The Saga of Colm the Slave (23 page)

Frosti said, “I will speak with
Geirrid.”

“Do not threaten him,” said Braga. “We
cannot afford to pay for a killing as well as finance your wooing
of this girl.”

“I will speak with Colm,” said Adals.
Then the three plotted and planned deep into the evening.

The next day, Adals rode out early and
found Colm in the upper meadows.

Colm held out his hands in greeting.
“Well met, neighbor. How goes it for you at Helgafeld?”

Adals said, “Not so well, for it appears
Frosti was robbed.”

“Robbed? Well then, we must get together
a group of men and...” He stopped, for Adals was shaking his
head.

Adals said, “It was Geirrid who robbed
him.” He told Colm what had occurred.

Colm’s face turned red, then white. He
was angered and embarrassed and he was ashamed. He thought what to
do. “I will go to Geirrid and see what he has to say. But, whatever
happens, I will make up any loss to you.”

“It’s not so simple. Frosti meant to
impress a young woman with the gift of that amber. Money is not the
same.”

Colm nodded. “I understand. Even so, I
will speak to Geirrid now.”

The men parted and Colm rode back to the
Trollfarm, his mind in a turmoil. He was still on the ridge above
the farm when he spotted Geirrid riding along the river. He
galloped down and intercepted him.

“Hello, father!” Geirrid smiled at him,
a great wide smile.

Colm almost struck his son then. “Tell
me, Geirrid, what did you do with that bad penny I gave you?”

“Why, I sold it. I got quite a price,
too. I did well in that bargain. You should be proud!”

Colm choked in amazement. Finally he
said, “Where is the amber pendant? We must return it to
Frosti.”

“Oh, we can’t do that,” said Geirrid. “I
just sold it to Orm Ketilsson. Altogether, with the cloaks I got
from Frosti, I must have gotten almost two ounces of silver for
that worthless coin.”

“You must go and try to get the pendant
back from Orm.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that; it wouldn’t be
honorable to back out of a deal in that way.”

“You must go back. Offer to buy it.
Offer him a mark of silver for it.”

Geirrid shook his head. “It’s no use.
There’s a girl he wants to give it to. Nothing will induce him to
part with it.”

“All right,” said Colm, “Then I must
swallow my pride and go myself and beg this boy to sell me back the
thing my son has cheated another boy out of.” His face was red with
anger.

Geirrid was taken aback. His head rocked
as though his father had slapped him. “There was no cheating! There
was only good bargaining! I did well and Frosti was foolish, that’s
all.”

“This is about honor and you need to
understand what honor means!”

Geirrid hung his head. “I do not think
Orm will return the piece, but I will go and ask.”

Colm said, “I will go with you. And I
will speak with Ketil, too.”

The two rode in silence to Ketil’s
farm.

Geirrid greeted Orm and took him to one
side. “My father believes that I should get the pendant back from
you. I will return what you paid for it.”

“No,” said Orm, “I am satisfied with our
bargain.”

“I will pay extra. My father is unhappy
about this. I got that amber piece in exchange for something of
his. Now I need to undo the trades that I have made to satisfy
him.”

Orm shrugged. “What happens between you
and your father is nothing to me.”

Meanwhile, Colm spoke to Ketil. “We have
had dealings in the past.”

“Yes, and I am satisfied with them. Do
you have a problem with any transaction between us?”

“No. This is about our sons. Geirrid has
sold a piece to Orm that I need to have returned.”

“Oh?”

“He got it from another boy for too low
a price. It needs to be returned.”

Ketil shrugged. “What is that to us? Go
to the other boy and take it up with him.”

Geirrid joined them. “It is no use. Orm
will not sell the amber back to me.”

Ketil called Orm over. “How much are we
talking about here?”

Orm said, “I gave him a few cloaks and
some silver and copper, altogether about two ounces worth I think.
But now he offers me a mark for it.”

Ketil’s eyes lit up. He turned to Colm.
“So how much is it really worth?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t even seen it.
But my honor is very valuable indeed.”

“Four times the price, eh?”

Colm saw the greed in the man’s eyes and
knew that any offer he made would only be a starting point for
negotiations. “Name a price. I will tell you if it is too
much.”

