Grettir - Head durability in death

Hook took the sax, and then, using two hands, he struck Grettir's head with it. The heavy blow was too much for the short-sword, and a piece broke off from the middle of the sax's cutting edge. When the men saw that, they asked why he was ruining so fine a treasure.

Hook answered; 'This way people will easily recognize it, if they ask.' They answered that there was no need for this. The man was already dead.

'Nevertheless, there is even more to be done,' said Hook, who then struck two or three blows at Grettir's neck before cutting the head off.

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82. Thorbjorn Attacks