King Eirik went in winter northwards to More, and was at a feast in
Solve, within the point Agdanes; and when Halfdan the Black heard of it
he set out with his men, and surrounded the house in which they were.
Eirik slept in a room which stood detached by itself, and he escaped
into the forest with four others; but Halfdan and his men burnt the main
house, with all the people who were in it. With this news Eirik came
to King Harald, who was very wroth at it, and assembled a great force
against the Throndhjem people. When Halfdan the Black heard this he
levied ships and men, so that he had a great force, and proceeded
with it to Stad, within Thorsbjerg. King Harald lay with his men at
Reinsletta. Now people went between them, and among others a clever man
called Guthorm Sindre, who was then in Halfdan the Black's army, but had
been formerly in the service of King Harald, and was a great friend of
both. Guthorm was a great skald, and had once composed a song both about
the father and the son, for which they had offered him a reward. But he
would take nothing; but only asked that, some day or other, they should
grant him any request he should make, which they promised to do. Now he
presented himself to King Harald, brought words of peace between them,
and made the request to them both that they should be reconciled. So
highly did the king esteem him, that in consequence of his request they
were reconciled. Many other able men promoted this business as well as
he; and it was so settled that Halfdan should retain the whole of his
kingdom as he had it before, and should let his brother Eirik sit in
peace. After this event Jorun, the skald-maid, composed some verses in
"Sendibit" ("The Biting Message"):--
"I know that Harald Fairhair
Knew the dark deed of Halfdan.
To Harald Halfdan seemed
Angry and cruel."