It now happened that Steinar in the early part of the winter went out to Snæfell-strand and stayed there
awhile. There he saw a thrall named Thrand, who was tall and strong above other men. Steinar,
wishing to buy him, bid a large sum: but his owner valued him at three marks of silver, which was
twice the price of a common thrall, and at this sum the bargain was made. Steinar took Thrand home
with him, and when they came home, then spoke Steinar with Thrand: ’Now stand matters so that I
will have work of you. But as all the work is already arranged, I will put on you a task of but little
trouble: you shall sit by my cattle. I make a great point of their being well kept at pasture. I would
have you go by no man’s rule but your own, take them wherever the pasture on the moor is best. I am
no judge of a man’s look if you have not courage and strength enough to hold your own against any
house-carle of Thorstein’s.’

Steinar delivered into Thrand’s hand a large axe. whose blade was an ell long, it was keen as a razor.
’This I think of you, Thrand,’ said Steinar, ’that you would not regard the priesthood of Thorstein if ye
two were face to face.’ Thrand answered: ’No duty do I, as I deem, owe to Thorstein; and methinks I
understand what work you have laid before me. You think you risk little where I am; and I believe I
shall come well out of it if I and Thorstein try our strength together.’

After this Thrand took charge of the cattle. He understood, ere he had been long there, whither Steinar
had had his cattle taken, and he sat by them on Stack-moor. When Thorstein was aware of this, he sent
a house-carle to seek Thrand, bidding him tell Thrand the boundary between his land and Steinar’s.
When the house-carle came to Thrand, he told him his errand, and bade him take the cattle
otherwither, saying that the land on which they were belonged to Thorstein Egil’s son. Thrand said, ’I
care not a jot who owns the land; I shall take the cattle where I think the pasture is best.’ Then they
parted: the house-carle went home and told him the thrall’s answer. Thorstein let the matter rest, and
Thrand took to sitting by the cattle night and day.

Chapter 86 - Slaying of Thrand.
One morning Thorstein rose with the sun, and went up on the hill. He saw where Steinar’s cattle were.
Then went Thorstein out on the moor till he came to the cattle. There stands a wood-clad rock by
Hafs-brook: upon this Thrand was lying asleep, having put off his shoes. Thorstein mounted the rock:
he had in his hand a small axe, and no other weapon. With the shaft of the axe he poked Thrand, and
bade him wake. Up he jumped swiftly and suddenly, gripped his axe with both hands and raised it
aloft, and asked Thorstein what he wanted. He replied, ’I wish to tell you that this land is mine; yours
is the pasture beyond the brook. It is no wonder if you do not yet know the landmarks here.’ Said
Thrand, ’It makes no odds to me who owns the land: I shall let the cattle be where they please.’ ’’Tis
likely,’ said Thorstein, ’that I shall wish myself, and not Steinar’s thralls, to rule my own land.’ Said
Thrand, ’You are a far more foolish man, Thorstein, than I judged you to be, if you will take night-
quarters under my axe, and for this risk your honours. Methinks, from what I see, I have twice your
strength; nor lack I courage: better weaponed am I also than you.’ Thorstein replied: ’That risk I shall
run, if you do not as I say about the pasture. I hope that our good fortune may differ much, as does the
justice of our cause.’ Thrand said: ’Now shall you see, Thorstein, whether I at all fear your threats.’
And with that Thrand sat down and tied on his shoe. But Thorstein raised his axe swiftly, and smote
on Thrand’s neck so that his head fell forward on his breast. Then Thorstein heaped some stones over
him and covered his body, which done, he went home to Borg.