Ketil tugged his beard, calculating, but
Orm broke in. “No! I mean to give this to Marta and win her for my
own!”

Ketil was surprised, though Orm had
spoken to him and his wife about courting Marta. Neither parent had
thought Orm’s suit had much chance of success but Orm’s mother,
Ingunn, had counselled him in much the same manner as Braga had
counselled her son: “Flatter her, speak sweetly, and give her
gifts.” Now Ketil saw that Geirrid would not be his son’s rival and
thought Orm might have a chance to woo Marta after all. It would be
a fine thing to have a future godi’s sister as a daughter-in-law.
Here was wealth and power and status!

Ketil said, “Honor dictates that this
bargain is a done deed. But you are my friend and I must hear your
best offer.”

Colm considered carefully. Even knowing
that Ketil would raise his offer, he had to be generous enough to
stir the man’s avarice. “I will give you a mark of gold. And you
will have my friendship forever.”

A mark of gold! This was a handsome sum
and Ketil understood the implied threat that, if he refused, Colm
might no longer be his friend. Colm was a killer of men and not one
to have opposed to you! Still, he weighed the offer. Finally, he
turned to Orm. “Is that enough to keep your honor in this
bargain?”

“No!” said Orm. “Marta is worth a
thousand marks of gold!”

Ketil turned to Colm. “Well,” he said,
“There it is. The amber is not for sale.” He was a little
disappointed because a mark of gold was worth having. Still, he
thought, if the story were told properly and got back to Gerda and
Thorolf, Marta’s grandfather, it would show to his credit.

Colm and Geirrid rode slowly back to the
Trollfarm. “A mark of gold is a great deal of money,” said
Geirrid.

“It is less than what Adals would have
to pay in wergild should Frosti kill someone close to me.” He
reined in and faced Geirrid. “Of course, I would refuse it and
there would be a feud between our families.” Geirrid was
dumbfounded. For the first time, he began to understand the
possible consequences of his actions. Colm kicked his horse back
into a walk. “There is nothing I would not do for my son.”

Adals had arranged for a horse-fighting
ring to be set up near the main river. Gunnar had a good horse that
he had bought in another district and some other farmers had horses
they wanted to try against one another. A nearby farm prepared and
served the food and drink that Adals and the other farmers
provided. People gave small gifts of money to the local farm in
return. This farm was also providing a mare on heat to provoke the
stallions. The best stallion would mount her and, if the coupling
was successful, the farm would gain the colt as well.

It was late summer, the time of Frey,
and hot. People were tired of work and ready for some entertainment
before settling into the labor of harvest. There were horse fights
all over Iceland at this time of year.

Colm and Gwyneth drove up in a wagon and
greeted friends and neighbors. Geirrid had not arrived yet,
something that pleased Colm. He hoped his son stayed away
altogether. The sword that Eystein had given him swung heavy at his
side.

Gwyneth moved among the women, talking
to this friend and that. She cast her eyes toward the places where
the young people milled about, laughing and yelling at one another.
She saw Marta and Orm Ketilsson in deep conversation. The girl’s
eyes shone with excitement and her smile was bright. Gwyneth was
glad and disappointed. She was gladdened by the sight of the young
girl’s happiness and recalled her own fifteen-year-old self and the
excitement she felt at having young men glance her way. But she was
disappointed that the person receiving Marta’s smiles was not
Geirrid. But that was not to be and now she hoped only that there
would be no trouble.

Gwyneth saw Braga watching the two young
people. Braga’s mouth was twisted and her eyes hard. Gwyneth
thought of going over to speak to the woman, then decided better
not.

Colm spotted Thorolf in the crowd and
went to have a word with him. Colm sat above Thorolf now in the
Logretta and Hallvard sat below. Thorolf could lean forward and
whisper explanations of events and point out lessons for the
guidance of his heir. He could lean back and discuss matters with
Colm, sometimes asking for advice, before rising and speaking to
the assembly.

“Well met,” said Colm.

“Indeed,” said Thorolf. He wiped sweat
from his face. “A fine day.” It was very hot but no one in Iceland
ever complained about too much sun.

“Marta looks well. She has her
grandmother’s eyes.”

“Well,” said Thorolf, “I suppose she can
see fairly well.” He regarded Colm. There was a half smile
twitching at the corner of his mouth, an expression Colm had come
to recognize. He knew that Thorolf understood his plight.

