On that day Steinar’s cattle were late in coming home; and when there seemed no hope of their
coming, Steinar took his horse and saddled it, and fully armed himself. He then rode to Borg. And
when he came there he found men to speak to, and asked where Thorstein was. It was told him that he
was sitting within. Then Steinar asked that he should come out; he had (he said) an errand with him.
Which when Thorstein heard, he took his weapons and went out to the door. Then he asked Steinar
what was his errand. ’Have you slain Thrand my thrall?’ said Steinar. ’Truly I have,’ said Thorstein;
’you need not put that upon any other man.’ ’Then I see,’ said Steinar, ’that you mean to guard your
land with the strong hand, since you have slain my two thralls: yet methinks this is no great exploit.
Now will I offer you in this a far better choice, if you wish to guard your land by force: I shall not trust
other men with the driving of my cattle, but be you sure of this, the cattle shall be on your land both
night and day.’ ’So it is,’ said Thorstein, ’that I slew last summer your thrall, whom you set to feed
cattle on my land, but afterwards let you have the feed as you would up to the winter. Now have I slain
another thrall of yours, for the same fault as the former. Again you shall have the feed from now
through the summer, as you will. But next summer, if you feed on my land, and set men to drive your
cattle thither, then will I go on slaying for you every man that tends them, though it be yourself. I will
act this every summer while you hold to the manner of grazing that you have begun.’

Then Steinar rode away and home to Brekka. And a little while after Steinar rode up to Stafar-holt,
where Einar then dwelt. He was a priest. Steinar asked his help, and offered him money. Einar said,
’You will gain little by my help, unless more men of honour back you in this cause.’ After that Steinar
rode up to Reykjar-dale to see Tongue-Odd, and asked his help and offered him money. Odd took the
money, and promised his help; he was to strengthen Steinar to take the law of Thorstein. Then Steinar
rode home.

But in the spring Odd and Einar went with Steinar on the journey of summons, taking a large
company. Steinar summoned Thorstein for thrall-slaying, and claimed lesser outlawry as the penalty
of each slaying. For this was the law, when thralls of anyone were slain, and the fine for the thrall was
not brought to the owner before the third sunrise. But two charges of lesser outlawry were equivalent
to one of full outlawry. Thorstein brought no counter-summons on any charge. And soon after he sent
men southwards to Ness, who came to Grim as Moss-fell and there told these tidings. Egil did not
show much interest about it, but he quietly learned by the questions what had passed between
Thorstein and Steinar, as also about those who had strengthened Steinar in this cause. Then the
messengers went home, and Thorstein appeared well pleased with their journey.

Thorstein Egil’s son took a numerous company to the spring-tide Thing: he came there one night
before other men, and they roofed their booths, he and the Thingmen who had booths there. And when
they had made all arrangements, then Thorstein bade his Thingmen set to work, and they built there
large booth-walls. Then he had roofed in a far larger booth than the other that were there. In this booth
were no men.

Steinar rode to the Thing also with a numerous company, as did Tongue-Odd, and Einar from Stafar-
holt; they roofed their booths. The Thing was a very full one. Men pleaded their causes. Thorstein
offered no atonement for himself, but to those who advised atonement made answer, that he meant to
abide by judgment. He said that he thought the cause which Steinar came, about the slaying of his
thralls, was little worth; Steinar’s thralls, he argued, had done enough to deserve death. Steinar was
high and mighty about his cause: he had, as he thought, charges good in law, and helpers strong
enough to win his rights. So he was most impetuous in his cause.