CHAP. XLVI

Feast at Herdholt and the Loss of Kjartan's Sword, A.D. 1002


Olaf and Osvif were still friends, though there was some deal of
ill-will between the younger people. That summer Olaf had his feast
half a month before winter. And Osvif was also making ready a feast,
to be held at "Winter-nights," and they each asked the other to their
homes, with as many men as each deemed most honourable to himself. It
was Osvif's turn to go first to the feast at Olaf's, and he came to
Herdholt at the time appointed. In his company were Bolli and Gudrun
and the sons of Osvif. In the morning one of the women on going down
the hall was talking how the ladies would be shown to their seats.
And just as Gudrun had come right against the bedroom wherein Kjartan
was wont to rest, and where even then he was dressing and slipping on
a red kirtle of scarlet, he called out to the woman who had been
speaking about the seating of the women, for no one else was quicker
in giving the answer, "Hrefna shall sit in the high seat and be most
honoured in all things so long as I am alive." [Sidenote: Gudrun sees
the coif] But before this Gudrun had always had the high seat at
Herdholt and everywhere else. Gudrun heard this, and looked at Kjartan
and flushed up, but said nothing. The next day Gudrun was talking to
Hrefna, and said she ought to coif herself with the head-dress, and
show people the most costly treasure that had ever come to Iceland.
Kjartan was near, but not quite close, and heard what Gudrun said, and
he was quicker to answer than Hrefna. "She shall not coif herself with
the headgear at this feast, for I set more store by Hrefna owning the