Brand.—­Have you other messages besides?

Helgi.—­No! (Stretches forth both his hands.) Give me your hands, my sons. (BRAND and BRODDI clasp them.) The very next time Asbjorn Illugason meets you, Broddi, he means to exchange blows with you.

Broddi.—­Glad I am that Kolbein, my brother-in-law, at least does not bid some contemptible wretch to dispatch me. (HELGI SKAFTASON leads out the CLERK HELGI.) The bishop’s letter!  The bishop’s letter!

Sigurd (reads).—­Botolf of Holar, a poor servant of the Holy Church and prisoner at Flugumyr, sends to Brand Kolbeinsson and his friends God’s greetings and his.  Pax vobiscum!  You and your companions are not to put overmuch trust in the fortifications of Holar, because from the church, the dwelling house, and outhouses in the inclosure there lead secret passages into them which are known to Kolbein the Young, but not to me.

Broddi.—­And that he could not have told us before, the hell-hound!

Sigurd (reads).—­Through the eggings on of Helga his wife, Kolbein is now become so frantic and furious that some of my clerks think he cannot suffer the sound of a bell.  He has threatened to break down the fort of Holar, to spare no one, and has promised his Lady Helga the life of a man, whomever she will choose.

Broddi (laughs).—­I wonder whether she will have my life?

Brand.—­No.  It will be my life she desires.

Jorun.—­She shall never have it.

Alf.—­My head she wants, the vixen!

Helgi.—­I need not guess whose life it will be.

Sigurd (continues).—­But I fear that the mercy of God will most readily fall to your share if all the men who were present at the slaying of Thorolf submit themselves unconditionally to Kolbein before the ‘Peace of God’ is at an end; then I would hope that you will be fortunate enough to pacify Kolbein’s mind, so that full reconciliation may be obtained, of which Kolbein also stands in great need because of Thord Kakali and the King.  Valete!

Brand.—­The counsel of the bishop will be the best for all of us.  The slayers of Thorolf Bjarnason ought not to jeopardize other men’s life to save their own.  Lady Helga has told my wife that she meditated my death, because of the slaying of Thorolf; and though I have but little incited you to the deed, so that it may be said to have been done against my will even, yet will I for the welfare of the district rather give myself up to Kolbein and suffer death, than that many men should lose their lives because of us; and rather than that my kinsman Kolbein should be routed by Thord Kakali through the insurrection which I and Broddi have raised against him. (Silence.)

Sigurd.—­Spoken like a man, Brand Kolbeinsson! (Exit JORUN.)