Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/298

 Aake followed the king on the road, and talked with him. The road led through a wood which was near to the house; and when Aake came to the wood, the king said to him, "How was it that thou madest such a difference between me and King Harald as to give him the best of every thing, although thou knowest thou art my man?" "I think," answered Aake, "that there failed in it nothing, king, either to you or to your attendants, in friendly entertainment at this feast. But that all the utensils for your drinking were old, was because you are now old; but King Harald is in the bloom of youth, and therefore I gave him the new things. And as to my being thy man, thou art just as much my man." On this the king out with his sword, and gave Aake his death-wound. King Harald was ready now also to mount his horse, and desired that Aake should be called. The people went to seek him; and some ran up the road that King Eric had taken, and found Aake there dead. They came back, and told the news to King Harald, and he bids his men to be up, and avenge Aake the bonder. And away rode he and his men the way King Eric had taken, until they came in sight of each other. Each for himself rode as hard as he could, until Eric came into the wood which divides Gotland and Vermeland. There King Harald wheels about, and returns to Vermeland, and lays the country under him, and kills Kino: Eric's men wheresoever he can find them. In winter King Harald returned to Raumarige, and dwelt there a while.

King Harald went out in winter to his ships at Tunsberg, rigged them, and sailed away eastward over the Fiord, and subjected all Vingulmark to his dominion. All winter he was out with his ships, and marauded in Ranrige ; so says Thorbiorn Hornklofe:—