_Salvor_.--I have hopes that your husband will again recover his health this time. _Helga_.--And how long will he keep it then? _Salvor_.--So long as he stirs not. _Helga_.--My husband will have to go to war and do battle as long as he lives. _Salvor_.--Now he longs for peace. _Helga_.--Then is he surely sick! (_Vehemently_.) My husband must not be sick; he will have to speak with his kinsmen, when they come. Give him strong drugs that he may have strength to do so. His sickness must not become known in the Westfirths by Thord Kakali. _Salvor_.--Such strong drugs are not without danger. _Helga_.--What danger is there in them? _Salvor_.--That he loses possession of his senses, and becomes even more sick thereafter. _Helga_ (_vehemently_).--His kinsmen must not know that he is sick, or else they will take matters in their own hands. He will have to have drugs so strong as to give him strength to hold council with them. _Salvor_.--But if he loses possession of his senses during it? _Helga_ (_with a look of relief_).--Let me take care of that. Then I shall speak for him, for all his intentions are known to me. _Salvor_.--My advice it is not to use strong drugs; they may endanger Kolbein's life. _Helga_.--Will you, low-born woman, give advice to a great? _Salvor_.--Why seek you then a low-born woman to heal the great? _Helga_.--I knew none better. Do as I bid you! _Salvor_.--I shall do as you bid, my lady. You run the risk, not I. (_Enter_ THOROLF.) _Thorolf_.--Hail, lady! How is the chieftain's health? _Helga_.--Rather good! Salvor says he will not be able to bear going into war for the first. _Thorolf_.--Kolbein has a-plenty of men to lead his troops. _Salvor_.--Brand Kolbeinsson-- _Thorolf_.--He, the velvet glove! Whilst Kolbein was on his foray to Reykholar and slew Tumi--a feat now famous--Brand was to dispatch old Sturla Thordsson--the fellow who mostly goes about with ink on his fingers. But Sturla gulled him so that Brand had to return with shame. Brand lacks both forethought _before_ battle and that fire _in_ battle which wins the victory. _Salvor_.--Brand Kolbeinsson is a man of peace. _Helga_.--You shall stay here at Flugumyr now, Thorolf, whilst my husband is in ill health. Brand Kolbeinsson would be but a low wall between us and Thord Kakali, should he advance from the West. _Thorolf_.--So long have I been one of your household, my lady, that I am bound to obey. But who shall take care of the shipbuilding which I have under way for Kolbein the Young? _Helga_.--Your wife Arnfrid; for this is not a place for women to be at. _Salvor_.--The ships that are to be used for carrying our war into the Westfirths this spring? _Thorolf_.--Yes. This spring we shall lay waste the Westfirths, kill cattle and people, burn down storehouses, farms, and churches, and slay all men we overtake. Thord shall not be able to hold himself there thereafter.