Sigi

Here begins the story of Sigi, who was said to be a son of Óđin. Another
man named Skađi was also involved in this story. He was powerful and
considered a great man, though between the two Sigi was more powerful
and considered to be from a better family, according to the opinion
of the time.

Skađi owned a slave who is somewhat worthy of being mentioned
in this saga, whose name was Bređi. He was wise in such matters as
concerned him. He was as talented and accomplished as many men
who were considered his betters, and perhaps even more so than some
such men.

It is said that one day Sigi went hunting, and Skađi’s slave Bređi went
with him. They hunted all through the day and into the evening. And
when they collected their kills at the end of the day, Bređi had killed
not only more but better animals than Sigi. Sigi did not approve of
this at all, and he said it was a strange thing that a slave outshone him
in a hunt. He ran at the slave and killed him, and buried his body in a
snowdrift.

Sigi went home that evening and said that the slave Bređi had ridden
away from him in the forest: “And he soon got out of sight, and I don’t
know where he’s gone.”

Skađi doubted Sigi’s story; he suspected that it was a lie, and that Sigi
had killed his slave. Skađi had his men search for Bređi, and they found
his body in the snowdrift. Skađi said that this snowdrift ought to be
called a “Bređi-drift” from then on. Ever since, people have taken after
his example, and they call large snowdrifts by this name.

It was clear that Sigi had murdered the slave Bređi. Sigi was declared
an outlaw, and he could not remain at home with his father any longer.
Óđin traveled with Sigi a long way away from that land, never leaving
him until he reached some warships.

Now Sigi went on raids with an army that his father Óđin gave him
before they parted, and he was victorious in many battles. And it turned
out well for him, and he was able to claim a land and kingdom for himself.
He married well and became a great and powerful king and a mighty
warrior, and he ruled Hunland. He had a son he named Rerir, who grew
up in his father’s kingdom and who was already a large and accomplished
man at a young age.


- Volsunga Saga, Chapter 1