Illugi was pleased at her words, for his heart was set upon going with Grettir.  She gave them plenty of money to take with them and they made ready for their journey.  Asdis took them along the road, and before they parted she said:  “Go forth now, my sons twain.  Sad will be your death together, nor may any man escape that which is destined for him.  I shall see neither of you again; let one fate befall you both.  I know not what safety you seek in Drangey, but there shall your bones be laid, and many will begrudge you your living there.  Beware of treachery; yet shall you be smitten with weapons, for strange are the dreams which I have had.  Guard yourselves against witchcraft, for few things are stronger than the ancient spells.”

Thus she spoke and wept much.  Grettir said:  “Weep not, my mother.  It shall be said that you had sons and not daughters if we are attacked with arms.  Live well, and farewell.”

Then they parted.  The two travelled North through the districts and visited their kinsmen while the autumn passed into winter.  Then they turned their steps to Skagafjord, then North to Vatnsskard on to Reykjaskard below Saemundarhlid to Langholt, reaching Glaumbaer as the day was waning.  Grettir had slung his hat over his shoulder; so he always went when out of doors whether the weather was good or bad.  Thence they continued their journey, and when they had gone a short way they met a man with a big head, tall and thin and ill clad.  He greeted them and each asked the other’s name.  They told theirs and he said his name was Thorbjorn.  He was a vagrant, had no mind to work and swaggered much.  It was the habit of some to make game of him or fool him.  He became very familiar and told them much gossip about the district and the people therein.  Grettir was much amused.  He asked whether they did not want a man to work for them and said he would much like to go with them.  So much he got from his talk that they let him join them.  It was very cold and there was a driving snow-storm.  As the man was so fussy and talkative they gave him a nickname and called him Glaum.

“The people in Glaumbaer,” he said, “were much exercised about your going without a hat in this weather, and wanted to know whether you were any the braver for being proof against the cold.  There were two sons of bondis there, men of great distinction; the shepherd told them to come out and mind the sheep with him, but they could scarcely get their clothes on for the cold.”

Grettir said:  “I saw a young man inside the door putting on his mittens, and another going between the cow-house and the dung-heap.  Neither of them will frighten me.”

Then they went on to Reynines and stayed the night there; then to the sea-shore to a farm called Reykir where a man, a good farmer, named Thorvald, lived.  Grettir asked him for shelter and told him of his intention of going to Drangey.  The bondi said that men of Skagafjord would not think his a very friendly visit and drew back.  Then Grettir took the purse of money which his mother had given him and gave it to the bondi.  The man’s brows unbent when he saw the money and he told three of his servants to take them out in the night by the moonlight.  From Reykir is the shortest distance to the island, about one sea-mile.