ere; for, I take
it, you could choose for yourself such a station in life in Norway,
the like of which would not be found in Iceland." Then Kjartan
answered, "May our Lord reward you, sire, for all the honours you have
bestowed on me since I came into your power, but I am still in hopes
that you will give leave to me, no less than to the others you have
kept back for a while." The king said so it should be, but avowed
that it would be hard for him to get in his place any untitled man
such as Kjartan was. [Sidenote: Kjartan prepares to leave Norway] That
winter Kalf Asgeirson had been in Norway and had brought, the autumn
before, west-away from England, the ship and merchandise he and
Kjartan had owned. And when Kjartan had got leave for his journey to
Iceland Kalf and he set themselves to get the ship ready. And when the
ship was all ready Kjartan went to see Ingibjorg, the king's sister.
She gave him a cheery welcome, and made room for him to sit beside
her, and they fell a-talking together, and Kjartan tells Ingibjorg
that he has arranged his journey to Iceland. Then Ingibjorg said, "I
am minded to think, Kjartan, that you have done this of your own
wilfulness rather than because you have been urged by men to go away
from Norway and to Iceland." But thenceforth words between them were
drowned in silence. Amidst this Ingibjorg turns to a "mead-cask" that
stood near her, and takes out of it a white coif inwoven with gold and
gives it to Kjartan, saying, that it was far too good for Gudrun
Osvif's daughter to fold it round her head, yet "you will give her the
coif as a bridal gift, for I wish the wives of the Icelanders to see
as much as that she with whom you have had your talks in Norway comes
of no thrall's blood." It was in a pocket of costly stuff, and was
altogether a most precious thing. "Now I shall not go to see you off,"
said Ingibjorg. "Fare you well, and hail!" After that Kjartan stood
up and embraced Ingibjorg, and people told it as a true story that
they took it sorely to heart being parted. [Sidenote: The gifts] And
now Kjartan went away and unto the king, and told the king he now was
ready for his journey. Then the king led Kjartan to his ship and many
men with him, and when they came to where the ship was floating with
one of its gangways to land, the king said, "Here is a sword, Kjartan,
that you shall take from me at our parting; let this weapon be always
with you, for my mind tells me you will never be