That same autumn old Bjorgolf journeyed from home in a cutter of his own, with thirty men aboard.
He came to Leka, and twenty of them went up to the house, while ten guarded the ship. When they
came to the farm, Hogni went out to meet him, and made him welcome, invited him and his comrades
to lodge there, which offer Bjorgolf accepted, and they entered the room. But when they had doffed
their travelling clothes and donned mantles, then Hogni gave orders to bring in a large bowl of beer;
and Hildirida, the daughter of the house, bare ale to the guests.

Bjorgolf called to him Hogni the goodman, and said, ’My errand here is this: I will have your daughter
to go home with me, and will even now make with her a hasty wedding.’

Hogni saw no choice but to let all be as Bjorgolf would; so Bjorgolf bought her with an ounce of gold,
and they became man and wife, and Hildirida went home with Bjorgolf to Torgar. Brynjolf showed
him ill-pleased at this business. Bjorgolf and Hildirida had two sons; one was named Harek, the other
Hærek.

Soon after this Bjorgolf died; but no sooner was he buried than Brynjolf sent away Hildirida and her
sons. She went to her father at Leka, and there her sons were brought up. They were good-looking,
small of stature, naturally shrewd, like their mother’s kin. They were commonly called Hildirida’s
sons. Brynjolf made little count of them, and did not let them inherit aught of their father’s. Hildirida
was Hogni’s heiress, and she and her sons inherited from him and dwelt in Leka, and had plenty of
wealth. Bard, Brynjolf’s son, and Hildirida’s sons were about of an age.

Bjorgolf and his son Brynjolf had long held the office of going to the Finns, and collecting the Finns’
tribute.

Northwards, in Halogaland is a firth called Vefsnir, and in the firth lies an island called Alost, a large
island and a good, and in this a farm called Sandness. There dwelt a man named Sigurd, the richest
man thereabouts in the north; he was a baron, and wise of understanding. He had a daughter named
Sigridr; she was thought the best match in Halogaland, being his only child and sole heiress to her
father. Bard Brynjolf’s son journeyed from home with a cutter and thirty men aboard northwards to
Alost, and came to Sigurd at Sandness. There he declared his business, and asked Sigridr to wife. This
offer was well received and favourable answered, and so it came about that Bard was betrothed to the
maiden. The marriage was to take place the next summer. Bard was then to come north for the
wedding.

Chapter 8 - Of Bard and Thorolf.
King Harold had that summer sent word to the men of power that were in Halogaland, summoning to
him such as had not come to him before. Brynjolf resolved to go, and with him Bard his son; and in
the autumn they went southwards to Throndheim, and there met the king. He received them most
gladly. Brynjolf was made a baron of the king’s; the king also gave him large grants beside what he
had before. He gave him withal the right of journey to the Finns, with the king’s business on the fells
and the Finn traffic. Then Brynjolf went away home to his estate, but Bard remained, and was made
one of the king’s guard.

Of all his guard the king most prized his skalds; they occupied the second high seat. Of these Audun
Ill-skald sat innermost, being the oldest; he had been skald to Halfdan Swarthy, king Harold’s father.
Next to him sat Thorbjorn Raven, then Aulvir Hnuf, and next to him was placed Bard; he was there
by-named Bard the White or Bard the Strong. He was in honour with everyone there, but between him
and Aulvir Hnuf was a close friendship.