Egil had now been several winters at Borg with his father, when one summer a ship from Norway to
Iceland with these tidings from the east, that Bjorn Yeoman was dead. Further, it was told that all the
property owned by Bjorn had been taken up by Bergonund, his son-in-law, who had moved to his own
home all loose chattels, letting out the lands, and securing to himself all the rents. He had also got
possession of all the farms occupied of late by Bjorn. This when Egil heard, he inquired carefully
whether Bjorn had acted on his own counsel in this matter, or had the support of others more powerful.
It was told him that Onund was become a close friend of king Eric, but was on even more intimate
terms with Gunnhilda.

Egil let the matter rest for this autumn; but when winter was past and spring came, then Egil bade
them draw out his ship, which had stood in the shed at Long-river-foss. This ship he made ready for
sea, and got a crew thereto. Asgerdr his wife was to go with him, but Thordis Thorolf’s daughter
remained behind. Egil sailed out to sea when he was ready, and of his voyage there is nothing to tell
before he came to Norway. He at once, as soon as he could, went to seek Arinbjorn. Arinbjorn
received him well, and asked Egil to stay with him; this offer he took. So both he and Asgerdr went
thither and several men with them.

Egil very soon spoke with Arinbjorn about those claims on money that he thought he had there in the
land.

Arinbjorn said, ’That matter seems to me unpromising. Bergonund is hard, ill to deal with, unjust,
covetous; and he has now much support from the king and the queen. Gunnhilda is your bitter enemy,
as you know already, and she will not desire Onund to put the case right.’

Egil said, ’The king will let us get law and justice in this matter, and with your help it seems no great
thing in my eyes to take the law of Bergonund.’

They resolved on this, that Egil should equip a swift cutter, whereon they embarked some twenty men,
and went south to Hordaland and on to Askr. There they go to the house and find Onund. Egil declares
his business, and demands of Onund’s sharing of the heritage of Bjorn. He says that Bjorn’s daughters
were by law both alike his heirs, ’Though methinks,’ says Egil, ’Asgerdr will be deemed more nobly
born than your wife Gunnhilda.’

Then says Onund in high-pitched voice, ’A wondrous bold man are you, Egil, the outlaw of king Eric,
who come hither to his land and think here to attack his men and friends. You are to know, Egil, that I
have overthrown men as good as you for less cause than methinks this is, when you claim heritage in
right of your wife; for this is well known to all, that she is born of a bondwoman.’

Onund was furious in language for a time; but when Egil saw that Onund would do no right in this
matter, then he summoned him to court, and referred the matter to the law of the Gula-thing.

Onund said, ’To the Gula-thing I will come, and my will is that you should not come away thence with
a whole skin.’

Egil said he would risk coming to the Thing all the same: ’There let come what come may to end our
matter.’ Egil then went away with his company, and when he came home told Arinbjorn of his journey
and of Onund’s answer. Arinbjorn was very angry that Thora his father’s sister had been called a
bondwoman. Arinbjorn went to king Eric, and declared this matter before him.’

The king took his words rather sullenly, and said that Arinbjorn had long advocated Egil’s cause: ’He
has had this grace through thee, that I have let him be here in the land; but now shall I think it too
much to bear if thou back him in his assaults on my friends.’