At the same time that king Svein sent a message to Svithjod for an
army, he sent Earl Sigvalde to Vindland to spy out King Olaf Trygvason's
proceedings, and to bring it about by cunning devices that King Svein
and King Olaf should fall in with each other. So Sigvalde sets out to
go to Vindland. First, he came to Jomsborg, and then he sought out King
Olaf Trygvason. There was much friendship in their conversation, and
the earl got himself into great favour with the king. Astrid, the
Earl's wife, King Burizleif's daughter, was a great friend of King Olaf
Trygvason, particularly on account of the connection which had been
between them when Olaf was married to her sister Geira. Earl Sigvalde
was a prudent, ready-minded man; and as he had got a voice in King
Olaf's council, he put him off much from sailing homewards, finding
various reasons for delay. Olaf's people were in the highest degree
dissatisfied with this; for the men were anxious to get home, and they
lay ready to sail, waiting only for a wind. At last Earl Sigvalde got
a secret message from Denmark that the Swedish king's army was arrived
from the east, and that Earl Eirik's also was ready; and that all these
chiefs had resolved to sail eastwards to Vindland, and wait for King
Olaf at an island which is called Svold. They also desired the earl to
contrive matters so that they should meet King Olaf there.