Written in the 14th century the saga relates the adventures of Ref Steinsson, whose unpromising origins lead him to greatness in both combat and subterfuge.
[1] Taking place between 950-1050 AD, the saga spans much of the Norse world, including Iceland, Greenland, Norway, and Denmark.
[2] Stein has a neighbor named Thorbjorn (Þorbjörn), an unpopular man that has committed many manslaughters and never paid retribution.
There, Ref finds that he is an exceptional craftsman and builds one of the greatest ships ever to have been built in Iceland, after having only seen a toy model of a boat.
Ref leaves on a ferry with his wife and children and can't be found, leading some to believe they have perished.
At this time King Harald Hardrada of Norway sends one of his men, named Bard, to Greenland to acquire rare items.
King Harald warns Bard not to return to Greenland, but says that if he does, he should try to dig up the water pipes leading to the fort so that the people inside will have no way of putting out a fire.
This time the fort catches fire but the wall facing the water falls outwards, killing four of Bard's men.
King Harald sends Eirik, Grani's brother, and with him sixty men, to Denmark to kill Ref.
He takes two Norwegians ashore while the others wait on the boat, and leads them into the forest, where Ref's sons and twelve of his followers charge at them and capture them.
After staying in Denmark for years, Ref leaves on a journey to Rome, and catches an illness that causes his death.
Ref's sons Stein and Bjorn remain for a long time with King Sweyn, who arranges fine marriages for them.