28. Snorri Kills Arnkel

It was around this time that Snorri the godi killed Arnkel. Snorri had followers, his foster brothers, who lived near a woodlot belonging to Arnkel. They grew tired of seeing Arnkel ride by their place unmolested and asked Snorri if he really could protect them should the need arise. Snorri now was ready to deal with Arnkel, who was the only man in the region not his friend. So when the brothers reported to Snorri that Arnkel had driven a sledge past their place, heading to his woodlot, Snorri buckled on his sword and went after.

They say it was quite a fight, there in the snow. When Arnkel saw the riders approaching, he knew what it meant. He had no weapon with him so he ripped a runner from his sledge and defended himself with that. He fought bravely and crippled one man, but soon enough he lay face down, his life-blood draining into the snow.

Arnkel’s female relations started an action at the Althing, but Snorri had neutralized all of Arnkel’s allies, either they were beholden to him or had been bought off. No one came forward to aid the women. It was thought a shameful thing that a man of Arnkel’s stature could be killed and no action taken so, at the Althing, a new law was passed forbidding women from initiating any suit. No one was happy about these events, save possibly Snorri, and people became uneasy and distrustful of the laws and the system under which they lived.

Thorolf grumbled a bit to Hallvard but, since he was unwilling to take on Arnkel’s action, saw little that he could do.