The king went northwards through Halogaland as he had purposed, and returned south as summer
wore on. He went to yet other banquets there that were prepared for him.

Chapter 12 - Hildirida’s sons talk with Harold.
Hildirida’s sons went to the king and bade him to a three nights’ banquet. The king accepted their
bidding, and fixed when he would come. So at the appointed time he and his train came thither. The
company was not numerous, but the feast went off very well, and the king was quite cheerful. Harek
entered into talk with the king, and their talk turned on this, that he asked about the king’s journeys in
those parts during the summer.

The king answered his questions, and said that all had received him well, each after his means.

’Great will have been the difference,’ said Harek, ’and at Torgar the company at the banquet will have
been the most numerous.’

The king said that it was so.

Harek said: ’That was to be looked for, because on that banquet most was spent; and thou, O king,
hadst great luck in matters so turning out that thy life was not endangered. The end was as was likely;
thou wert very wise and very fortunate; for thou at once suspectedst all was not for good on seeing the
numerous company there gathered; but (as I am told) thou madest all thy men remain armed constantly
and keep watch and ward night and day.’

The king looked at him and said: ’Why speakest thou thus, Harek? What canst thou tell of this?’

Harek answered: ’May I speak with permission what I please?’

’Speak,’ said the king.

’This I judge,’ said Harek, ’that thou wouldst not deem it to be well, if thou, O king, heardest every
one’s words, what men say when speaking their minds freely at home, how they think that it is a
tyranny thou exercisest over all people. But the plain truth is, O king, that to rise against thee the
people lack nothing but boldness and a leader. Nor is it wonderful in a man like Thorolf that he thinks
himself above everyone; he wants not for strength and comeliness; he keeps a guard round him like a
king; he has wealth in plenty, even though he had but what is truly his, but besides that he holds
others’ property equally at his disposal with his own. Thou, too, hast bestowed on him large grants,
and he had now made all ready to repay them with ill. For this is the truth that I tell thee: when it was
learnt that thou wert coming north to Halogaland with no more force than three hundred men, the
counsel of people here was that an army should assemble and take thy life, O king, and the lives of all
thy force. And Thorolf was head of these counsels, and it was offered him that he should be king over
the Halogalanders and Naumdalesmen. Then he went in and out of each firth and round all the islands,
and got together every man he could find and every weapon, and it was no secret that this army was to
muster for battle against king Harold. But the truth is, O king, that though thou hadst somewhat less
force than those who met thee, yet the farmer folk took flight when they saw thy fleet. Then this
counsel was adopted, to meet thee with friendly show and bid thee to a banquet: but it was intended,
when thou wert well drunk and lying asleep, to attack thee with fire and weapon. And here is a proof
whether I am rightly informed; ye were led into a granary because Thorolf was loth to burn up his new
and beautiful hall; and a further proof is that every room was full of weapons and armour. But when
all their devices against thee miscarried, then they chose the best course they could; they hushed up
their former purpose.