king went to the war, for he thought it unsafe for him to
leave home while Egil was still in the land. Hadd, his
brother, was now there with him. There was a man named
Frodi, a kinsman of king Eric, very handsome, young in
years, but a man grown. King Eric left him behind to
protect Bergonund. Frodi was staying at Alrekstead, a
royal farm, and had some men there. A son of Eric and
Gunnhilda there was named Rognvald, who was then ten or
eleven years old, and had the makings of a very handsome
man. He was with Frodi when these things happened.
But before king Eric rowed forth to this war, he made Egil
an outlaw through all Norway, and free for any man to slay.
Arinbjorn was with the king in the war; but before he left
home Egil took his ship to sea, and made for the outlying
fishing station called Vitar, over against Aldi. It is on the
high road of the seas: fishermen were there, and 'twas a
good place for hearing tidings. Then he heard that the
king had made him an outlaw. Whereupon Egil sang a stave:
'Law-breaker, land-demon,
Long voyage lays on me;
He bane of his brothers,
Beguiled by his bride.
Gunnhilda the guilt bears
(Grim queen) of my exile:
Fain am I full swiftly
Her frauds to repay.
The weather was calm, a fell-wind blew by night, a sea breeze by day. One evening Egil sailed out to sea, but the fishermen were then rowing in to land, those, to wit, who had been set as spies on Egil's movements. They had this to tell, that Egil had put out and sailed to sea, and was gone. This news they carried to Bergonund. And when he knew these tidings, then he sent away all those men that he had had before for protection. Thereafter he rowed in to Alrekstead, and bade Frodi to his house, for he had a great ale-drinking there. Frodi went with him, taking some men. They were feasted well there, and they made merry, with no fear of danger. Rognvald, the king's son, had a pinnace, rowed by six men on either side, painted all above the sea line. He had with him ten or twelve who con-
