One of King Olaf's best friends, Biorn Stallare,[5] believing that Olaf would not return to Norway, had been induced by great gifts and promises to give allegiance to Earl Haakon and King Canute; but when he heard that the earl had perished, so that the country was again without a chief, he greatly regretted that he had failed to be true to King Olaf, and it seemed to him that there was now some hope that Olaf might again become king if he came back to Norway. He therefore immediately journeyed east to Russia to Olaf, and told him of Earl Haakon's death, and brought him other news from Norway. When the king asked him how his friends had kept their fidelity toward him, Biorn answered that it had been different with different people. Then he fell at the king's feet, and said: "All is in your power, sire, and in God's. I have taken money from King Canute's men, and sworn them allegiance; but now I will follow thee, and not part from thee so long as we both live." The king answered: "Arise, Biorn; thou shalt be reconciled with me; but reconcile thy perjury with God. I must know that but few men in Norway have adhered to their fealty to me, when such a man as thou art could be false to me." Biorn named those who had principally bound themselves to be his enemies; among them were Erling's sons, Einar Thambaskelfer, Kalf Arneson, Thorer Hund and Harek of Thiotta. [5] A _Stallare_ was a very influential officer, a kind of court marshal. Olaf now made preparations for his return to Norway, and shortly after Christmas started with two hundred and forty men. His young son, Magnus, was left behind with King Jaroslav in Russia. In Sweden, King Anund received his brother-in-law well, and gave him four hundred and eighty picked warriors to go with him. When it was reported in Norway that King Olaf had come from the east to Sweden, his friends gathered aid for him in Norway. The most distinguished man in this party was Harald Sigurdson, Olaf's half-brother, who was then quite young, but very stout and manly of growth. Many other brave men were there also; and they were in all seven hundred and twenty men, when they proceeded eastward through the Eid forest and Vermeland, and met Olaf in Sweden. Olaf's kinsman, Dag Ringson, collected an army of about 1,400 men, with which he joined King Olaf.