There was no time to waste, thought
Colm. Appropriate or not, he needed to try to head off trouble.
“This may not be the time to speak of it,” said Colm, “But I
understand there has been talk of her betrothal.”

“There is always talk of such things
when a girl reaches a certain age.”

“Well, I want you to know that I support
Frosti’s suit and will aid it in any way that I can.”

“I can understand how that might be, but
you should know that Marta’s mother, Gerda, has more say in this
matter than I do.”

“Even so, I am talking to you. I am
willing to do all that is possible to bring about a successful
marriage between Frosti and Marta.” Colm did not mention money and
material support, nor did he speak of backing Adals in time of
trouble, but his meaning was clear.

“As to that, I rather think there are
better matches for Marta. Adals is a spendthrift and a gambler.”
Thorolf waved his hand at the horse ring. “Even were you Frosti’s
foster-father, I would not call him a good match. He is dull and
foolish. I understand that he makes bad decisions and bargains
poorly, too.”

Colm nodded. “I am trying to remedy
that.”

“I understand and I wish you well.
Still, I cannot support Frosti to Marta.” Thorolf pulled his beard
and thought a moment. “But speak to Gerda. See what she says.”

Colm nodded. The first horses were led
into the ring and Thorolf went over to watch. Colm caught Gwyneth
looking his way and went over to her. “Thorolf says that only Gerda
can help Frosti’s suit.”

Gwyneth nodded and squared her
shoulders. “I will speak to her.”

Colm said nothing. He knew what Gerda’s
response would probably be and he did not want Gwyneth to suffer
insult. Still, this was for Geirrid.

“This is for Geirrid,” said Gwyneth, and
she went off to find Gerda.

A shout went up from the crowd. Some
farmer’s stallion had been driven from the ring. People hooted and
mocked. The winning stallion was led away, perhaps to fight again
later. Colm made his way to the ring and waited for the next horses
to be led in. Across the way he saw Ljot and Styr laughing
together. There was another problem waiting to develop, he thought.
As soon as those boys were old enough to lift a sword, there would
be plenty of wagging tongues to lash them into a duel, each boy
being convinced he fought for his dead father’s honor. A new
stallion was led into the ring and the crowd cheered and yelled.
Ljot and Styr jumped up and down in excitement.

Gunnora saw Colm looking across the ring
at her boys and smiled. She knew that Gwyneth had been barren since
Geirrid’s birth. She watched Colm, noticing the way he held his
body and the way he moved. She decided to walk near him.

Gwyneth came upon Gerda. The two
exchanged pleasantries and Gwyneth made flattering comments about
Gerda’s look and dress and the quality of her children. “That Marta
is so pretty,” said Gwyneth, “And I suppose you’re already thinking
of a match for her.”

Gerda shrugged. “There’s been talk, but
I’ve heard no names mentioned that appeal to me.”

“Well,” said Gwyneth, “As for that, I
wouldn’t discount young Frosti...”

“Never!” Gerda spat upon the ground.
“Marta shall never marry the son of a slave! No, not even if that
slave were to sit in the Logretta!” She turned and walked away.

Gwyneth flushed, then drew herself erect
with her head high. She turned back toward the horse ring and saw
Gunnora walk up beside her husband and bump him with her hip. Then
Gwyneth’s vision turned red and she thought of beating Gunnora with
a stick, beating her like a dog, but in her thoughts she kept on
beating her, beating her until she lay broken and bloody on the
ground. Her vision cleared and Gwyneth calmed herself and
considered the scene for a moment. Then she walked over to
Colm.

Colm became aware of Gunnora next to him
when she started babbling in his ear. Something about the horse
fight, Colm paid little attention, his eyes were fixed on the sight
of Geirrid in the crowd. Gwyneth came up behind him. Colm turned
and grabbed her by the arms and walked her back away. “Geirrid’s
here!” he said.

“Oh, no!” said Gwyneth. Then she said,
“Gerda will not allow her daughter to marry Frosti.”

Colm nodded. He could imagine the words
that had passed between Gerda and his wife. Suddenly he put his
arms around her. “We will work this out. You’ll see!” But he
doubted the things he was saying.