The Njál's Saga on Thiostolf

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 2. Hrut Woos Unna

• relationship: Thiostolf, son of Bjorn Gullbera of Reykriverdale, brought news of a ship from Norway

  "Thiostolf, the son of Bjorn Gullbera of Reykriverdale, rode to meet them"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 9. Thorwald Gets Hallgerda To Wife

• attestation: Thiostolf was Hallgerda's foster-father, a Southislander who had killed many men without paying atonement

  "Her foster-father's name was Thiostolf: he was a Southislander (1) by stock: he was a strong man, well skilled in arms, and had slain many men, and made no atonement in money for one of them."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 10. Hallgerda'S Wedding

• attribution: Thiostolf promised Hallgerda she would marry a second time and he would serve her wishes

  "thou wilt be married a second time, and then they will ask thee what thou thinkest of the match; for I will do in all things as thou wishest"

• attestation: Thiostolf and Swan developed a friendship at the wedding

  "he went, and it soon got to friendship between him and Swan."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 11. Thorwald'S Slaying

• attribution: Thiostolf vowed to avenge Hallgerda when he saw the wound on her face

  "I will avenge it."

• attestation: Thiostolf killed Thorwald with an axe blow to the head on the Bearisles

  "Thiostolf lifted up his axe a second time and gave Thorwald a blow on the head, and he fell dead on the spot."

• attribution: Thiostolf taunted Thorwald that his wife had made a bad match before killing him

  "The woman who is thy wife has made a bad match, and you shall not live much longer together."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 12. Thiostolf'S Flight

• attestation: Thiostolf destroyed Thorwald's skiff by hewing through its gunwale, sinking the body and cargo

  "He hewed with both hands at the gunwale of the skiff and cut it down about two planks; then he leapt into his boat, but the dark blue sea poured into the skiff, and down she went with all her freight."

• attestation: Thiostolf sought refuge at Hauskuldstede after the killing

  "Then Thiostolf rode up to Hauskuldstede"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 14. Glum'S Wedding

• attestation: Thiostolf attended the wedding carrying his axe raised, but no one acknowledged him

  "Thiostolf went about with his axe raised in air, and no one seemed to know that he was there"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 15. Thiostolf Goes To Glum'S House

• attestation: Thiostolf was driven away by Hauskuld after beating one of his house-carles

  "Thiostolf had beaten one of Hauskuld's house-carles, so he drove him away."

• attestation: Thiostolf went to Varmalek where Hallgerda welcomed him warmly

  "he came to Varmalek, and there he got a hearty welcome from Hallgerda, and not a bad one from Glum."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 16. Glum'S Sheep Hunt

• attribution: Thiostolf refused to help search for sheep, calling it beneath him and servant's work

  "'Tis no business of mine," says Thiostolf, "to hunt up sheep, and this one thing is quite enough to hinder it. I won't walk in thy thralls' footsteps."

• attribution: Thiostolf would only go if Glum went personally, refusing to work alongside servants

  "go thyself, and then I'll go with thee."