_Broddi_.--The Eyafirthings will assail us from the east under Thorolf, and Thord Kakali from the west. The henchmen of Lady Helga will stand by Thorolf, and not by you, Brand. _Brand_.--But Gissur Thorvaldsson will come to my help over the mountains from the south. _Broddi_.--An ill thing, to have Gissur as one's only friend. He is no warrior, keeps no promise, and dares not to fight. _Sigurd_.--Never rely on Gissur's valor! _Alf_.--He is a coward! _Einar_.--None of you mentions what is of most importance. Lady Helga it was, and not Kolbein the Young, who assigned Eyafirth to Thorolf. _Broddi_.--That is a lie, Einar! _Einar_.--Kolbein had become delirious when Helga asserted Eyafirth was given to Thorolf. _Alf_.--That, indeed, is the truth. _Several_.--Yes, that indeed is the truth. _Broddi_.--Does _she_ mean to arrange the districts? If so, we mean to make away with Thorolf. You shall have no hand in this, Brand Kolbeinsson, but your men shall follow me. _Brand_.--And who is to follow me? _Broddi_.--No one! _Brand_.--That was the cause of my kinsman Kolbein's greatness that all his men obeyed him without a murmur. No one obeys me now! _Einar_.--But this obedience came first about after the fall of Kalf Guttormsson. _Brand_.--No need to remind me again that Thorolf was the foremost instigator to the killing of him. _Broddi_.--Let us then seize Thorolf, wherever we may find him, and slay him. _All_ (_except_ BRAND).--Yes, let us slay him! _Broddi_.--Or else let us surround his house and lead him out to be put to death. _Alf_.--Oh, let him perish in the flames of his own house. _Sigurd_--For shame, Alf! I do not care to share the torments of hell with incendiaries. _Brand_.--Kolbein the Young will surely take revenge on us for his friend Thorolf. _Einar_.--Kolbein is no longer to be reckoned among living men. _Broddi_.--Kinsman Kolbein lay more sorely stricken with his wound this time than last, and even then was in danger of his life. _Alf_.--I cannot tell a doomed man if he ever arises again. _Sigurd_.--A great loss it would be if a chieftain so noble and so beloved should depart this world. _Broddi_.--And one so victorious! _Sigurd_.--Let us pray for his soul! (_Silence. All present show marks of grief and of praying_.) _Broddi_.--But you will lend us your aid, Brand, after the slaying of Thorolf, and will take steps to make Lady Helga leave the district? _Brand_.--It is not seeming that I give counsel to those who plan Thorolf's death. _Broddi_.--We shall help you to obtain all the dominions in Skagafirth and west as far as Hrutafirth for it; because it is not so very sure whether all are willing to accept you as overlord. _Brand_.--I thank you, friend Broddi. But I shall take no part in your dealings with Thorolf. Afterwards I shall not part from you. _Alf_.--Let us touch our weapons to confirm it, according to Norse custom! _Many_.--Yes, let us brandish weapons!