Now we must go back in our story to the time when the men whom the
king's daughter Ingegerd and Hjalte had sent from the east came to Earl
Ragnvald. They relate their errand to the earl and his wife Ingebjorg,
and tell how the king's daughter had oft spoken to the Swedish king
about a peace between him and King Olaf the Thick, and that she was a
great friend of King Olaf; but that the Swedish king flew into a passion
every time she named Olaf, so that she had no hopes of any peace. The
Earl told Bjorn the news he had received from the east; but Bjorn gave
the same reply, that he would not turn back until he had met the Swedish
king, and said the earl had promised to go with him. Now the winter was
passing fast, and immediately after Yule the earl made himself ready
to travel with sixty men, among whom where the marshal Bjorn and his
companions. The earl proceeded eastward all the way to Svithjod; but
when he came a little way into the country he sent his men before him
to Upsala with a message to Ingegerd the king's daughter to come out
to meet him at Ullaraker, where she had a large farm. When the king's
daughter got the earl's message she made herself ready immediately to
travel with a large attendance, and Hjalte accompanied her. But before
he took his departure he went to King Olaf, and said, "Continue always
to be the most fortunate of monarchs! Such splendour as I have seen
about thee I have in truth never witnessed elsewhere, and wheresoever I
come it shall not be concealed. Now, king, may I entreat thy favour and
friendship in time to come?"
The king replies, "Why art thou in so great a haste, and where art thou
going?"
Hjalte replies, "I am to ride out to Ullaraker with Ingegerd thy
daughter."
The king says, "Farewell, then: a man thou art of understanding and
politeness, and well suited to live with people of rank."
Thereupon Hjalte withdrew.
The king's daughter Ingegerd rode to her farm in Ullaraker, and ordered
a great feast to be prepared for the earl. When the earl arrived he was
welcomed with gladness, and he remained there several days. The earl and
the king's daughter talked much, and of many things, but most about the
Swedish and Norwegian kings; and she told the earl that in her opinion
there was no hope of peace between them.
Then said the earl, "How wouldst thou like it, my cousin, if Olaf king
of Norway were to pay his addresses to thee? It appears to us that it
would contribute most towards a settled peace if there was relationship
established between the kings; but I would not support such a matter if
it were against thy inclination."
She replies, "My father disposes of my hand; but among all my other
relations thou art he whose advice I would rather follow in weighty
affairs. Dost thou think it would be advisable?" The earl recommended
it to her strongly, and reckoned up many excellent achievements of King
Olaf's. He told her, in particular, about what had lately been done;
that King Olaf in an hours time one morning had taken five kings
prisoners, deprived them all of their governments, and laid their
kingdoms and properties under his own power. Much they talked about the
business, and in all their conversations they perfectly agreed with each
other. When the earl was ready he took leave, and proceeded on his way,
taking Hjalte with him.