he would not grow
meeker. But when Asmund was let loose from his irons forthwith ran he
the more away, & raised men and war-ships, and fell to harrying both at
home and abroad, & much war-work did he, slaying many folk, and
pillaging far and wide. Those men that were the sufferers from his raids
went to the King and made plaint before him, and he rejoined: 'Why say
ye this to me, why do ye not fare to Hakon Ivarson? He is now the warden
of my coasts, and is put there to punish vikings and keep the peace for
ye peasants. It was told me that Hakon was a bold man and brave, but
methinks that now is he never to be found where he deemeth danger to be
toward.'

These words from the King, and many added to them, came to the ears of
Hakon, & thereon went Hakon & his men in search of Asmund, & they were
met on their ships, wherefore Hakon forthwith gave battle. A hard &
great struggle was it; Hakon boarded Asmund's ship and cleared it, and
at the last he and Asmund themselves dealt blows one at another with
their weapons & thus fell Asmund. Thereafter Hakon smote off his head,
& then betook him with all speed to King Svein whom he found sitting at
table.

Hakon advanced before the table and laid the head thereon, in front of
the King, and asked of him whether he recognized it.

Never a word did the King answer, but he was blood-red to behold.

Thereafter went Hakon away. A little later sent the King men to him, to
bid him leave his service, & he said: 'No hurt will I do him, but it is
not for us to be the keeper of all our kinsmen.'

|| Then when all these things were accomplished did Hakon quit Denmark &
thence fared forth to the north of Norway, to his demesne.

By that time was his kinsman, Earl Orm, dead.

The friends and kindred to Hakon were rejoiced over his coming, and many
a bold man set to work to make peace betwixt him & the King, & in the
end were they reconciled, to wit, both King Harald and Hakon; and Hakon
was given Ragnhild, the King's daughter, in marriage, & King Harald gave
him Orm's earldom and such rule as had been Orm's aforetime. Hakon swore
fealty to the King, and likewise to afford him such service as he was
bounden to give him.

|| Since he had fared from Norway had Calf Arnison been living after the
fashion of a viking westward, but the winters through oft-times abode he
in Orkneyja (the Orkneys) with his kinsman-in-law, Earl Thorfin. Fin
Arnison sent to his brother Calf to tell him concer