He bowed reverently, and then said, "I am sent by Jarl Eric the Aged.

He returned two days ago from his expedition to the Grecian seas.
His wish had been to take vengeance on the island which is called Chios, where fifty years ago his father was slain by the soldiers of the Emperor.

But your kinsman, the sea-king Arinbiorn, who was lying there at anchor, tried to pacify him.

To this Jarl Eric would not listen; so the sea-king said next that he would never suffer Chios to be laid waste, because it was an island where the lays of an old Greek bard, called Homer, were excellently sung, and where more-over a very choice wine was made.

Words proving of no avail, a combat ensued; in which Arinbiorn had so much the advantage that Jarl Eric lost two of his ships, and only with difficulty escaped in one which had already sustained great damage.