, Auzur's brother's son. Then Gunnhillda said, "I see plainly that
he means to claim his heritage, but there is a man named Soti, who has
laid his hands on it".
After that she called her waiting-man, whose name was Augmund, and
said--
"I am going to send thee to the Bay to find out Auzur and Hint, and tell
them that I ask them both to spend this winter with me. Say, too, that I
will be their friend, and if Hrut will carry out my counsel, I will see
after his suit, and anything else he takes in hand, and I will speak a
good word, too, for him to the king."
After that he set off and found them; and as soon as they knew that he
was Gunnhillda's servant, they gave him good welcome. He took them aside
and told them his errand, and after that they talked over their plans by
themselves. Then Auzur said to Hrut--
"Methinks, kinsman, here is little need for long talk, our plans are
ready made for us; for I know Gunnhillda's temper; as soon as ever we
say we will not go to her she will drive us out of the land, and take
all our goods by force; but if we go to her, then she will do us such
honour as she has promised."
Augmund went home, and when he saw Gunnhillda, he told her how his
errand had ended, and that they would come, and Gunnhillda said--
"It is only what was to be looked for; for Hrut is said to be a wise and
well-bred man; and now do thou keep a sharp look out, and tell me as
soon as ever they come to the town."
Hrut and Auzur went east to the King's Crag, and when they reached the
town, their kinsmen and friends went out to meet and welcome them. They
asked, whether the king were in the town, and they told them he was.
After that they met Augmund, and he brought them a greeting from
Gunnhillda, saying, that she could not ask them to her house before they
had seen the king, lest men should say, "I make too much of them". Still
she would do all she could for them, and she went on, "tell Hrut to be
outspoken before the king, and to ask to be made one of his body-guard";
"and here," said Augmund, "is a dress of honour which she sends to thee,
Hrut, and in it thou must go in before the king". After that he went
away.
The next day Hrut said--
"Let us go before the king."
"That may well be," answered Auzur.
So they went, twelve of them together, and all of them friends or
kinsmen, and came into the hall where the king sat over his drink. Hrut
went first and bade the king "good day," and the king, loo
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