The The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald (Kormáks saga) on Thordis the Spae-wife

Life And Death Of Cormac The Skald

• attestation: Thordis the spae-wife of Spakonufell in Skagastrand came to Muli foreseeing Cormac's arrival and counselled against Bersi's offer of Helga; Thord dismissed her as a foul witch.

  "There was a woman called Thordis--and a shrew she was--who lived at Spakonufell (Spaequean's-fell), in Skagastrand. She, having foresight of Cormac's goings, came that very day to Muli, and answered this matter on his behalf, saying, "Never give him yon false woman.""

• attestation: Thordis the spae-wife told Cormac he came too late, that no weapon would bite on Thorvard, but she offered to make iron bite Cormac no more than his opponent if he stayed the night.

  ""Too late ye have come," said she. "No weapon will bite on him now. And yet I would not refuse thee. Bide here to-night, and seek thy good luck. Anyway, I can manage so that iron bite thee no more than him.""

• attestation: Thordis performed a goose-blood sacrifice three times during the night to break Thorveig's curse on Cormac and Steingerd, but Cormac interrupted her each time; the third time, two geese had already been killed and she was about to kill the third.

  "Three times she came, and every time he tried to find out what she was after. The third time, just as he came out, she had killed two geese and let the blood run into a bowl, and she had taken up the third goose to kill it."

• attestation: Thordis told Cormac she was breaking Thorveig's spell on him and Steingerd so they could have loved one another, but his interruption prevented it; Cormac dismissed the sacrifice as futile.

  ""I was going to break the spell Thorveig laid on thee and Steingerd. Ye could have loved one another been happy if I had killed the third goose and no one seen it.""

• attestation: Thordis the spae-wife advised Thorvard to redden the outside of a nearby elf-mound with blood from the bull Cormac had killed, and feast the elves with its flesh, to heal his wounds.

  ""A hill there is," answered she, "not far away from here, where elves have their haunt. Now get you the bull that Cormac killed, and redden the outer side of the hill with its blood, and make a feast for the elves with its flesh. Then thou wilt be healed.""

• attestation: In the second holmgang against Thorvard, Thordis blunted Cormac's sword but he nonetheless broke Thorvard's collarbone with a great stroke; Thorvard paid a ring as ransom.

  "She blunted Cormac's sword, so that it would not bite, but yet he struck so great a stroke on Thorvard's shoulder that the collarbone was broken and his hand was good for nothing. Being so maimed he could fight no longer, and had to pay another ring for his ransom."