Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/150

 142 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. Chapter CVII. Earl Tlior- finn's de- parture, and recon- ciliation with Thorkel. his suspicions that the earl would infringe the agree- ment. When the king had carefully considered the whole matter by himself, he ordered the signal to sound for a General Thing, to which he called in the earls. Then said the king, " I will now make known to the public our agreement with the Orkney earls. They have now acknowledged my right of property to Orkney and Shetland, and have both become my vassals, all which they have confirmed by oath ; and now I will invest them with these lands as a fief: namely, Bruse with one third part, and Thorfinn with one third, as they formerly enjoyed them ; but the other third, which Einar Rangmud had, I adjudge as fallen to my domain, because he killed Eyvind Urarhorn, my court-man, partner, and dear friend ; and that part of the land I will manage as I think proper. I have also, my earls, to tell you, it is my pleasure that ye enter into an agreement with Thorkel Aamundsson for the murder of your brother Einar ; for I will take that business, if ye agree thereto, within my own jurisdiction." The earls agreed to this, as to every thing else that the king proposed. Thorkel came forward, and surrendered to the king's judgment of the case, and the Thing concluded. King Olaf awarded as great a penalty for Earl Einar's murder as for three lendermen ; but as Einar himself was the cause of the act, one third of the mulct fell to the ground. Thereafter Earl Thorfinn asked the king's leave to depart, and as soon as he obtained it made ready for sea with all speed. It happened one day, when all was ready for the voyage, the earl sat in his ship drinking; and Thorkel Aamundsson came unexpectedly to him, laid his head upon the earl's knee, and bade him do with him what he pleased. The earl asked why he did so. " We are, you know,