Book 68: Eyrbyggja Saga

[kittiwake]

After Thorolf died, a good many people found it more and more unpleasant to stay out of doors once the sun had begun to go down. As the summer wore on, it became clear that Thorolf wasn't lying quiet, for after sunset no one out of doors was left in peace. There was another thing, too: the oxen which had been used to haul Thorolf's body were ridden to death by demons, and every beast that came near his grave went out of its mind, and howled itself to death. The shepherd a Hvamm often came running with Thorolf after him. One day that autumn neither sheep nor shepherd came back to the farm, and next morning, when a search was made for him the shepherd was found dead, not far from Thorolf's grave, his corpse coal-black, and every bone in his body broken.

As well as lots feuds and pitched battles, Eyrbyggja Saga includes gothic elements such as witchcraft, omens of ill-fortune, and hauntings by the unquiet dead. It was Sir Walter Scot's favourite Icelandic saga.

As Snorri and his men were coming up the scree, Steinthor cast a spear over them for good luck, according to ancient custom. The spear sought out its victim and struck Mar Hallvardsson, Snorri's uncle, putting him out of the fight.

The practice of throwing a spear over men who are about to fight, to dedicate the dead to Odin, also occurs in "American Gods"by Neil Gaiman.