Chapter XI

THE BATTLE OF THE KINSMEN THORFINN AND ROGNVALD.

EARLY in the spring Thorfinn sent word to his kinsman Rögnvald, and asked him to go out with him on an expedition, bringing as many men as he could. As soon as Rögnvald received this message, he collected together as many men and vessels as he could, and when he was ready he went to meet Earl Thorfinn, who was also ready with his band. He received his kinsman Rögnvald very well; and they joined their forces. During the summer they plundered in the Sudreyar (Hebrides), and in Ireland, and in Scotland’s Fiord;[265] and Thorfinn conquered the land wherever he went. They had a great battle at a place called Vatnsfiord.[266] It began early in the morning, and the kinsmen gained the victory. This is mentioned by Arnór Jarlaskáld:

Know ye that place, Vatnsfiord?
There was I in greatest danger;
Marks are there of my Lord’s doings,
He who tries the strength of warriors.
Forth the people quickly carried
From the ships the shields of many;
Then was heard the dismal howling
Of the gray wolf o’er the corpses.

After this battle they returned to the Orkneys, and stayed at home during the winter. Thus eight winters passed that Earl Rögnvald had two-thirds of the islands without any objection on the part of Earl Thorfinn. Every summer they went out on war expeditions, sometimes both together, sometimes separately, as Arnór says:

The chief beloved did many deeds.
Everywhere there fell before him
Irishmen, or British people;
Fire devoured the Scottish kingdom.

The kinsmen agreed very well whenever they met; but when bad men went between them dissensions often arose. Earl Thorfinn dwelt for the most part in Caithness, at the place called Gaddgedlar,[267] where Scotland and England (?) meet.