"It sounds like a fight has broken out!" said Sigurd.
"More like a battle." said Isgerd.
"Or a Thorsday in Ulfgard after a new keg of mead has been opened." said Olaf.
Isgerd and Sigurd looked at Olaf and shook their heads in disbelief. As they approached the noisy crowd they could see a cloud of dust had formed. In fact they were all correct in their assessment of the event. Hundreds of Norsemen were drinking heavily. Some where singing fertility limericks. Others were boasting about their battle prowess. Fights broke out here and there, but as they got closer they could see what had drawn everyone. Standing on top a large wagon was a shirtless Magnus Thorsen. He was covered in mud, blood, and oil and was shouting through a bull's horn to the thronging mass.
"Who will be next? Come on! There must be some Glima wrestlers of renown here today. If you can toss Kara Thorsdottir out of the circle or pin her I will buy your fill of ale or mead. If she tosses you out or pins you, you will swear an oath to support us at the lawrock in the unjust case brought against us by Wulfgar the Troll! Look at her? I know she is fierce, but I am certain there is one among you who still can find glory!" said Magnus.
Kara stood in the center of the wrestling area. Steam came off of her oiled body. She was bare-chested and frothing at the mouth. Blood ran from her lip, but it was unclear whether someone had landed a blow or it was self-inflicted. A dozen Norsemen lay in various states of consciousness outside the circle. Magnus made certain that they all had sworn oaths before passing out.
A barrel-chested copper-haired man pushed the crowd aside and stood before Magnus. He stripped off his shirt and grabbed some oil. After dabbing some oil on his chest and shoulders he spoke. "Kara has nice breasts! I will make quick work of her in the Glima circle and then take my time with her after I have drunk your mead Magnus. I wager she is feisty!" he said.
"That is quite a boast! Tell me your name so I may ask you to swear an oath properly." said Magnus.
"I am Ketil of Uppsala. No man can match me in the Glima ring, at drinking contests or in the number of wenches bedded." he said.
"Do you swear to take up our cause at the lawrock if you lose to Kara?" asked Magnus.
"HAHAHA! I swear it!!! I also swear that I am going to enjoy wrestling with her tonight as well." said Ketil.
"Well then, Let this match begin!" said Magnus.
Ketil stepped in the ring. Kara approached him near the center and placed her hands on his hips. Ketil smiled broadly, staring at her chest, then slowly extended his arms toward them, but decided to place his hands on her hips without touching her chest. As soon as his hands touched her hips, Kara grabbed his left arm and twisted sharply bringing the man to one knee and then without warning jerked him off his feet and tossed him. Ketil looked surprised as he was lifted off the ground but recovered quickly, landing on his feet without falling. Ketil approached Kara with more caution. Again they locked arms, looking away from each other as was custom. They twisted and moved like dancers, each jockeying for position. Ketil feinted as if to grab Kara's leg and instead got her right arm in a hold. Kara twisted her body and countered the hold with a wrist hold of her own. Before Kara could take advantage of the position Ketil turned and the two of them again locked in an even battle for leverage.
"What are you doing Magnus?" asked Isgerd.
"I am working the crowd." he said.
"Aren't you two worried about becoming outlaws?" asked Sigurd.
"Glima is legal!" Magnus said.
"You know what I mean! We could become outlaws at sunset tomorrow!" said Sigurd.
"This will not happen. Kara and I have a plan." said Magnus.
"Your plan is to beat everyone here for the Althing into your defense for the lawsuit?" asked Isgerd.
"Yes. It is that simple!" said Magnus.
"It might work." said Olaf.
Ketil had gained advantage through a series of rapid leverage moves. He was a seasoned wrestler and anticipated many of Kara's defenses. Back and forth they pushed each other in this violent tango.
"No one has lasted this long. I think Kara likes him." said Magnus.
"I had not realized she was so well proportioned." said Olaf.
"She is kin, you fool!" said Isgerd.
"More like clan really. It's not like we are cousins." said Olaf.
"Olaf! Go find a wench!" said Isgerd.
"Well, if you insist. I mean, we have important business to attend to." said Olaf.
"I will speak to Freya about taking away her gifts to you, if you do not go take care of your needs soon!" said Isgerd.
"Needs? You make it sound like I have no control over my own destiny. I have ENORMOUS control over my...oh...hello...what is YOUR name?" asked Olaf.
Olaf's head turned on a swivel as three beautiful women walked within ear-shot of him.
"I am Valgerd of Isa and these are my servants Hilda and Gudren. May I be of some aid to you sir?" said Valgerd.
Olaf approached the woman and whispered something in her servant Hilda's ear.
The girl giggled and whispered something to Valgerd. The woman looked shocked but allowed Olaf to approach her. The group wandered off, leaving Sigurd and Isgerd in wonderment.
"How does he do that?" asked Sigurd.
"It is a gift." said Isgerd.
