By the time Egil reached the island, his clothes were soaked through. He had gone out in a boat with Aulvir, the steward of his Norwegian host Thorir, and a hard wind had driven them ashore.

At the king’s farm, a man called Bard gave the travellers a fire, food, and sour milk to drink.

There was no ale, Bard said. He regretted it.

Later that evening King Eirik arrived with Queen Gunnhild. When the king heard that Thorir’s men were outside, he called them into the feast. Horns of ale passed along the benches.

Egil looked from the drink to Bard.

He made a verse about a host whose ale appeared only when better guests arrived. Bard told him to drink and hold his tongue. Egil drank. When Aulvir could manage no more, Egil took his share as well, and still had words for Bard.

At last Bard went to the queen. Together they mixed poison into a drink and sent the horn back to Egil.

He took it, but did not raise it to his mouth. He drew his knife. With its point he scratched runes into the horn and reddened them with blood from his hand. Then he spoke over the drink.

The horn split.

Ale ran through the crack and spilled into the straw. Egil put the broken vessel down. Beside him Aulvir was sinking forward, overcome by the drinking. Egil got him on his feet and led him towards the door.

Bard followed with another horn.

“One more before you go.”

Egil drank it. His cloak hid the hand on his sword until he drew. Bard fell in the doorway; Aulvir collapsed beside him. Egil went out into the dark.

Behind him men called for lights.

By morning every boat on the island was guarded. Egil reached a headland, bound his weapons in his cloak, fastened the bundle to his back and entered the water. The island opposite seemed a long way off once he was swimming. He kept towards it, breath by breath, until his feet found ground.

Later, searchers landed there too. Egil lay hidden while most of them went inland. Then he rose and attacked the men left at their boat. When he rowed away, the guards were dead.

At Thorir’s house they had almost given him up. His friend Arinbjorn, Thorir’s son, welcomed him; Thorir went to the king and paid the fine that bought him a settlement. Eirik accepted the money, but wanted Egil out of his kingdom.

Egil had reached his friends alive. Now he would have to leave the country they called home.