Njals Saga

Njal speaks, saying that he loved Hoskul Thrainsson more than his own sons, and that he “would rather have lost all [his] sons to have him live” (207). He says the case “sprang from evil roots” and requests a settlement (207). Flosi consents at Hall of Sida’s encouragement and names his arbiters, as does Njal.

Snorri the Godi, one of the judges, favors a large fine. Others concur and set the amount which has to be paid at the Althing. This ruling necessitates that the arbitrators themselves contribute to the total. Flosi and the Sigfussons go to the Law Rock to meet the Njalssons and pledge peace. Flosi sees a robe Njal places on top of the cash payment and asks who added it. No one responds, but Skarphedin asks Flosi to guess. Flosi names Njal and insults him, calling Njal “Old Beardless” and saying that “many […] can’t tell by looking at him whether he’s a man or a woman” (210). The settlement is ruined as Skarphedin accuses Flosi of being a troll’s woman. Hall predicts they are in for an unfortunate future while Njal confirms that his fears are coming to fruition.

Snorri advises that Hjalti and Gizur the White hold onto the settlement money because it will probably be needed at the next Althing.

Flosi gathers 100 men at the Almannagja gorge. Gunnar Lambason says the Njalssons should die. Everyone swears an oath of vengeance. They decide that any one of them who goes back on his word would lose “both life and property” (211). The men choose Flosi as their leader. Flosi suggests they all return home and wait until August to take action. They will then go to Bergthorshvol to “attack the Njalssons with fire and iron, and not leave until they’re all dead” (212).

In preparation, Njal, his sons, and Kari gather 25 capable men at Bergthorshvol. Hrodny finds out Flosi’s plans from her brother, Ingjald, and tells Njal about them. Saeunn, an elderly woman living at Bergthorshvol, prophesizes that a pile of chickweed in the house will be set alight, causing Njal and Bergthora’s deaths. She tells Skarphedin to get rid of it, but he refuses, saying that their deaths are fated. Saeunn repeats this warning all summer, to no avail.

Runolf Thorsteinsson’s son, Hildiglum, has a vision: He sees a ring of fire with a rider, all in black, on a gray horse within the ring. The man carries a torch and says he will bring forth Flosi’s evil plot that will be “flung like a torch” (215). The figure tosses the torch into the mountains, which are set alight. The man vanishes into the fire. When Hildiglum tells Hjalti about his vision, Hjalti responds that he has witnessed a “witch-ride,” which often precedes significant events.

Flosi calls up the oath-takers. He has a Mass sung prior to leaving, and his party stops to pray in a church along the way. They set up along the ridge at Thrihyrning. Ingjald doesn’t show up and is condemned.

Grim and Helgi visit Holar where they meet a band of old women who tell them about the Sigfussons’ movements. The brothers realize Flosi’s plan and rush home.

Those at Bergthorshvol know their fate. Njal begins to have visions of the table and the food being coated with blood. Skarphedin, however, remains stoic. Grim and Helgi arrive, and Njal advises the household to stay awake that evening.

Flosi’s group sets up in a low-lying area and waits for nightfall. Njal, Kari, and his sons are outside as Flosi and his men walk toward the house.

Njal observes the sizable number of his enemies and orders everyone inside, citing Gunnar’s ability to hold off his attackers for some time inside his well-built home. Skarphedin, however, notes that these men would burn the house. Kari promises to avenge the Njalssons if he survives.

Flosi’s men besiege the house and block the exits. Kari, Grim, and Helgi defend themselves well with their spears, and Flosi realizes his party will not succeed with weapons. They could either retreat, which would lead to their deaths, or they could set the home ablaze. However, he thinks that the latter option brings “great responsibility before God, for [they are] Christian men” (219).

Flosi’s men start fires at the doors. The Njalssons mock them while the women pour whey on the flames to put them out. Kol Thorsteinsson suggests starting a fire in the loft using the chickweed behind the house. This fire goes unnoticed until the flames begin to fall. Njal encourages his household to have faith in God and bear their fate bravely. Soon, the whole house is alight.

Njal calls out to Flosi, inquiring if he would make a settlement that would allow some to escape. Flosi agrees to allow the women and children out, he but will not settle with the Njalssons. Helgi’s wife flees but promises that her father, Asgrim, will seek vengeance. Another woman puts a cloak over Helgi so he can escape by pretending to be a woman, but Flosi recognizes him and slays him. Flosi offers passage to Njal and Bergthora, but they prefer to die rather than survive shamefully. They go to their bed, place their grandson between them, make the sign of the cross, and put their fate in God’s hands. Their foreman covers them with an ox hide.

