The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Ket

The Danish History, > Book Four.

• attestation: Folk, Ket's chief officer, found Wermund feasting at Jellinge and reported Athisl's invasion

  "Ket, the son of Frowin, sent Folk, his chief officer, to take this news to Wermund, who then chanced to be in his house Jellinge"

• attestation: Ket and Wig vowed to avenge their father Frowin, went alone to Sweden disguised as deserters, and met Athisl in his private walking wood

  "they swore a vow to unite in avenging their father. Thinking that they could hardly accomplish this in open war, they took an equipment of lighter armament, and went to Sweden alone"

• attestation: Ket and Wig told Athisl they were from Sleswik and had left for 'manslaughter', a truthful but deceptive reference to their planned vengeance

  "they said they were men of Sleswik, and had left their land "for manslaughter""

• attestation: Ket challenged Athisl to single combat to avenge Frowin, insisting on fighting alone since two against one was considered infamous

  "He himself would do without the aid of his brother, and would fight with his own strength, lest it should appear a shameful and unequal combat"

• attestation: Ket split Athisl's helmet and wounded his head; Athisl retaliated and drove Ket to his knees

  "Ket received him with so sturdy a stroke of his sword, that it split the helmet and forced its way down upon the head"

• attestation: They cut off Athisl's head and displayed his body, announcing they had avenged Frowin; their killing became a proverb for breaking the rules of combat

  "they cut off his head, slung his body on a horse, took it out of the wood, and handed it over to the dwellers in a village near"