Ketil had Kara winded. He increased the speed of his feints and moves. Kara fought off his holds, countering a bit more awkwardly, sweat spraying from her hair with each new effort. Ketil dipped Kara back. She was unable to stop him. Soon he would pin her to the dirt and the match would end. With great relish, Ketil reached forward and placed his left hand firmly on Kara's right breast. Faster than thought, Kara wrapped her legs around Ketil's neck and squeezed. The force of the move pushed Ketil's face into the dirt. Within seconds he was unconscious. Kara released the hold and turned Ketil over. She grabbed a tankard of ale and poured it over his face. When he roused, she thrust her mouth into his, kissing him deeply.
"I will see you tonight if you have anything left to boast about." said Kara.
She walked away, put her shirt and cloak on and grabbed a mead tankard from a bystander. The crowd cheered and chanted her name. Many swore oaths of support on the spot. Ketil lifted himself from the ground and gave Kara a lusty look before melting back into the crowd.
"You really liked Ketil! I thought for a moment you were going to let him win." said Magnus.
"It would bring dishonor to Ketil and to our own clan if I ignored the will of the gods and let him defeat me. I do like the man. He is tough and is very skilled at Glima. I will share a bed with him tonight if the Norns allow." said Kara.
Isgerd and her kin spent the time leading up to the Althing forging friendships and swapping favors with other lawsuit defendants. Many disputes would be settled. Friendships and feuds were formed in this manner. A single Althing can change politics in the region for decades depending on settlements and who one decided to support when a settlement was not possible. There were also more games, competitions, trades, food, and the spreading of information. The time for their case had come.
Isgerd and Sigurd were already at the lawrock as they had offered to support a friend in the last dispute over a stolen cow. At the last moment the offender agreed to return the cow and offer silver and friendship bonds as compensation. Wulfgar was the first to arrive for the prosecution. Trailing him was a huge contingent of men.
"How many men do you count Sigurd?" asked Isgerd.
"He has one hundred forty-four supporters. Enough to have all of us sentenced as full outlaws unless we outnumber them." said Sigurd.
"How many supporters did you find?" she asked.
"I found fifteen. The blacksmiths and boatwrights all support us." said Sigurd.
"I have twenty. Some I have helped before in matters of law, others were aided by my prayers to the gods for them." said Isgerd.
"It is not enough. Where are the others?" asked Sigurd.
"I don't know. Here comes Olaf now..." said Isgerd.
Olaf approached Isgerd and Sigurd with eight beautiful women.
"It is good to see you my kin, what a fine day to settle a lawsuit!" said Olaf.
"I hope last night was worth it Olaf, we are about to be outlawed." said Sigurd.
"Every night is worth it when you have fine company, fine food and a good supply of mead!" laughed Olaf.
Wulgar looked at the three of them with a smug sneer and patted his companions on the back.
"If we killed him now we could save the lawkeepers time and pay his weregild price. I am sure Olaf spent more money on these women last night than Wulfgar's man-price!" said Sigurd.
"Be calm. This is not over yet. I am sure the others will arrive soon." said Isgerd.
On cue, Jarl Gunnar Bluetooth and Bergar the Bold sat with them. They brought thirty men each.
"I am pleased to see you today Jarl Gunnar! Well met Bergar the Bold! Wulfgar does not look so haughty now!" said Isgerd.
"Indeed his twisted smile has transformed into grinding teeth!" said Gunnar.
"His companions do not seem to pleased with Wulfgar to see us sitting with the Thorsen Clan." said Bergar.
"They probably believe Wulfgar spent our bribe money on himself." said Gunnar.
"There may be truth in that belief!" said Bergar.
Their thoughts were interrupted as Kara and Magnus arrived. They appeared hung over from drink but fifty men and women came with them to offer support.
"It seems we now outnumber Wulfgar's supporters!" said Sigurd.
Another twenty-five distant relatives arrived as Magnus and Kara sat down with their support.
"If we could only have doubled Wulfgar's numbers we would be able to chase them from the lawrock and have him sentenced as a permanent outlaw!" said Isgerd.
"Where is Aesa?" asked Magnus.
"If she was certain we would lose, she may have left Norgard to avoid death." said Isgerd.
"Aesa is not afraid to die." said Magnus.
"She is rather fond of living!" said Sigurd.
"You should not speak ill of your kin for they are most likely to give you shelter when your friends have fled or died." said Magnus.
The discussion ended as Aesa approached the lawrock. She was accompanied by over two hundred fifty men, many who looked dangerous and hardened in battle.
"Where did she find so many supporters?" asked Sigurd.
"She is lucky." said Magnus.
A fight broke out among Wulfgar's supporters. Someone shouted, "Where is he?" and then chaos reigned. Someone threw an ax and one of Aesa's supporters fell dead. Soon the lawrock was awash with the blood of warriors. When it was over twenty-seven supporters of Wulfgar and three of the Thorsen clan had died. The Valkyries claimed those who died well. The rest were buried in shallow graves outside the village. No one knew what became of Wulfgar the Troll. Jarl Gunnar declared that each of the Thorsen kin involved should pay a red-gold coin toward the purchase of new clothes for Wulfgar. They did so without hesitation. Wulfgar then was declared a full-outlaw and could be killed on site by anyone who wished to do so. Wulfgar's supporters who had remained left on their own without being harmed. Hildagunn's outlaw decree was lifted, although some grumbled at the outcome. The Althing of the year 1076 after the Great Disaster, would be remembered for many years.