Kari, Grim, and Skarphedin fight until the roof begins to collapse. Kari escapes unnoticed, runs to a stream, and leaps in. He hides there for a while; the place is called “Kari’s hollow.”

Grim and Skarphedin are eventually overcome as the roof falls in. Flosi lists the dead to Geirmund, who is kin to the Sigfussons. However, Geirmund informs him that he encountered Kari that morning when Geirmund’s neighbor provided him with a horse. He notes that Kari was armed and promised vengeance. Flosi realizes Kari’s escape means trouble for him and his companions.

Flosi and his crew hear Skarphedin’s ghost speaking verses from the ashes. Flosi advises that they flee since others are likely rallying their forces. Flosi offers to pardon Ingjald if he would give self-judgment, but he refuses and says he would rather join forces with Kari. Flosi strikes him with his spear, but Ingjald pulls it out, throws it back, hits Flosi’s nephew, Thorstein, and escapes. After this, Flosi predicts more bad luck. They ride to Thrihyrning to spend three days there and observe movements in the district.

Kari tells Mord Valgardsson about the burning. He rides away and meets the injured Ingjald, who tells him about his encounter with Flosi. They go to Hjalti, who grows angry when he hears about the burning. Kari leaves to meet Mord Valgardsson, who has brought some men with him to search for the perpetrators. Some people report the burning to Thorgeier, Njal’s nephew at Holt, who promises to take legal action for the burning; he says: “We’ll keep at this until we have sentences of outlawry, if we’re successful, and blood revenge on top of that” (228). Meanwhile, Mord Valgardsson promises to remain loyal to Kari, given his involvement in Hoskuld Thrainsson’s killing.

Flosi and his men observe all these happenings from their mountain hideout. Flosi recommends that they depart but tells the Sigfussons not to visit their farms because those looking for them expect them to do so. Flosi returns home; he never talks about the burning and behaves fearlessly.

Hjalti and Kari recover the remains of Njal, Bergthora, and their grandson—they discover that their bodies are miraculously untouched. They recover the bodies of the others, including Skarphedin who had “driven his axe into the gable wall so hard that half the blade was buried” (230). Kari gifts the axe to Thorgeir Skorar-Geir, who he deems is the worthiest surviving family member. They take the corpses of the 11 deceased to a nearby church.

Kari then travels to Asgrim, who invites Kari and the surviving members of the household to live with him. Thorhall Asgrimsson, who is Njal’s foster son, is so distressed at the news of the burning that blood flows from his ears and he faints. When he awakes, he bemoans his unmanliness and expresses his desire for retaliation against the perpetrators. Asgrim consults Gizur the White, who recommends that they wait until spring to bring charges against Flosi for Helgi’s murder and initiate a lawsuit over the burning. Gizur suggests Mord Valgardsson prosecute the case since his machinations contributed to the outcome. Meanwhile, Kari has trouble sleeping and laments the distress that the burning has caused him.

Flosi dreams of a man named Iron-Grim. The man tells Flosi he will “clear […] the battlefield for the battlers” at the Althing (233). Ketil says this prophetic dream indicates that the men whom Iron-Grim named will die soon.

Flosi goes looking for supporters. Hall of Sida agrees to support him despite his disapproval of the burning. He instructs Flosi to seek the support of the northern godis. Many of them consent to support him.

Hall recommends that Flosi and the Sigfussons return to Flosi’s farm while Hall oversees the Sigfusson farms.

Kari and Thorhall Asgrimsson go to visit Gizur the White. Gizur concocts a plan for Kari to meet up with Thorgeir Skorar-Geir and Thorleif Crow, the men who would prosecute the case. They decide to tell Mord Valgardsson that Gizur wants him to take over the case against Flosi for killing Helgi. Kari is supposed to fly “into a rage” and behave as if he will kill Mord Valgardsson if he resists (238).

Kari follows Gizur’s instructions and Mord Valgardsson promises to prosecute the case “manfully.” He summons nine neighbors to Bergthorshvol and names witnesses three times to Thorgeir’s turning the case over to him, in keeping with the law. Mord Valgardsson and Thorgeir swear “oaths not to abandon each other until Kari allow[s] it, and to risk their lives for the other” (240).

