After this Fin Arnason thought he had cause to be an enemy of the king
upon account of his brother Kalf's death; and said the king had betrayed
Kalf to his fall, and had also deceived him by making him entice his
brother Kalf to come over from the West and trust to King Harald's
faith. When these speeches came out among people, many said that it was
very foolish in Fin to have ever supposed that Kalf could obtain the
king's sincere friendship and favour; for they thought the king was the
man to seek revenge for smaller offences than Kalf had committed against
the king. The king let every one say what he chose, and he himself
neither said yes or no about the affair; but people perceived that the
king was very well pleased with what had happened. King Harald once made
these verses:--
"I have, in all, the death-stroke given
To foes of mine at least eleven;
Two more, perhaps, if I remember,
May yet be added to this number,
I prize myself upon these deeds,
My people such examples needs.
Bright gold itself they would despise,
Or healing leek-herb underprize,
If not still brought before their eyes."
Fin Arnason took the business so much to heart that he left the country
and went to Denmark to King Svein, where he met a friendly reception.
They spoke together in private for a long time; and the end of the
business was that Fin went into King Svein's service, and became his
man. King Svein then gave Fin an earldom, and placed him in Halland,
where he was long earl and defended the country against the Northmen.