There was a man named Guttorm, son of Sigurd Hart. He was mother's brother to king Harold; also he had been his foster-father, and ruler over his forces, for the king was a child when he first came to the throne. Guttorm had commanded the army in all battles which Harold had fought to bring the land under his sway. But when Harold became sole king of all Norway, and sat in peace, then he gave to his kinsman Guttorm Westfold and East-Agdir, and Hringariki, and all the land that had belonged to Halfdan Swarthy his father. Guttorm had two sons and two daughters. His sons were named Sigurd and Ragnar; his daughters Ragnhildr and Aslaug.

Guttorm fell sick, and when near his end sent to king Harold, bidding him see to his children and his province. Soon after this he died. On hearing of his death, the king summoned Hallvard Hardfarer and his brother, and told them to go on a message for him eastwards to Vik, he being then at Throndheim. They made great preparations for their journey, choosing them men and the best ship they could get; it was the very ship they had taken from Thorgils Yeller. But when they were ready, the king told them their errand: they were to go eastwards to Tunsberg, the market town where Guttorm had resided. 'Ye shall,' said the king, 'bring to me Guttorm's sons, but his daughters shall be fostered there till I bestow them in marriage. I will find men to take charge of the province and foster the maidens.'

So the brothers started with a fair wind, and came in the spring eastwards to Vik and to Tunsberg, and there declared their errand. They took the sons of Guttorm, and much movable property, and went their way back. The wind was then somewhat slack, and their voyage slower, but nothing happened till they sailed northwards over the Sogn-sea, having now a good wind and bright weather, and being in merry mood.

Guttormr hét maðr, sonr Sigurðar hjartar. Hann var móðurbróðir Haralds konungs. Hann var fóstrfaðir konungs ok ráðamaðr fyrir landi hans, því at konungr var þá á barns aldri, fyrst er hann kom til ríkis. Guttormr var hertogi fyrir liði Haralds konungs, þá er hann vann land undir sik, ok var hann í öllum orrostum, þeim er konungr átti, þá er hann gekk til lands í Nóregi. En er Haraldr var orðinn einvaldskonungr yfir landi öllu ok hann settist um kyrrt, þá gaf hann Guttormi, frænda sínum, Vestrfold ok Austr-Agðir ok Hringaríki ok land þat allt, er átt hafði Hálfdan svarti, faðir hans. Guttormr átti sonu tvá ok dætr tvær. Synir hans hétu Sigurðr ok Ragnarr, en dætr hans Ragnhildr ok Áslaug.

Guttormr tók sótt. En er at honum leið, þá sendi hann menn á fund Haralds konungs ok bað hann sjá fyrir börnum sínum ok fyrir ríki sínu. Litlu síðar andaðist hann.

En er konungr spurði andlát hans, þá lét hann kalla til sín Hallvarð harðfara ok þá bræðr, sagði, at þeir skyldu fara sendiför hans austr í Vík. Konungr var þá staddr í Þrándheimi. Þeir bræðr bjuggust til ferðar þeirar sem vegligast, völðu sér lið ok höfðu skip þat, er þeir fengu bezt. Þeir höfðu þat skip, er átt hafði Þórólfr Kveld-Úlfsson ok þeir höfðu tekit af Þorgísli gjallanda. En er þeir váru búnir ferðar sinnar, þá sagði konungr þeim erendi, at þeir skyldu fara austr til Túnsbergs. Þar var þá kaupstaðr. Þar hafði Guttormr haft atsetu.

"Skuluð þit," sagði konungr, "færa mér sonu Guttorms, en dætr hans skulu þar upp fæðast, til þess er ek gifti þær. Skal ek fá menn til at varðveita ríkit ok veita meyjunum fóstr."

En er þeir bræðr váru búnir, þá fara þeir leið sína, ok byrjaði þeim vel. Kómu þeir um várit í Vík austr til Túnsbergs ok báru þar fram erendi sín. Taka þeir Hallvarðr við sonum Guttorms ok miklu lausafé. Fara þeir, þá er þeir eru búnir, aftr á leið. Byrjaði þeim þá nökkurum mun seinna, ok varð ekki til tíðenda í þeira ferð, fyrr en þeir sigla norðr um Sognsæ byr góðan ok bjart veðr ok váru þá allkátir.