Thorstein Thora’s son came to seek Egil, and asked him and such men as he would bring to stay with
him that winter. Egil accepted the offer, had his ship set up and the cargo safely bestowed. Of his
followers some got quarters there, some went to their several homes in the north. Egil in a company of
ten or twelve went to Thorstein’s, and remained there for the winter an honoured guest.

Chapter 73 - Mission to Vermaland.
King Harold Fairhair had subdued Vermaland eastwards as far as Lake Wener. Vermaland had first
been cleared and tilled by Olaf Tree-cutter, father of Halfdan Whitebone, who first of his family was
king in Norway; and from him on the father’s side was king Harold descended, and all his forefathers
had ruled over Vermaland and taken tribute therefrom, and set men in charge over the land. But when
Harold was grown old, then was an earl named Arnvid governor of Vermaland. It happened there, as
elsewhere, that the tribute was worse paid now than when Harold was in the vigour of life. So also was
it when Harold’s sons strove for the rule in Norway, the outlying tributary lands were little looked
after. But when Hacon sat in peace, then enquired he after all the empire that his father Harold had
had. King Hacon had sent eastwards to Vermaland a company of twelve men. These had received the
tribute from the earl. But as they were going back to Eida-wood, robbers set upon them and slew them
all. The same hap befell yet other messengers sent by king Hacon eastwards to Vermaland; the men
were slain, and no money was brought back. Then was it said by some that earl Arnvid belike set men
of his own to slay the king’s men, while he kept the tribute for himself. Whereupon king Hacon sent
yet a third company.

He was then in Throndheim; the messengers were to go to Vik and seek Thorstein Thora’s son with
these words, that he should go eastwards to Vermaland and gather in the tribute for the king, or else he
must leave the land. For the king had heard that Arinbjorn Thorstein’s mother’s brother was gone
southwards to Denmark and was with Eric’s sons, and further that they had a large following and spent
the summer in harrying. King Hacon mistrusted the loyalty of all this company, expecting as he did
hostilities from Eric’s sons if they had but strength to raise rebellion against him. And to Arinbjorn’s
kinsmen and friends he showed great dislike, putting some to death, driving some from the land, or
laying on them other hard conditions. And so it was that before Thorstein the king put this choice.

The man who bore this message was named Kol; he was a man of all lands; he had been long in
Denmark and in Sweden, and knew all about ways and men there. In Norway too he had travelled
widely. And when he brought this proposal to Thorstein Thora’s son, then Thorstein told Egil upon
what errand these men came, and asked how he should answer them; he said that it seemed a hard
thing for him to lose his possessions and be driven out of the land.

Egil said: ’It is to me quite clear what this message means; the king will have you out of the land like
others of Arinbjorn’s kin, for I call sending a man of your nobleness on such errand a sending to
certain death. My advice is that you call the king’s messengers to conference with you, and I will be
present at your talk, and we will see what come of it.’

Thorstein did as he bade; he held conference with them. The messengers told all the truth of their
errand and of the king’s message, that Thorstein must go on this mission or else be outlawed.

Egil said: ’I see clearly about your errand, that if Thorstein refuses to go, then you will have to go and
gather the in the tribute.’ The messengers said that he guessed rightly. Said Egil: ’Thorstein shall not
go on this journey; for he is in nowise bound thereto, a man of his renown, to go on such mean
missions. Thorstein will do that whereto he is bound, to wit, attend the king within the land or without,