Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/265

 ball's horn, and made a solemn vow to enlarge his dominions by one half, towards all the four corners of the world, or die; and thereupon pointed with the horn to the four quarters. Now when the guests had become drunk towards evening King Ingiald told Svipdag's sons, Folkvid and Hylvid, to arm themselves and their men, as had before been settled; and accordingly they went out, and came up to the new hall, and set tire to it. The hall was soon in a blaze, and the six kings, with all their people, were burned in it. Those who tried to come out were killed. Then King Ingiald laid all the dominions these kings had possessed under himself, and took scatt from them.

When King Granular heard the news of this treachery, he thought the same lot awaited him if he did not take care. The same summer King Hiorvard, who was a son of Ylfing, came with his fleet to Sweden, and went into a fiord called Myrkva-fiord. When King Granmar heard this he sent a messenger to him to invite him and all his men to a feast. He accepted it willingly; for he had never committed waste in King Granmar's dominions. When he came to the feast he was gladly welcomed. In the evening, when the full bowls went round, as was the custom of kings when they were at home, or in the feasts they ordered to be made, they drank together, the man and woman with each other in pairs, and the rest of the company drank all round in one set. But it was the law among the vikings that all who were at the entertainment should drink together in one company all round. King Hiorvard's high seat was placed right opposite to King Granmar's high seat, and on the same bench sat all his men. King Granmar told his daughter Hildigunna, who was a remarkably beautiful girl, to make ready to carry ale to the vikings.