It happened once in the Greek country, when Kirjalax was emperor there,
that he made an expedition against Blokumannaland. When he came to the
Pezina plains, a heathen king came against him with an innumerable host.
He brought with him many horsemen, and many large waggons, in which
were large loop-holes for shooting through. When they prepared for their
night quarters they drew up their waggons, one by the side of the other,
without their tents, and dug a great ditch without; and all which made a
defence as strong as a castle. The heathen king was blind. Now when the
Greek king came, the heathens drew up their array on the plains before
their waggon-fortification. The Greeks drew up their array opposite, and
they rode on both sides to fight with each other; but it went on so
ill and so unfortunately, that the Greeks were compelled to fly after
suffering a great defeat, and the heathens gained a victory. Then the
king drew up an array of Franks and Flemings, who rode against the
heathens, and fought with them; but it went with them as with the
others, that many were killed, and all who escaped took to flight.
Then the Greek king was greatly incensed at his men-at-arms; and they
replied, that he should now take his wine-bags, the Varings. The king
says that he would not throw away his jewels, and allow so few men,
however bold they might be, to attack so vast an army. Then Thorer
Helsifig, who at that time was leader of the Varings replied to the
king's words, "If there was burning fire in the way, I and my people
would run into it, if I knew the king's advantage required it." Then the
king replied, "Call upon your holy King Olaf for help and strength."
The Varings, who were 450 men, made a vow with hand and word to build a
church in Constantinople, at their own expense and with the aid of other
good men, and have the church consecrated to the honour and glory of the
holy King Olaf; and thereupon the Varings rushed into the plain. When
the heathens saw them, they told their king that there was another troop
of the Greek king's army come out upon the plain; but they were only a
handful of people. The king says, "Who is that venerable man riding on
a white horse at the head of the troop?" They replied, "We do not see
him." There was so great a difference of numbers, that there were sixty
heathens for every Christian man; but notwithstanding the Varings went
boldly to the attack. As soon as they met terror and alarm seized the
army of the heathens, and they instantly began to fly; but the Varings
pursued, and soon killed a great number of them. When the Greeks and
Franks who before had fled from the heathens saw this, they hastened to
take part, and pursue the enemy with the others. Then the Varings had
reached the waggon-fortification, where the greatest defeat was given to
the enemy. The heathen king was taken in the flight of his people, and
the Varings brought him along with them; after which the Christians took
the camp of the heathens, and their waggon-fortification.