One summer (A.D. 1018) that Earl Einar marauded in Ireland, he fought in
Ulfreks-fjord with the Irish king Konofogor, as has been related before,
and suffered there a great defeat. The summer after this (A.D. 1019)
Eyvind Urarhorn was coming from the west from Ireland, intending to go
to Norway; but the weather was boisterous, and the current against him,
so he ran into Osmundwall, and lay there wind-bound for some time. When
Earl Einar heard of this, he hastened thither with many people, took
Eyvind prisoner, and ordered him to be put to death, but spared the
lives of most of his people. In autumn they proceeded to Norway to King
Olaf, and told him Eyvind was killed. The king said little about it, but
one could see that he considered it a great and vexatious loss; for he
did not usually say much if anything turned out contrary to his wishes.
Earl Thorfin sent Thorkel Fosterer to the islands to gather in his scat.
Now, as Einar gave Thorkel the greatest blame for the dispute in which
Thorfin had made claim to the islands, Thorkel came suddenly back to
Caithness from Orkney, and told Earl Thorfin that he had learnt that
Earl Einar would have murdered him if his friends and relations had not
given him notice to escape. "Now," says he, "it is come so far between
the earl and me, that either some thing decisive between us must take
place if we meet, or I must remove to such a distance that his power
will not reach me." The earl encouraged Thorkel much to go east to
Norway to King Olaf. "Thou wilt be highly respected," says he, "wherever
thou comest among honourable men; and I know so well thy disposition
and the earl's, that it will not be long before ye come to extremities."
Thereupon Thorkel made himself ready, and proceeded in autumn to Norway,
and then to King Olaf, with whom he stayed the whole winter (A.D. 1020),
and was in high favour. The king often entered into conversation with
him, and he thought, what was true, that Thorkel was a high-minded man,
of good understanding. In his conversations with Thorkel, the king found
a great difference in his description of the two earls; for Thorkel was
a great friend of Earl Thorfin, but had much to say against Einar. Early
in spring (A.D. 1020) the king sent a ship west over the sea to Earl
Thorfin, with the invitation to come east and visit him in Norway.
The earl did not decline the invitation, for it was accompanied by
assurances of friendship.