Njals Saga

A “seafaring merchant” called Sigmund and his Swedish companion, Skjold, arrive in Iceland. Gunnar invites them to stay with him through the winter, despite his reservations about Skjold’s bad character. He cautions Sigmund against doing Hallgerd’s bidding. Hallgerd likes Sigmund “and things [become] so intense that she turn[s] over money to him and wait[s] on him no less than she [does] her husband” (68). People begin to gossip about her affection for Sigmund.

Meanwhile, Gunnar warns Njal that his assistant, Thord, should be cautious because Hallgerd is dissatisfied with the compensation for Brynolf’s slaying. Thord has a prophetic vision when he and Njal sit together outside one day. He sees a dead goat in a nearby hollow, covered in blood. Njal interprets this vision to signal Thord’s imminent death and warns him to be careful.

Hallgerd tells her son-in-law, Thrain, to kill Thord, but he refuses, fearing Gunnar’s wrath and the vengeance killings that will follow. Hallgerd says that Njal will not pursue vengeance. Thrain agrees with her, but he says that Njal’s sons would. Hallgerd later informs Thrain that Sigmund and Skjold have agreed to help in the killing. Soon after, Gunnar goes to the

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