Egil heard tidings from east over the seas that Eric Bloodaxe had fallen in the west while freebooting; but Gunnhilda and her sons and Eric's had gone to Denmark, and all those that had followed Eric to England had left that country. This, too, he heard, that Arinbjorn was now come to Norway. He had taken again the grants and possessions that he had before, and had gotten great favour with the king. Then Egil thought it desirable again to go to Norway. Besides this came the tidings that king Athelstan was dead. His brother Edmund now ruled England.

So Egil made ready his ship, and got him a crew. Aunund Sjoni was among them, son of Ani of Anabrekka. Aunund was tall, and the strongest of those men who were then in the country-side; nay, some doubted whether he were not shape-strong. Aunund had often been on voyages from land to land. He was somewhat older than Egil; there had long been friendship between the two.

And when Egil was ready he put out to sea, and their voyage sped well; they came to Mid-Norway. And when they sighted land, they steered for the Firths. They soon got tidings from land, and it was told them that Arinbjorn was at home on his estate.

Egil put his ship into the haven nearest to Arinbjorn's house; then went he to seek Arinbjorn, and a most joyful meeting was theirs. Arinbjorn offered quarters to Egil and such of his men as he liked to bring. This Egil accepted, and had his ship set up on rollers; but his crew found them quarters. Egil and eleven with him went to Arinbjorn's. Egil had caused to be made a long ship's sail, elaborately worked; this he gave to Arinbjorn, and yet other gifts of value. Egil was there for the winter, treated with much honour.

In the winter Egil went southwards to Sogn to collect his land-rents, staying there some time. After that he came north again to the Firths. Arinbjorn held a great Yule-feast, to which he bade his friends and the neighbouring landowners. There was there much company and good cheer. Arinbjorn gave Egil as a Yule-gift a trailing robe made of silk, and richly broidered with gold, studded with gold buttons in front all down to the hem. Arinbjorn had had the robe made to fit Egil's stature. Arinbjorn gave also to Egil at Yule a complete suit newly made; it was cut of English cloth of many colours. Friendly gifts of many kinds gave Arinbjorn at Yule to those who were his guests, for Arinbjorn was beyond all men open-handed and noble.

Then Egil composed a stave:

'Warrior gave to poet
Silken robe gold-glistering:
Never shall I find me
Friend of better faith.
Arinbjorn untiring
Earneth well his honours:
For his like the ages
Long may look in vain.'

Egill spurði þau tíðendi austan um haf, at Eiríkr blóðöx hefði fallit í vestrvíking, en Gunnhildr ok synir þeira váru farin til Danmerkr suðr ok brottu var af Englandi þat lið, er þeim Eiríki hafði þangat fylgt. Arinbjörn var þá kominn til Nóregs. Hafði hann fengit veizlur sínar ok eignir þær, er hann hafði átt, ok var kominn í kærleika mikla við konung. Þótti Agli þá enn fýsiligt gerast at fara til Nóregs. Þat fylgði ok tíðendasögu, at Aðalsteinn konungr var andaðr. Réð þá fyrir Englandi bróðir hans, Játmundr.

Egill bjó þá skip sitt ok réð háseta til. Önundr sjóni réðst þar til, sonr Ána frá Ánabrekku. Önundr var mikill ok þeira manna sterkastr, er þá váru þar í sveit. Eigi var um þat einmælt, at hann væri eigi hamrammr. Önundr hafði oft verit í förum landa í milli. Hann var nökkuru ellri en Egill. Með þeim hafði lengi verit vingott.

Ok er Egill var búinn, lét hann í haf, ok greiddist þeira ferð vel, kómu at miðjum Nóregi. Ok er þeir sá land, stefndu þeir inn í Fjörðu. Ok er þeir fengu tíðendi af landi, var þeim sagt, at Arinbjörn var heima at búum sínum. Heldr Egill þangat skipi sínu í höfn sem næst bæ Arinbjarnar.

Síðan fór Egill at finna Arinbjörn, ok varð þar fagnafundr mikill með þeim. Bauð Arinbjörn Agli þangat til vistar ok föruneyti hans, því er hann vildi, at þangat færi. Egill þekkðist þat ok lét ráða skipi sínu til hlunns, en hásetar vistuðust. Egill fór til Arinbjarnar ok þeir tólf saman. Egill hafði látit gera langskipssegl mjök vandat. Segl þat gaf hann Arinbirni ok enn fleiri gjafar, þær er sendiligar váru. Var Egill þar um vetrinn í góðu yfirlæti. Egill fór um vetrinn suðr í Sogn at landskyldum sínum, dvalðist þar mjök lengi. Síðan fór hann norðr í Fjörðu.

Arinbjörn hafði jólaboð mikit, bauð til sín vinum sínum ok heraðsbóndum. Var þar fjölmenni mikit ok veizla góð. Hann gaf Agli at jólagjöf slæður, gervar af silki ok gullsaumaðar mjök, settar fyrir allt gullknöppum í gegnum niðr. Arinbjörn hafði látit gera klæði þat við vöxt Egils. Arinbjörn gaf Agli alklæðnað nýskorinn at jólum. Váru þar skorin í ensk klæði með mörgum litum. Arinbjörn gaf margs konar vingjafar um jólin þeim mönnum, er hann höfðu heimsótt, því at Arinbjörn var allra manna örvastr ok mestr skörungr. Þá orti Egill vísu:

Sjalfráði lét slæður
silki drengr of fengit
gollknappaðar greppi.
Getk aldri vin betra.
Arinbjörn hefr árnat
eirarlaust eða meira,
síð mun seggr of fæðask
slíkr, oddvita ríki.