EARL RÖGNVALD’S PLANS.
EARL PAUL went back to the Orkneys, after having taken the ships of Earl
Rögnvald. He had gained a great victory, and feasted all his friends and
vassals.
It was now resolved to make a beacon in Fridarey (Fair Isle), which
should be lighted if enemies were seen coming from Hjaltland. Another
beacon was made in Rínarsey (North Ronaldsay), and others in some other
islands also, so that they might be seen all over the Islands.
Thorstein, the son of Hávard, Gunni’s son, was to have charge of that on
Rínarsey; his brother Magnus of the one in Sandey; Kugi of that in
Westrey; and Sigurd, at Westness, of the one in Rólfsey. Olaf, Rólf’s
son, went to Dungalsbæ, in Caithness, and was to have the emoluments of
that place. His son Valthióf lived at that time in Straumsey (Stroma).
Earl Paul gave presents to his men, and all promised him their unfailing
friendship. He had many men about him in the autumn, until he heard that
Rögnvald and his men had left Hjaltland. Nothing happened in the Islands
until Yule. Earl Paul had a grand Yule feast, which he prepared at his
estate in Jórfiara (Orphir), and invited many guests. Valthióf, Olaf’s
son, from Straumsey (Stroma), was invited. He went with his men in a
ten-oared boat, and they perished all of them in the West Firth on Yule
Eve. That was thought sad news, as Valthióf was a most accomplished man.
His father, Olaf, had a large party in Caithness. There were his sons
Swein and Gunni, and the sons of Grím of Swiney,[328] Asbiörn and
Margad, brave-looking fellows, who always followed Swein. Three nights
before Yule, Swein, Olaf’s son, Asbiörn, and Margad, had put out to
sea-fishing, and Asleif and her son, and Gunni, Olaf’s son, had gone a
short distance to visit their friends. The night after that Olvir Rosta
arrived at Dungalsbæ with the party that had been out with him on a
viking-raid during the summer. He surprised Olaf in the house, and set
it on fire immediately. There he was burnt with five others, but the
rest were permitted to escape. Olvir and his men took all the movable
property, and then went away.
After this Swein was called Asleif’s son. He came home on Yule Eve, and
went immediately out north, on the Pentland Firth. At midnight they came
to Grím, the father of Asbiörn and Margad, in Swefney (Swona); he went
into the boat to them, and they brought Swein to Knarrarstadir
(Knarstane), in Skálpeid (Scapa). A man, by name Arnkel, lived there.
His sons were Hánef and Sigurd. Grím and his sons returned, and Swein
gave him a finger-ring of gold. Hánef and Sigurd accompanied Swein to
Jórfiara (Orphir), where he was well received; and he was conducted to
his kinsman Eyvind Melbrigdi’s son. Eyvind conducted him to Earl Paul,
who received him well, and asked his news. He told him of his father’s
death, at which the Earl was much grieved, and said it had in a great
measure happened through him. He invited Swein to stay with him, and he
accepted the invitation with thinks.