ran thus, that if the fight were on Good-Friday King Brian would
fall but win the day; but if they fought before, they would all
fall who were against him.
Then Brodir said that they must not fight before the Friday.
On the fifth day of the week a man rode up to Kormlada and her
company on an apple-grey horse, and in his hand he held a
halberd; he talked long with them.
King Brian came with all his host to the Burg, and on the Friday
the host fared out of the Burg, and both armies were drawn up in
array.
Brodir was on one wing of the battle, but King Sigtrygg on the
other.
Earl Sigurd was in the mid battle.
Now it must be told of King Brian that he would not fight on the
fast-day, and so a shieldburg (1) was thrown round him, and his
host was drawn up in array in front of it.
Wolf the Quarrelsome was on that wing of the battle against which
Brodir stood; but on the other wing, where Sigtrygg stood against
them, were Ospak and his sons.
But in mid battle was Kerthialfad, and before him the banners
were home.
Now the wings fall on one another, and there was a very hard
fight. Brodir went through the host of the foe, and felled all
the foremost that stood there, but no steel would bite on his
mail.
Wolf the Quarrelsome turned then to meet him, and thrust at him
thrice so hard that Brodir fell before him at each thrust, and
was well-nigh not getting on his feet again; but as soon as ever
he found his feet, he fled away into the wood at once.
Earl Sigurd had a hard battle against Kerthialfad, and
Kerthialfad came on so fast that he laid low all who were in the
front rank, and he broke the array of Earl Sigurd right up to his
banner, and slew the banner-bearer.
Then he got another man to bear the banner, and there was again a
hard fight.
Kerthialfad smote this man too his death blow at once, and so on
one after the other all who stood near him.
Then Earl Sigurd called on Thorstein the son of Hall of the Side,
to bear the banner, and Thorstein was just about to lift the
banner, but then Asmund the White said, “Don’t bear the banner!
For all they who bear it get their death.”
“Hrafn the Red!” called out Earl Sigurd, “bear thou the banner.”
“Bear thine own devil thyself,” answered Hrafn.
Then the earl said, “`Tis fittest that the beggar should bear the
bag;’” and with that he took the banner from the staff and put it
under his cloak.
A little after Asmund the White was slain, and then the earl was
pierced through with a spear.
Ospak had gone through all the battle on his wing, he had been
sore wounded, and lost both his sons ere King Sigtrygg fled