The Althing approaches. Thorhall Asgrimsson suffers a leg infection that makes it difficult for him to walk, but he nevertheless goes to the Althing since he is one of the best lawyers in Iceland.

Flosi and the other perpetrators ride west to Asgrim to intimidate him. Asgrim readies his home and invites them in without greeting. Enraged at the sight of Flosi at his table, he grabs an ax and swings it at Flosi, but Glum Hildisson stops him. Flosi bids Asgrim farewell and says they will meet again at the Althing. Asgrim notes that Flosi will get his comeuppance there. Flosi’s party leaves and supporters join them along the way.

Thorgeir Skorar-Geir and his men meet Mord Valgardsson’s party at the Hof. They join Asgrim and Hjalti as they go west. Gizur the White joins them with a large contingent. Flosi’s supporters draw their weapons when Asgrim’s group arrives at the Althing, but Asgrim ignores them, and his men set up their booths. This Althing is the biggest one ever.

A clever and money-hungry lawyer called Eyjolf attends the Althing.

Flosi knows that he can either agree to a settlement or put up a strong legal defense. The second option is dubious, while the first is respectable. One of Flosi’s companions, Bjarni Brodd-Helgason, recommends Eyjolf to serve as Flosi’s defense lawyer, but he notes that they would have to pay him well. Eyjolf agrees to support them if Flosi gives him a valuable gold bracelet, and Flosi agrees. Eyjolf cautions them not to make it known that they paid him. Snorri the Godi, however, sees the bracelet and predicts it will lead to Eyjolf’s downfall.

Gizur the White finds out about Eyjolf’s bracelet from Snorri the Godi. They realize he would likely present the defense. Gizur instructs the others to divide the remaining cases between them because they would shortly have to give notice of the suits at the Law Rock. They also go in search of more support. Snorri the Godi says he will not support them in court but offers to provide reinforcements for Gizur and the others should violence erupt during the Althing.

Gudmund the Powerful promises to support Gizur and the others. He promises to “fight on [Gizur’s] side, if necessary, and risk [his] life” for Gizur (251).

Mord Valgardsson gives notice of the lawsuits with Gizur beside him. He calls for Flosi to be made a full outlaw and forfeit his property. Thorgeir Skorar-Geir likewise gives notice of the suit against Glum Hildisson for starting the fire, calling for outlawry and forfeiture of property, too. Kari announces his suits, and Thorleif Crow brings a suit against the Sigfussons. Thorgrim the Tall and Asgrim also give notice of their suits against other perpetrators.

Eyjolf suggests that Flosi give up his godard to his brother, Thorgeir, and become thingman of Askel Thorketilsson. They keep this information secret so that the prosecution “will be liable to action in the Fifth Court for bringing a suit in another court than the correct one” (254). They decide that they will only prosecute as a last resort.

The courts meet. Thorhall requests Skarphedin’s spear. Mord Valgardsson presents his case first, names witnesses, and again calls for Flosi’s outlawry. Proceedings advance, with Mord’s prosecution almost disqualified on the grounds that one of the witnesses was present at Mord’s baptism and another is his cousin. Thorhall advises Mord to protest this because these reasons are not legitimate for dismissal since they are irrelevant to the plaintiff. Eyjolf repeatedly uses legal machinations to try to have the case invalidated, but Thorhall outsmarts him every time. The panel finally deems Flosi guilty in Helgi’s slaying.

Eyjolf then accuses the prosecution of bringing the suit in the incorrect Quarter Court since Flosi has declared himself a thingman of Askel the Godi. Meanwhile, Asgrim and the others carry out their suits against the other perpetrators, as planned.

Thorhall orders Mord Valgardsson “to summon both Flosi and Eyjolf for having brought a money payment into the proceedings” (265). He demands that Mord also summon them for including testimony unrelated to the case, thus breaching procedure. Mord does so at the Law Rock. The court is split and no judgment determined. After much legal wrangling, the tide turns against Mord and the prosecution: Kari and his supporters are to be outlawed and their case dismissed due to mishandling of procedure in the Fifth Court.

Snorri the Godi readies his men; Thorhall grows enraged when he hears the news. He thrusts his spear into his wounded leg and is able to swiftly walk from his booth toward the Fifth Court. Kari and Asgrim begin their attack when they see Thorhall.

