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The The Orkneyinga Saga on Halfdan Hálegg

The Orkneyinga Saga > For > Iv. The Earldom In The Norse Line, 872-1231.

attestation: Halfdan Hálegg, son of Harald Harfagri, was captured by Einar in Rinansey and killed by having a blood-eagle cut on his back, after which Halfdan's father fined the Orkneys sixty marks of gold.

"Halfdan Hálegg then sailed west to Orkney to dispossess Einar of the earldom, but having allowed himself to be surprised by Einar, he was captured in Rinansey, and killed by having a blood-eagle cut on his back.[15] Harald Harfagri came west, and fined the Orkneys in sixty marks of gold for the death of his son."

attestation: Hálfdán Hálegg and Gudröd Liomi, sons of Snæfríd, killed Rögnvald Earl of Mœri; King Harald was enraged and Hálfdán fled west, while Gudröd was reconciled to his father.

"The sons of Snæfríd, Hálfdán Hálegg (high legs) and Gudröd Liomi (splendour) killed Rögnvald, Earl of Mœri. King Harald became very angry at this, and Hálfdán had to flee over seas to the west, but Gudröd became reconciled to his father."
attestation: When Hálfdán Hálegg came to the Orkneys, Earl Einar fled to Scotland; Hálfdán became King over the Islands; Einar returned the same year and defeated Hálfdán in battle.

"When Hálfdán Hálegg came to the Orkneys, Earl Einar fled from the Islands to Scotland, and Hálfdán became King over the Islands. Earl Einar came back during the same year, and when they met there was a great battle, in which Einar had the victory, and Hálfdán fled away."
attestation: After the battle Einar had Hálfdán Hálegg subjected to the blood eagle ritual: ribs severed from the backbone, lungs pulled out; this was offered to Odin as a victory sacrifice.

"Next morning they found Hálfdán Hálegg on Rinar's Hill. The Earl made a blood eagle be cut on his back with the sword, and had his ribs severed from the back-bone, and his lungs pulled out. Thus he gave him to Odinn as an offering for victory"