness, that he gave food to any free-born man as long as he would have it, and therefore there was at all times a throng of people at Reek-knolls; thus had Thorgils much renown of his house-keeping.  He was a man withal of good will and foreknowledge.  Thorgeir was with Thorgils in winter, but went to the Strands in summer.

After the slaying of Thorgils Makson, Thorgeir went to Reek-knolls and told Thorgils Arisen these tidings; Thorgils said that he was ready to give him harbour with him, “But, methinks,” he says, “that they will be heavy in the suit, and I am loth to eke out the troubles.  Now I shall send a man to Thorstein and bid weregild for the slaying of Thorgils; but if he will not take atonement I shall not defend the case stiffly.”

Thorgeir said he would trust to his foresight.  In autumn Thorgils sent a man to Thorstein Kuggson to try settling the case, but he was cross-grained to deal with as to the taking money for the blood-suit of Thorgils Makson; but about the other man-slayings, he said he would do as wise men should urge him.  Now when Thorgils heard this, he called Thorgeir to him for a talk, and asked him what kind of aid he