The Tale of Geirvauldr, Seventh of the Seven Sons

“I crossed the eastern border with six hundred sworn men, varangians, captained by those who I have known from the time of my birth. We sacked villages, sweeping away the freemen who stood against us in futile attempts to drive us off as they had done with earlier, smaller raids. We laid hold of much livestock and provender, but little gold was to be found and anything valuable was too large for us to carry on our way to destroy the Birkarl’s house. However, the Birkarl and his army met us at the fields of Berkara Qvenar and overthrew us with much slaughter, capturing me and my six captains and forcing us to do slave work in the fields where our brothers fell. However, as we worked I beheld the passage of Áile, first daughter to the Birkarl. I had one of my captains make pretense of an injury, and rushed over to her to appeal her aid. As her servants tended the false wound of my companion, I told her of my plight and my desire to go home, much stricken by her beauty and kindness. She bade me meet her again, and every time we met we talked less of my escape and more of our homes and lives, and soon she confessed her unhappy betrothal to one of the Sami people of the North, a ploy to strengthen the Kvens’ alliance with that people. I offered a counter proposal, marry me, and make an ally of Halogaland. She brought the matter to her father, but the Birkarl was made angry. He decided, in order to keep his daughter content, that if I could pass three impossible challenges, that I could marry Áile and form alliance between our two peoples. He declared I must, with my six men, plow the entire field of  Berkara Qvenar in one day, sow it with iron, and reap gold. I asked how soon I would be permitted to wait before attempting this unhappy task, and he replied it must be done in three years. My companions and I bided our time in slavery, toiling in the field for another two years, and waited for the solstice month. As it came, I sent messages through Áile to the mighty men of the Kvens to meet with us for a solstice feast and the celebration of my forthcoming mighty acts of valor. The men, duly humored, showed up to find the fields already plowed. By the aid of Áile’s servants we had plowed the fields during the long day of solstice, satisfying the first test. As the men feasted and drank, adorned in fine clothes, and jewelry (they had no weapons, as none of us were armed), talk came to tall tales and the glory of those present. The men ridiculed me in my simple dress and filth making much of the fact that I had accomplished but one of the tasks assigned me. This time I jested back, saying that I had already planted iron, and would soon reap the gold. From the furrows and dirt piles my six men dug out swords, axes, and shields that we had hidden while we plowed, and we made slaughter of all the mighty men there, none escaped though some were taken captive. The gold we collected was given to the Birkarl, who, ashamed at his defeat and deprived of his great warriors, agreed that I was to marry Áile, and our lands should have alliance with my heir becoming Birkarl at his death. Thus I bring you the tribute of the Kven; gold, provender and livestock, and the consumation of our people’s alliance, my son.”

All the gathered men were astonished at this turn, and impressed by the cunning of Geirvauldr, seventh of the seven sons. Upon his conclusion, Eygísl, the sixth son, jumped up and demanded to tell his story. Thus he spoke: