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He took Vikar’s ship and went to join the fleet of the sea-king Beimuni, whose partner Frakki had decided to settle down. Starkad and Beimuni sailed widely, and were noted for drinking only water, not ale or mead. They came at last to Russia, which they invaded. The inhabitants strewed the path of their retreat with caltrops, but the Vikings put wooden clogs on their feet and pursued their foes into the forests. Here they found Flokk, the king of Russia, in his hiding place, and slew him. Starkad and the Vikings returned to their ships laden with loot.
    After Beimuni died, Starkad was asked to join the champions of Permia, in the far north. Then he stayed at Uppsala for seven years with the brother-kings Alrek and Eirik, and he went on Viking raids with them. The brother-kings had twelve berserks at court, who were swaggering bullies, particularly two brothers named Ulf and Otrygg. Starkad had little to say, and these brothers used to mock him, saying that he was a traitor and the reincarnation of a giant. He grew weary with Uppsala, especially at the time of the great sacrifice when the unmanliness of the rituals disgusted him. By now, Starkad was an old man, although he had many years left of his life.
    Eirik and Alrek settled down and gave up the Viking life, but they gave Starkad a ship with a crew of Norsemen and Danes, and he travelled widely. Later, he heard that Eirik had murdered his brother Alrek, beating him to death with a horse bridle.
    Starkad joined the Viking fleet of Haki and Hagbard, and he became one of Haki’s twelve champions, accompanying Haki when he attacked Sweden, now ruled by Hugleik, grandson of Alrek. Hugleik was very rich, but also very greedy and mean, except to the many musicians and jesters and wizards he had at court. With his great riches, King Hugleik gathered a vast army to defend himself. It included his court jesters, but also two brothers named Svipdag and Geigad, who were very powerful warriors.
    Haki’s army met King Hugleik’s forces on the Fyris Wolds, where there was a battle. Svipdag and Geigad fought fiercely when Hugleik’s court jesters fled before Haki’s attack, and Geigad wounded Haki s everely and gave Starkad a serious head-wound which never fully left him, and continued to fester beneath the scar-tissue. But he and the rest of Haki’s champions went against them six to one, and took them both prisoners. Haki broke through King Hugleik’s shield wall and slew him and two of his sons, whereupon the Swedes fled the field and Haki became king. Starkad had Hugleik’s court jesters and musicians beaten for their cowardice. The treasure of Uppsala was taken out of the city and divided equally between all Haki’s warriors. Haki remained there for three years while the rest of his warriors went out on Viking raids, amassing plunder for themselves.
    Starkad himself was called upon to accompany Vin, king of the Wends, and help him quell a revolt in the east. Fighting the Baltic tribes, they were always victorious. During this time, Starkad knew the hospitality of Sigar, king of the Siklings. When Haki went to avenge his brother Hagbard’s death at Sigar’s hands, Starkad deserted him [4] .
    Next Starkad heard of a berserk named Visinn who lived in Russia upon a rock named Anafial. He was able to blunt men’s blades with his gaze, and he used to abduct men’s wives and rape them before their husbands’ eyes. Starkad challenged Visinn, and went into the fight after covering his blade with a very fine skin that protected it from the berserk’s sorcery.
    After winning the victory against Visinn, Starkad went to Constantinople, where he defeated a giant named Tanni, and sent him into outlawry. Next, he overcame a man in Wendland named Vazi. Later, his ship was wrecked on the shores of the kingdom of Frodi the Brave and he was the sole survivor. Frodi welcomed him, gave him a new ship and charged him with guarding Frodi’s coasts. He also gave him his young son Ingjald to