KOL’S SCHEMES.
KOL resolved to send men to the Orkneys to ask Earl Paul to give up half
the Islands which King Harald had given to Rögnvald, and they should be
friends and good kinsmen. But if Earl Paul refused, the same men should
go to Frákork and Olvir Rosta, and offer them one-half of the land,
jointly with Earl Rögnvald, if they were willing to take it from Earl
Paul by force of arms. When they came to Earl Paul in the Orkneys, and
delivered the message, he replied: “I understand this claim; it has been
planned advisedly, and with long forethought; they sought the help of
the Kings of Norway to obtain my possessions. Now, I will not repay this
perfidy by giving away my possessions to a man who is not nearer to me
than Rögnvald is, and refusing them to my brother’s son or sister’s son.
There is no need to talk any more of this, for with the assistance of my
friends and kinsmen I shall defend the Orkneys as long as God grants me
life.”
Then the messengers saw what would be the result of their message to
Earl Paul, and went away across the Pentland Firth to Caithness, and
south into the country to Frákork, and delivered their message, to the
effect that Kol and Rögnvald offered her and Olvir half the Islands if
they were willing to conquer them from Earl Paul.
Frákork replied: “It is true that Kol is a very clever man, and it was
wisely planned to seek assistance here, as we have a great many
relatives and connections. I have now married Margaret, Hákon’s
daughter, to Moddan, Earl of Atjöklar (Athole), who is of the noblest
family of all the Scottish chiefs. His father, Malcolm, is the brother
(uncle?) of King Malcolm, the father of David, who is now King of Scots.
We have many and just claims on the Orkneys. We ourselves have also some
power. We are said also to be rather far-seeing, and during hostilities
all things do not come on us unawares; yet we will be glad to enter into
alliance with Kol and his son for many reasons. Tell them from me that I
and Olvir shall bring an army to the Orkneys against Earl Paul about the
middle of the next summer. Let Earl Rögnvald meet us then, and come to a
decisive battle with Earl Paul; and I will collect forces together
during the winter from my kinsmen, friends, and connections in Scotland
and the Sudreyar (Hebrides).”
The messengers returned to Norway, and related how matters stood. Next
winter Earl Rögnvald prepared to go west, and the chiefs Sölmund and Jón
with him. They went the next summer, and had a fine body of troops,
though not numerous, and five or six ships. They arrived at Hjaltland
(Shetland) about the middle of the summer, but heard nothing of Frákork.
Strong and contrary winds sprung up, and they brought their ships to
Alasund,[324] and went a-feasting over the country, for the Bœndr
received them well.
But of Frákork it is to be told that in the spring she went to the
Sudreyar, where she and Olvir gathered troops and ships together. They
got twelve ships, all of them small and somewhat badly manned; and about
the middle of the summer they directed their course to the Orkneys,
intending to meet Earl Rögnvald, according to their agreement. The wind
was rather unfavourable. Olvir Rosta was the commander of these troops,
and he was to obtain an earldom in the Orkneys if they gained the
victory. Frákork was there also with many of her retainers.