’That do I not,’ said he; ’but this I have marked, that, since we were at Leka, the king is silent every
time Thorolf is mentioned, and I suspect he has been slandered. This I know of Hildirida’s sons, that
they were long in conference with the king, and it is easy to see from their words that they are
Thorolf’s enemies. But I will soon be certain about this from the king himself.’

Thereupon Aulvir went to the king, and said: ’Here is come Thorgils Yeller thy friend, with the tribute
which is thine; and the tribute is much larger than it has been before, and far better wares. He is eager
to be on his way; be so good, O king, as to go and see it; for never have been seen such good gray
furs.’

The king answered not, but he went to where the ship lay. Thorgils at once set forth the furs and
showed them to the king. And when the king saw that it was true, that the tribute was much larger and
better, his brows somewhat cleared, and Thorgils got speech with him. He brought the king some
bearskins which Thorolf sent him, and other valuables besides, which he had gotten upon the fells. So
the king brightened up, and asked tidings of the journey of Thorolf and his company. Thorgils told it
all in detail.

Then said the king: ’Great pity is it Thorolf should be unfaithful to me and plot my death.’

Then answered many who stood by, and all with one mind, that it was a slander of wicked men if such
words had been spoken, and Thorolf would be found guiltless. The king said he would prefer to
believe this. Then was the king cheerful in all his talk with Thorgils, and they parted friends. But when
Thorgils met Thorolf he told him all that had happened.

Chapter 14 - Thorolf again in Finmark.
That winter Thorolf went again to Finmark, taking with him about a hundred men. As before, he held
a fair with the Finns, and travelled far and wide over Finmark. But when he reached the far east, and
his coming was heard of, then came to him some Kvens, saying that they were sent by Faravid, king of
Kvenland, because the Kiriales were harrying his land; and his message was that Thorolf should go
thither and bear him help; and further that Thorolf should have a share of the booty equal to the king’s
share, and each of his men as much as two Kvens. With the Kvens the law was that the king should
have one-third as compared with his men when the booty was shared, and beyond that, as reserved for
him, all bearskins and sables. Thorolf put this proposal before his men, giving them the choice to go or
not; and the more part chose to venture it, as the prize was so great. This is was decided that they
should go eastwards with the messengers.

Finmark is a wide tract; it is bounded westwards by the sea, wherefrom large firths run in; by sea also
northwards and round to the east; but southwards lies Norway; and Finmark stretches along nearly all
the inland region to the south, as also does Halogaland outside. But eastwards from Naumdale is
Jamtaland, then Helsingjaland and Kvenland, then Finland, then Kirialaland; along all these lands to
the north lies Finmark, and there are wide inhabited fell-districts, some in dales, some by lakes. The
lakes of Finmark are wonderfully large, and by the lakes there are extensive forests. But high fells lie
behind from end to end of the Mark, and this ridge is called Keels.