Saxo Bless Starkath

5.6. Ancient tradition says that Starkath, whom I introduced earlier,
devoted his initial career to pleasing the gods through the murder of
Vikar, king of Norway; some narrate this version of the affair: Odin
once desired that Vikar should come to a dismal end, but did not wish
to effect this openly; he therefore made Starkath, already remarkable
for his unusual size, famous for his courage and his skill in composing
songs, so that he could use the man’s energies more readily to
accomplish the king’s death. Odin hoped that this was how Starkath
would show his thanks for the privileges bestowed on him. To this
end he also gave him three times the span of mortal life, in order that
he might perpetrate a proportionate number of damnable deeds. So
determined was he that crime should accompany this man’s prolonged existence.

5.7. He soon came to Vikar and for some time lodged with him as
one of his followers, devising a trap during his attendance on the king.
Eventually they set off together on a pirating expedition. However,
they arrived at a place where they were harassed by a long spell of
violent storms, and here the gales interrupted their voyage in such a
way that they spent a major part of the year doing nothing, until they
decided that the gods must be appeased by human blood. Lots cast in
an urn showed a demand for a royal victim. Starkath then twined
round the king’s neck a noose he had made of osier, pretending to
offer the appearance of an expiation merely for a brief moment. But
the tightness of the knot fulfilled its function and cut short Vikar’s
breathing as he hung there. While he was still panting Starkath tore
out the remnants of life with his sword, and when he should have lent
relief disclosed his treachery. I cannot entertain the view of one
version which relates that the soft osiers hardened as they suddenly
gripped and acted like a halter of iron.


- Gesta Danorum, Book VI