Soon after the þing, it came time for the gathering at Ma'mwajtu'n. No sooner had Þo'rvalðr arrived than Bjǫrnar came in his ship wearing a blue tunic and blue trousers with a sword at his side.

Þo'rvalðr found Ma'sci'dgew and told him (with U'scna'bew translating),

“Bjǫrnar is here to kill you.”

“How do you know his intentions?” Ma'sci'dgew asked,

“He was dressed all in blue.” Þo'rvalðr answered;

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“When an orc or an orc-man has killing on his mind, he wears his good clothes, because killing is a special occasion.” As Þo'rvalðr spoke, Bjǫrnar came over. Þo'rvalðr asked, “What are you doing here, neighbour?”

“I'm here to kill the man who killed my son.” Bjǫrnar replied,

“You know this is an assembly ground. Killing here would be like killing at the þing.”

“I never said I intended to kill him on neutral ground.” Bjǫrnar said and he held up his sword. Þo'rvalðr saw it had a peace string attached1.

“Your son died because of your own actions.” Ma'sci'dgew told him,

“It's strange to hear such a thing coming from the man who killed my son with his own hands. You tell yourself whatever you like, just know that I'm coming for you.”

“Then come any time you like.” Ma'sci'dgew squared his shoulders and held out his chest; “I'm waiting for you.”

After this exchange, Þo'rvalðr said to U'scna'bew,

“Talking to that orc leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Fortunately, I brought something to wash it out with.”

“Oh? Have you finally gotten some of that honey you promised?”

“Even better. Mother made mead out of it. We'll serve it at the wedding.”

“Ah yes, the wedding. It's, uh, maybe not the best time for a wedding...” U'scna'bew saw the look Þo'rvalðr gave him and quickly added, “But you're right, it shouldn't be postponed again. You may want to talk to Mɨnu'tjew about it. With all that's been happening, she may not be all that keen on going ahead with it right now.”

Þo'rvalðr found Mɨnu'tjew by her family's wigwam and sat down with her.

“There have been many killings lately.” He said,

“Yes. Some of them I've known my whole life.” She answered, not looking at him,

“Feuds like this are not uncommon where I'm from. Sometimes they go on much longer.”

“Your people sound very violent.”

“Miðgarþt is a violent place. A man or orc-man must be ready to defend his family, property, and honour at any time. I know I'll protect mine. My farm, my mother and sisters, and my wife, once I have one.”

Mɨnu'tjew looked at Þo'rvalðr and smiled a little. “I just don't think now is the right time. I even heard Bjǫrnar is here right now, looking for an opportunity to kill.”

“Even at the worst of times, life must go on.” Þo'rvalðr said, “Besides, this is a gathering place. Like the þing, violence here is illegal.”

The two fell silent and looked up toward the centre of the camp. The most important reason the Holtmaðar gather in summer and winter, both then and now, is so that young men can meet and woo young women from other bands. As such, these gatherings often hold weddings from early in the day until late at night. Sometimes, this happens every day of the gathering. One such wedding was being held as Þo'rvalðr and Mɨnu'tjew looked on from a distance. There was singing and incessant dancing and beating of drums, and lots of food was set out on skins where people sat.

They spent much of the rest of the day together. Late in the afternoon, Þo'rvalðr was at the beach and saw Bjǫrnar leave in his ship. He took this as a good sign and told U'scna'bew and Ma'sci'dgew.

* * *

The wedding was held the next day. Þo'rvalðr wore his best red tunic for the occasion, as well as a beaver pelt hat. At his side, he had Gi'sli's sword, and around his neck he wore a Mjǫlnir amulet. Mɨnu'tjew wore a new dress with her family's particular colours and designs on it. She also wore a new pair of shoes that had never been worn before. Her mother Scu'myna'mo gave her a lore belt blessed by the band shaman.

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Bride and groom each washed themselves separately in nearby streams that morning. When the ceremony began, they each approached the camp centre with their close friends and siblings. Þo'rvalðr came with He'lgi and sisters, among others, and Mɨnu'tjew came with her sisters, mother, and some of the band elders. In the camp centre there was a circle of people sitting cross-legged with drums, singing in the Holtmaðr language. They drummed harder as the couple came together and continued when they went into a wigwam with the elder officiating the wedding. The bride and groom each took two friends who'd been married a long time with them into the wigwam. None can say what is said or done inside except those who went in. When they emerged, the couple held up two eagle feathers woven together in such a way they couldn't be separated.

Then it was time for the feast. Food was spread out on skins on the ground. There was an abundance of food available, mainly seafood given the season, but also wild plants like rhubarb. Food brought from Gi'sls'tað included a lot of beef, chicken, and pork, and the products of the field.

Þo'rvalðr and He'lgi brought out a blanket and set a barrel on it, alongside a bunch of drinking horns. He'lgi opened the barrel and stood next to it with a pitcher.

