THE SCENE: When feuds in medieval Iceland broke out between different branches of a family, loyalties could quickly become complicated. The passage below demonstrates such a situation, where Styrn Thorgrimsson (aka Killer Styr), abruptly switches sides in the middle of a deadly showdown.
THE TEXT: They went across the river and then turned up into an avalanche named Geirvor, and prepared themselves for the encounter there, since it was a good place for a fight because of all the rocks. When Snorri’s troop came up the avalanche, Steinthor shot a spear over them for good luck, according to ancient custom, and the spear found its mark, hitting Snorri’s kinsman, Mar Hallvardsson, rendering him unfit to fight. After that a serious battle began. Steinthor was at the forefront of his troop, striking on both sides, but the ornamented sword was not much good whenever it hit a shield, and he had to keep straightening it out under his foot. He kept attacking wherever Snorri the Godi was, and his kinsman, Styr Thorgrimsson, was fighting fiercely beside him. He was the first to kill a man from his son-in-law Snorri’s side. When Snorri the Godi saw that, he said to Styr, “That’s how you avenge Thorodd, your daughter’s son, whom Steinthor has mortally wounded. You’re no average villain.”
“I can quickly compensate you for that,” replied Styr. And he shifted the direction of his shield and joined Snorri the Godi’s troop and killed a second man, this time from Steinthor’s troop. Snorri asked the people of Eyri to accept a truce, and the peacemakers asked Steinthor to make a truce on behalf of his men. Steinthor then asked Snorri to stretch out his hand, and he did. Steinthor raised up his sword and struck at Snorri the Godi’s hand, causing a loud crash. The blow landed on his temple ring and almost broke it in two, but Snorri was not hurt. Then Thorodd Thorbrandsson called out, “They won’t keep any truce, and we won’t stop now until all the Thorlakssons are killed.” Snorri the Godi replied, “there will be turmoil in the district if all the Thorlakssons are killed, so we should keep the truce if Steinthor will abide by what we agreed to before.” Then everyone urged Steinthor to accept the truce. In the end a truce was arranged so that everyone could travel safely back to their homes.
– The Saga of the People of Eyri, 13th Century AD
