King Harold long held his residence in Hordaland or Rogaland,
at those large estates that he owned, at Outstone or Augvalds-ness,
or at Afreksted in Fitjar, or at Seaham in Lygra.
But this winter the king was in the north part of the land.

Now, when Bjorn and Thorolf had been one winter
in Norway and spring came,
they made ready a ship and gathered men.
And in the summer they went a-freebooting eastwards,
and came home in the autumn,
having won much wealth.
But when they came home they heard that
King Harold was in Rogaland
and would remain there for the winter.
King Harold was beginning to age much and fail in strength,
but many of his sons were come to vigour.
His son Eric, by-named Bloodaxe, was then quite young.
He was being fostered with lord Thorir Hroaldsson.
The king loved Eric above all his sons.
Thorir was on most intimate terms with the king then.