“What's all this?” Asked U'scna'bew,

“It's mead!” Beamed Þo'rvalðr,

“Let me try some.” He'lgi filled a horn and handed it to U'scna'bew, who took a swig, choked, and almost spat it out. “I thought you said this stuff was better than honey!” He wheezed,

“It is better than honey!” Þo'rvalðr retorted. He took a horn of his own and drank it all at once.

“Let me try it.” Said Na'nɨmyswa't,

“Here, you can have mine.” U'scna'bew offered.

The younger man took it and tried a sip. He sipped some more. Then he drank it all. “I think mead is excellent!”

“A man after my own taste!” Said Þo'rvalðr, “He'lgi, pour him some more!”

Drinks were had all around, and many a man or woman said either that it was good or bad, but none said it was bad after they'd had a few. The barrel emptied quickly as people danced and made music that sounded like the lowing of a herd of cattle. Even those who were not part of the party came to try some mead or just to see what all the noise was about.

After having a few, Ma'sci'dgew, along with Na'nɨmyswa't and a handful of others wandered down to the water's edge. They found people already there jumping into canoes and rowing out into the bay. When they looked up, they noticed a group of canoes in the bay on fire, so they ran for their own canoes. Ma'sci'dgew and his hunters made it first and rowed out onto the bay, but Na'nɨmyswa't stumbled and fell behind the group. He got to his feet and kept running, but stopped at water's edge when he heard a shout behind him.

Na'nɨmyswa't turned landward and saw Ejnðri'ðr, partially obscured by some bushes, holding a sword in one hand and a tomahawk in the other.

“Come,” Said Ejnðri'ðr, “come kill me or be killed.” He threw the tomahawk into the ground at Na'nɨmyswa't's feet. The man took it and chased Ejnðri'ðr, who retreated into the trees. They stopped in a clearing and circled one another.

“You will die for your crimes!” Na'nɨmyswa't snarled fiercely,

“Words are weak. We'll let our sword-arms decide which of us is a ðreðr2.”

The two continued slowly circling. Occasionally, one would lash out and the other would parry or dodge the blow, and maybe launch a strike of his own. They continued like this for a while, each probing for weakness and learning his opponent's movements.

Na'nɨmyswa't was at a major disadvantage because he had shorter arms and had a shorter weapon, but he held his own. But when it came to it, however, he couldn't match Ejnðri'ðr's reach, so he threw his tomahawk, catching Ejnðri'ðr in the hip, and charged in with a knife.

However, Ejnðri'ðr fell on him, throwing the man to the ground, and took hold of the wrist that held the knife. Na'nɨmyswa't had to use both hands to keep the orc-man from wresting the knife from him. While he did this, Ejnðri'ðr took the tomahawk out of his hip and brought it down on Na'nɨmyswa't's head, splitting his skull open.

When men came to the scene, they found Na'nɨmyswa't dead and a trail of blood leading into the woods but it quickly went cold. It's said that Ejnðri'ðr O'tamra left on his horse and continued haunting the region. There are many tales of his appearances thereafter, but none are verified as true. This account of the death of Na'nɨmyswa't is said to have come from a shady traveller who stayed one night at a homestead.

Meanwhile, Ma'sci'dgew and his men rowed out to the burning canoes. When they reached them, they found they were empty of people, but each had a burning haystack on the deck. As the men were shouting from boat to boat about what this could mean, a Vi'nlandisk ship rowed out from behind a small island nearby. They didn't recognise the ship, but supposed it must have come for the same reason they had, so they hailed it as friends. But as the ship came closer, Ma'sci'dgew yelled,

“It's Bjǫrnar!” Then the orcs and orc-men on the ship let loose with arrows and javelins. Many men fell on the first volley. Those who remained threw javelins or harpoons back, but few had brought weapons with them, so most beat a hasty retreat for shore.

Ma'sci'dgew was unhurt. He picked up a harpoon and threw it, wounding an orc-man next to Bjǫrnar while the ship sped toward him. He and the others in his canoe each took a handful of harpoons and jumped from the boat as Bjǫrnar's ship rammed it, sending it to the bottom of the bay. From the water, Ma'sci'dgew flung another harpoon at the ship, and hit an orc in the chest, but Bjǫrnar threw a rope with a noose at the end and caught Ma'sci'dgew around the neck with it. Others attempted to board the ship from the water or by canoe, but Bjǫrnar's shipmates fought them off.

Bjǫrnar pulled on the rope so the noose came tight around Ma'sci'dgew's neck. Then, he signalled his shipmates to unfurl the sail. A strong wind was blowing eastward that day, and so it took them rapidly away and out of sight.

When news of these things reached shore, the wedding party was over. All those present mourned those who died, which were six, and tended to the wounded, which were many. Þo'rvalðr tried to comfort Mɨnu'tjew, but nothing could lighten her mood. People said their marriage was not consummated that night. The next day, Þo'rvalðr and his family left Ma'mwajtu'n, but Mɨnu'tjew stayed with her family.

When Bjǫrnar got home, he hung Ma'sci'dgew from a tree outside Staðs Dy'rðfaksr. When the body began to stink too much, he threw it from the cliff.