Then Frodi heaved a great sigh, and looked so relieved that all who
stood by shouted with merriment. Grani was pleased most of all, and he
gave command that Frodi should be called Drowning-Frodi. Frodi liked
that little, yet by that name he was called for a while. And Grani was
so pleased with all this that he boasted much about his thralls.
One day he spoke of them with Kiartan, and told how when they went
away together Rolf took the lead. "And he cares for me," said Grani,
"as if I were his brother; but so soon as others are by he is as any
other thrall, and says no word unless spoken to."
Kiartan said: "In that he appears to me sly."
"How should that be?" asked Grani.
"He seeks to gain influence over thee," answered Kiartan.
"Nay," said Grani, "he and I are friends."
Kiartan shook his head. Quoth he: "In my country we have a saying:
'Ill is a thrall for a friend.' Moreover, to lack dignity at any time
is not seeming in one of thy station."
Grani took those sayings much to heart; he went no more away alone
with his thralls, but stayed where were other men. Now that was the
time when the summer had passed by and harvests were all in, but
winter had not yet come and the weather was mild. Men were saying that
when winter should come, it would be with suddenness.
There came a day when the wind was high, but it was as soft as summer.
A man named Thord the Weatherwise came to Ar and said: "See to it that
all is ready for the winter!" and without more words departed. Ar
inquired of his men if the sheep were yet gathered in from the downs
above the cliffs. It was answered that they were not. Ar bade send a
man quickly to warn the shepherds.
It was told Ar that the fishers had just come in, and that all the
serving-men were busied at the beach, being much needed to save the
catch of fish, for the waves were high. Ar said to Grani: "Lend me one
of thy thralls to take my message."
"Thou mayest have both of them," answered Grani.
So Rolf and Frodi prepared to go to the downs, and a long jaunt that
would be. But when Grani saw they were ready he felt desire to go with
them, since he had not done much for some days, and needed action. So
he said that Rolf and Frodi should wait till he could go with them.
They went outside the hall to wait, and Grani bound on his shoes. Now
Kiartan had stood by and heard all that, and he said:
"So thou goest out again with thy friends?"
Grani answered with pride: "I go with my thralls!"
He went outside the hall and found Rolf and Frodi waiting. Rolf looked
him over, and seeing there was no one by, he said: "Take thy cloak,
for we may be benighted."
"Lo," answered Grani, "the thrall gives orders to his master! We shall
be back before men go to bed. No cloak is needed, and I forbid ye to
take yours."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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