The Eyrbyggja Saga on Thrand the Strider

Chapter 1 - Herein Is Told How Ketil Flatneb Fares To West-Over-Sea. > Chapter 61 - Snorri Sends For Thrand The Strider.

• attestation: Thrand the Strider lived at Ingiald's-knoll on Ness and was the biggest, strongest, and swiftest man on foot

  "a man called Thrand the Strider, and was the son of that Ingiald by whom the homestead is named at Ingiald's-knoll. Thrand was the biggest and strongest of men, and the swiftest of foot."

• attestation: Thrand was reputed to be a shape-shifter during his pagan days, a quality that faded after his baptism

  "He had been before with Snorri the Priest, and was said to be not of one shape whiles he was heathen; but the devilhood fell off from most men when they were christened."

• attestation: Thrand made an extraordinary solo journey from Ness to Tongue in a single day, crossing frozen firths and headlands

  "He had taken his weapons and gone east under Enni, and so as the road lay to Bulands-head, and then east across the firths to the stead called Eidi. There he took to the ice and went over Coalpit-firth and Seliafirth, and thence into Swordfirth, and so in over the ice right to the firth-end, and to Tongue in the evening"

• attestation: Thrand arrived at Tongue that same evening, outpacing the messenger Snorri had sent to summon him

  "Snorri welcomed him lovingly, and Thrand took his greeting and asked what he would of him"

Chapter 1 - Herein Is Told How Ketil Flatneb Fares To West-Over-Sea. > Chapter 62 - Snorri And Sturla Win The Work At Ere In Bitter.

• attestation: Thrand the Strider leaped high enough to hook his axe over the wall and pulled himself up onto the fortification

  "Thrand the Strider made a run at the wall, and leaped up so high that he got his axe hooked over the same, and therewith he drew himself up by the axe-shaft till he came up on to the work."