The Njál's Saga on Thrain Sigfus' son

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 81. Of Thrain: How He Slew Kol

• attestation: Thrain Sigfus' son sailed to Norway and landed in Helgeland, then went south to Drontheim and Hlada

  "Thrain Sigfus' son came to Norway. They made the land north in Helgeland, and held on south to Drontheim, and so to Hlada (1)."

• attestation: Thrain volunteered to hunt Kol, claiming kinship with Gunnar as qualification

  "Then Thrain Sigfus' son answered, "I am not Gunnar, but still I am near akin to him, and I will undertake this voyage.""

• attestation: Thrain cut off Kol's leg and then beheaded him after a stone struck Kol's arm and made him drop his sword

  "Then Kol got a blow on the arm, from a stone and then down fell his sword.

Thrain hews at Kol, and the stroke came on his leg so that it cut it off. After that they slew Kol, and Thrain cut off his head"

• attestation: Thrain sailed the Vulture so fast that few could keep up with him during the earl's march to the Swedish border

  "Thrain went with him that summer, and was a shipmaster and steered the Vulture, and sailed so fast that few could keep up with him, and he was much envied."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 87. Thrain Took To Hrapp

• attestation: Thrain reluctantly took Hrapp under his protection despite the earl's goodness to him

  ""It hardly beseems me to do this," says Thrain, "when the earl has done me so much good.""

• attestation: Thrain hid Hrapp in two casks that were lashed together and lowered overboard

  ""Now this will be thy best hiding place, to knock out the bottoms of two casks, and then thou shalt get into them."

So it was done, and he got into the casks, and then they were lashed together, and lowered overboard."

• attestation: Thrain denied hiding Hrapp and invited the earl to search his ship

  "he denies that Hrapp is here, and bade the earl to look for him."

• attestation: Thrain's men moved Hrapp from the casks into the hold under sacks before the earl's second search

  "they took some sacks out of the lading, and put Hrapp down into the hold in their stead, and other sacks that were light were laid over him."

• attestation: Thrain's men folded Hrapp into the brailed-up sail before the earl's third search

  ""Now let us fold Hrapp in the sail."

It was then brailed up to the yard, and they did so."

• attestation: Thrain sailed the Vulture away with the famous words 'Let us make the Vulture fly, nothing now gars Thrain flinch'

  ""Let us make the Vulture fly, Nothing now gars Thrain flinch.""

• attestation: Thrain gave Hrapp a homestead at Hrappstede but Hrapp spent most time at Gritwater, possibly too friendly with Hallgerda

  "Thrain got him a homestead at Hrappstede, and he dwelt there; but yet he spent most of his time at Gritwater. He was thought to spoil everything there, and some men even said that he was too good friends with Hallgerda"

• attestation: Thrain gave the Vulture ship to his kinsman Mord the Reckless, who later killed Oddi Haldor's son

  "Thrain gave the Vulture to his kinsman, Mord the Reckless; that Mord slew Oddi Haldor's son, east in Gautawick by Berufirth."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 90. The Quarrel Of Njal'S Sons With Thrain Sigfus' Son

• attestation: Thrain kept fifteen armed house-carles and always rode with eight of them, wearing a blue cloak, gilded helm, the earl's spear, and a sword

  "Thrain had fifteen house-carles trained to arms in his house, and eight of them rode with him whithersoever he went. Thrain was very fond of show and dress, and always rode in a blue cloak, and had on a gilded helm, and the spear -- the earl's gift -- in his hand, and a fair shield, and a sword at his belt."

• attestation: Thrain dismissed the claim, questioning how long such demands should stand

  ""I never knew," said Thrain, "that ye two brothers were wont to measure your manhood by money; or, how long shall such a claim for amends stand over?""

• attestation: Everyone at Gritwater except Thrain used the insulting nicknames; Thrain forbade them

  "They did not fare home before all who were there had made themselves guilty of uttering those words, save Thrain; he forbade men to utter them."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 91. Thrain Sigfus' Son'S Slaying

• attestation: Thrain travelled east with eight companions including Hrapp, Grani, Gunnar Lambi's son, and Hallgerda

  "Thrain bade Hrapp, and Grani, and Gunnar Lambi's son, and Lambi Sigurd's son, and Lodinn, and Tjorvi, eight of them in all, to go on this journey with him. Hallgerda and Thorgerda were to go too."

• attestation: Thrain's men took their stand on a sheet of ice as smooth and slippery as glass on the far side of the Fleet

  "A great sheet of ice had been thrown up by the flood on the other side of the Fleet as smooth and slippery as glass, and there Thrain and his men stood in the midst of the sheet."