The Battle of the Althing is furious. Flosi is injured while Kari kills Eyjolf with a spear. Hall of Sida negotiates a truce for the remainder of the Althing when the fighting slows. He speaks at the Law Rock, mourning the disgraceful events and calling on Asgrim and his allies for a settlement. Kari and Thorgeir Skorar-Geir vow to never settle. Kari chastises his critics in verse, calling them cowards, and engendering much laughter. Hall offers to negotiate a settlement and forego compensation for the slaying of his son, Ljot. Snorri the Godi requests Asgrim’s side to accept a settlement and peace. Finally, Asgrim and Flosi consent to a settlement, as do others. Flosi and the surviving perpetrators agree to exile. They have to depart Iceland within three years lest they become lifelong outlaws. Flosi is exiled for three years while others, like Grani Gunnarsson, are exiled for life.

Flosi and the Sigfussons go back to their farms. Flosi receives news that Thorgeir and Kari have gone north with Gudmund the Powerful.

Some women report the Sigfussons’ movements to Thorgeir and Kari, who pursue them to Kerlingardal where they sleep. They kill five of the 15 men; Ketil survives and orders the rest to retreat. Kari and Thorgeir arrive at Holt and keep no less than 30 men with them.

The surviving Sigfussons ride to Flosi at Svinafell. He advises them to be more cautious. Hall recommends that Flosi settle with Thorgeir, thus isolating Kari. The Sigfussons agree to Hall’s proposal.

Hall goes to Thorgeir, who resists settlement. However, Kari persuades Thorgeir to settle, though he refuses any settlement himself. Hall returns to Flosi with the news. Flosi notes his admiration for Kari’s disposition.

The settlement meeting takes place; Thorgeir agrees to the terms on the condition that Kari must be permitted to stay with him, and no fighting would take place on his land. Flosi agrees, though his own exile and required pilgrimage to Rome remain in place. Hall tells Flosi that if he maintains the terms of this settlement “manfully,” others would admire his courage.

Kari acknowledges that his presence at Thorgeir’s home will cause trouble if he commits any slayings. He requests Thorgeir to look after his land and his wife and daughters. Then, Kari leaves for the west where he meets a pompous man named Bjorn the White. Kari takes him into service despite Bjorn’s wife’s disparaging words about her husband’s masculinity. Kari remains in hiding with Bjorn.

Flosi and the other perpetrators get ready for their exiles. Flosi purchases a ship, and they pack supplies. The Sigfussons are no longer worried about Kari since they believe he is in the north with Gudmund the Powerful. However, Flosi warns them to nevertheless travel carefully. He prophesies that he will never see some of them again after they depart.

Along the way, the Sigfussons meet Bjorn, who tells them that Kari is traveling to Gudmund alone. Grani laughs about this, but Ketil silences him. They tell Bjorn about their plans, and he returns to Kari to report.

Kari tells Bjorn to accompany him to the east, where he plans to board a ship and travel abroad. On the way, they would stealthily journey across Flosi’s district.

The Sigfussons head east, and they stop where Kari expects them to stop. After they fall asleep, Kari and Bjorn attack them. Kari injures Grani Gunnarsson and kills others. Bjorn injures three. Neither Kari nor Bjorn are wounded. The wounded survivors flee on horseback to Svinafell, and they feel disgraced. Kari gives notice of the killings and injuries to the farmer Skal.

Bjorn suggests that he and Kari should pretend to travel into the northern mountains but that they should turn back toward the Skafta River when they cannot be seen and ambush their enemies. Bjorn constantly brags about his bravery and intelligence. Kari and Bjorn meet six opponents in another clash; Kari kills Glum Hildisson and several others but spares the life of Ketil of Mork. Ketil rides away with his remaining men, and they gather supporters from the district to search for Kari, though they are not successful.

Kari and Bjorn return to Mork, where Kari praises Bjorn in front of his wife. They tell Thorgeir about their efforts. Kari notes that he still has vengeance to exact and requests that Thorgeir protect Bjorn. Thorgeir agrees and swaps farms with him and makes settlements for him; now, Bjorn is “thought to be much more of a man than before” (294). Kari leaves Iceland with his old friend, Kolbein the Black, who is a man from Orkney.

