THE SCENE: That feeling when you sail all the way to your father-in-law’s island for a chat, but all he’ll give you for your effort is a spear thrown at your face.
THE TEXT: The next morning, they prepared to set off and they made their way along the coast. They rowed the ship in a different direction from which they had approached the island, and came across a group of people. They recognized them as Snaeulfur the farmer and his entire househould. Hafgrimur rowed toward them and called out to his father-in-law, but Snaeulfur did not return the greeting. Then Hafgrimur asked what advice Snaeulfur had for him concerning the dispute with Brestir and Beinir, so that he might have his revenge. Snaeulfur replied, “It went badly for you, considering that better men attacked you without cause, but just accept the worst of it.”
“You were wrong if you thought I wanted a scolding from you,” said Hafgrimur, “and I won’t listen to you.”
Snaeulfur grabbed a spear and threw it at him. Hafgrimur raised his shield in defense and the spear pierced it deeply, but he was not wounded. The two men parted company as matters stood, and Hafgrimmur sailed home to South Island, very dissatisfied with the meeting.
– The Faroe-Island (Færeyinga) Saga, 13th Century AD
