Whatever the exact chronology, before Malcolm's death a client of the king of Scots was in control of Caithness and Orkney, although, as with all such relationships, it is unlikely to have lasted beyond his death.
Apapun kronologi yang tepat, sebelum kematian Máel Coluim, seorang klien raja Skotlandia mengendalikan Caithness dan Orkney, meskipun layaknya semua hubungan semacam itu, tidak mungkin bertahan melebihi kematiannya.