Today we begin our story at the Icelandic all thing which was held in 1020 CE.

Only a few years after the laws of Iceland had been written down for the very first time.

About this event. written down for the very first time.

About this event, the author of Krisney Saga

tells us simply, quote,

that summer there was a great throng at the courts."

End quote.

This throng came to pass due to a seemingly minor dispute between two powerful gothar. On the one side was Havlithi Mason, who

keen-eared listeners might remember as the man who had hosted the law speaker, clerics, and legal scholars who

had written down the laws of the land a few winters before.

And opposing him was Thorgill's Odasun, a prominent chieftain and a perennial rival of Havlidhi.

Their current conflict was centered around a feud which had been long simmering between

some thingmen of theirs. This conflict had escalated to the boiling point over the past year

or so. and two individuals, one from each side, had been

killed in the lead up to the all thing. So being good chieftains, have Levey and Thorgills, had both arrived at the all thing of

1020, intent on bringing a case against the other, for damages which had ensued from these murders.

As we know by now, this kind of thing was pretty stock standard for Icelandic legal practice. For some reason though, the exact cause isn't quite clear in the sources.

The normal procedures were not followed in this case. Events escalated quickly, and a brawl ensued between the supporters

of both sides. In the throng have Levy raised an axe to strike Thorgills, but his rival, seeing the blow coming,

struck first, and cut off Havlithy's finger with a knife.

This was a big deal. with a knife.

This was a big deal.

...