Flosi and his companions depart Iceland. They encounter stormy seas and are blown off course. They realize they are on the Mainland of the Orkney Isles. This landing is bad luck for Flosi since Helgi Njalsson, whom he killed, was a follower of Earl Sigurd. Flosi recommends that the men present themselves to the earl. The earl is aware of the burning and recognizes Flosi and his men. Flosi confesses that he killed Helgi, and the earl orders his men to seize the Icelanders. However, Hall of Sida’s son and Flosi’s brother-in-law, Thorstein, intervenes to save them. The earl consents to a settlement and allows Flosi to become one of his men, with time, Flosi earns the earl’s “great affection” (296).

Kari and Kolbein arrive on Fair Isle where David the White welcomes them. He reports what he knows of Flosi’s movements.

Meanwhile, Earl Sigurd invites several elite guests for a visit, including Earl Gilli. Another guest is Sigtrygg, an Irish king whose evil mother, Kormland, was divorced from another Irish ruler called Brian (Boru), who was merciful and “the best of all kings” (296). Kormland wants Brian killed so she asks Sigtrygg to get Earl Sigurd’s support and attack him. Gunnar Lambason obliges the earl’s request to narrate the story of the burning at the feast hall.

Kari, Kolbein, and David the White go to the earl’s hall and listen to Gunnar Lambason’s dishonest version of the burning. Kari bursts in with his sword, reprimands the attendees, and beheads Gunnar Lambason. Earl Sigurd orders his men to capture Kari, even though Kari was once one of his followers. No one moves—the men are still loyal to Kari. Kari then leaves for Scotland. Flosi goes on to narrate the truth about the burning.

Sigtrygg asks Earl Sigurd to help him attack King Brian. The earl agrees with the stipulation that he be wed to Kormland and become king of Ireland upon Brian’s death. Kormland is pleased with this outcome but instructs her son to enlist more support. She directs him to some Vikings off the Isle of Man called Brodir and Ospak. Brodir only agrees to help when Sigtrygg promises Kormland and the kingship to him. They keep this agreement a secret. Ospak and Brodir fall out and split their forces. Brodir was once a Christian deacon but he has become an apostate who practices sorcery and sacrifices to the Old Norse deities.

Brodir and his men awake one night to a storm of boiling blood. Men perish on each of his ships. Other horrifying supernatural occurrences plague the Vikings. Ospak says they are signs of doom. Brodir grows enraged and plots Ospak’s murder. Ospak cuts the ropes on Brodir’s fleet so that his ships slam against one another during the night. Then, Ospak seeks King Brian’s protection, warns him about the impending attack, and converts to Christianity. Brian rallies men in preparation for the attack.

Earl Sigurd departs for Ireland with 15 of Flosi’s men. Flosi, however, does not accompany them because he has to make pilgrimage to Rome. The earl arrives in Dublin while Brodir attempts to divine the battle’s outcome. He determines that a battle on Good Friday would bring Brian’s death but that if they fought earlier, Brian’s enemies would perish.

Brian’s army forms a shield wall around him. Soon, the battle is underway. Earl Sigurd is killed while Ospak suffers a terrible wound. Sigtrygg flees. Brian’s troops rout his opponents, but they leave the king vulnerable. Brodir attacks and beheads Brian. The king’s forces return to capture Brodir and disembowel him. Meanwhile, King Brian’s head miraculously regrows on his body. Fifteen of the Icelandic men who committed the burning die in the fighting. Across Iceland, Orkney, the Faroe Isles, the Hebrides, and Scotland, men witness supernatural phenomena that announce the terrible news. Flosi learns that all his men, except his brother-in-law Thorstein, were killed. He then sets off for Rome via Wales.

Kari and his companions sail along the western coast of Great Britain. He learns of the events in Ireland and hears that Flosi is in Wales. He goes to Wales where he meets Kol Thorsteinsson, one of the surviving perpetrators and Flosi’s companion. Kari beheads him and tells the witnesses to give Flosi notice.

Flosi buries Kol, but he never speaks ill of Kari. He makes his pilgrimage to Rome, where the Pope absolves him. He fulfills his settlement and returns to Svinafell.

Kari also makes the pilgrimage to Rome to receive absolution. His wife, Helga Njalsdottir, dies back in Iceland. The following summer, Kari returns to Iceland. He walks to Flosi’s home in a snowstorm to “put Flosi’s magnanimity to the test” (310). Flosi greets him warmly, and Kari lodges with him for the winter. The two are fully reconciled, and Kari weds Flosi’s niece, Hildigunn, who is Hoskuld the Godi’s widow. Much later, Flosi dies as an old man when he boards a ship that is in poor shape and vanishes at sea.