irik and from
thence take the son of Tryggvi and bring him unto herself.

Thereupon the messengers set out on their way, but when they were come
nigh to Oprostad learned the friends of Eirik concerning their journey
and went one evening unto him with the tidings.

Straightway when night had fallen, Eirik bade Astrid make ready to
leave, furnished her with sure guides, & set her eastwards with her face
towards Sweden, to his friend Hakon the Old, who was a man in the
exercise of potent sway. They adventured when the night was not far
spent, & next day, towards even, were they come to a country-side called
Skaun, and seeing there a homestead thither went they craving lodging
for the night. Of their names they made a secret & their garb was but
meanly. The yeoman who abode in the place was called Biorn Venom-Sore,
a wealthy man was he but withal churlish, and he drave them away, & they
came that same evening to another homestead which was called Vizkar.

Thorstein was the yeoman who dwelt there & he gave them shelter and good
cheer for the night, and there they slept in good beds.

|| Next day betimes came Hakon with the men of Gunnhild to Oprostad and
asked for Astrid and her son, but Eirik said that she was not there,
so Hakon and his men ransacked the homestead and bided till late even
toward sundown, and gat them some tidings of Astrid's road. Then rode
they forth the same day and came almost as night fell to the house of
Biorn Venom-Sore in Skaun, and there took harbour.

Then Hakon asked Biorn if he had aught to tell concerning Astrid; and he
said that some wayfarers had come there during the day and had asked for
a night's lodging, 'I sent them away, and it is likely they sought a
refuge elsewhere in the neighbourhood.' Now a workman that had been of
the household of Thorstein, being on his way to pass out from the
forest, that same even happened to chance on the homestead of Biorn and
learned that guests were tarrying, & further of what fashion was their
errand; and all this he forthwith sped back to tell to Thorstein the
yeoman.

So while there was still a third of the night unspent, Thorstein aroused
his guests and bade them begone, urging them harshly to bestir
themselves. When they had passed a little way from the house then did
Thorstein open unto them that the emissaries from Gunnhild were hard by
at the house of Biorn seeking for them.

They besought him for succour, and he set them on their way wit