Chapter 89 - Thorstein goes to a feast.
There was a man named Thorgeir, a kinsman and friend of Thorstein: he dwelt then at Swan-ness.
Thorgeir was wont to have a harvest feast every autumn. He went to Thorstein Egil’s son and asked
him to his house. Thorstein promised to come, and Thorgeir went home. But on the appointed day
Thorstein made him ready to go: it wanted then four weeks of winter. With Thorstein went an
Easterling, his guest, and two house-carles. There was a son of Thorstein named Grim, who was then
ten years old; he too went with Thorstein, thus they were five in all. And they rode out to Foss, there
they crossed Long-river, then out, as the road lay, to Aurrida-river. On the outer bank of that river
Steinar was at work, and Aunund, and their house-carles. And when they perceived Thorstein they ran
to their weapons, then pursued his party. On seeing Steinar’s pursuit, these rode outside Long-holt.
There is a hillock, high and bare of wood. Thorstein’s party dismounted there, and climbed the hillock.
Thorstein bade the boy Grim go into the wood, and not be present at the encounter. As soon as Steinar
and his company came to the hillock they set upon Thorstein’s party, and there was a fight. There were
in Steinar’s band six grown men in all, and a seventh was Steinar’s son, ten years old. This encounter
was seen by those who were on the meadows from other farms, and they ran to part them. But by the
time they were parted both Thorstein’s house-carles had lost their lives, one house-carle of Steinar’s
had fallen, and several were wounded.

After they were parted Thorstein sought for Grim. And they found him sore wounded, while Steinar’s
son lay there by him dead. And when Thorstein leapt on his horse, then Steinar called after him, ’You
run now, Thorstein the white.’ Thorstein answered, ’You shall run further ere a week be out.’

Then Thorstein with his company rode out over the moor, taking with them the boy Grim. And when
they came to the holt that is there, the boy died; and they buried him there in the holt, called since
Grimsholt. And the place where they fought is called Battle-hillock.

Thorstein rode to Swan-ness that evening, as he had intended, and sat there at the feast three nights,
after which he made him ready to go home. Men offered to go with him, but he would not; so he and
his Easterling friend rode two together.

That same day Steinar, expecting that Thorstein would be riding home, rode out along the shore. But
when he came to the dunes below Lamba-stead he lay in wait there. He had the sword named Skrymir,
an excellent weapon. He stood there on the sandhill with drawn sword and eyes turned one way, for he
saw Thorstein riding out on the sand. Lambi, who dwelt at Lamba-stead, saw what Steinar was doing.
He left the house and went down the back, and, when he came to Steinar, he gripped him behind
between the shoulders. Steinar tried to shake him off, but Lambi held fast, and so they went from the
sandhill on to the level, and just then Thorstein and his friend rode by on the path below. Steinar had
ridden thither on his stallion, which was now galloping inwards along the seashore. Thorstein and his
friend saw this, and wondered, for they had perceived nothing of Steinar’s coming. Then Steinar
turned to regain the bank (for he saw not that Thorstein had ridden by). And as they came on the edge
of the bank, Lambi suddenly threw Steinar from the sandhill down on to the flat sand, and himself ran
home. As soon as he could get to his feet Steinar ran after Lambi. But when Lambi reached his house-
door, he dashed in and slammed the door after him, Steinar aiming a blow after him so that the sword
stuck in the wood of the door. There they parted, and Steinar went home.