 Earl Harald refused, so Erlend set sail to Norway to request his share from King Eystein Haraldsson.The King granted Erlend Harald Maddadsson's share of the Orkney earldom, which led to a series of skirmishes between the two.Erlend had the support of Sweyn Asleifsson, a powerful Viking leader, which enabled him to defend himself for a while against the combined forces of Harald and, on his return, Earl Rögnvald.