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"Thou shalt go into my body-guard, and, if I have my will, thou shalt be near me in battle, and thy wolf-dog also." Eric said that he asked no better, and thereafter he went up with Edmund the King to make war on the Danes of Mercia, and he and Skallagrim did great deeds before the eyes of the Englishmen.
"I am sped, Skallagrim Lambstail," cried Eric in a loud voice, and all men drew back to see giant Brighteyes die. Now his head fell against the rock and his eyes closed. Then Skallagrim, stooping, drew out the spear and kissed Eric on the forehead. "Farewell, Eric Brighteyes!" he said. "Iceland shall never see such another man, and few have died so great a death.
Then once more they sat silent; and thick darkness came down upon the mountain, hiding the stars. "Look," said Eric of a sudden, and he pointed to Hecla. Skallagrim looked, and lo! the snowy dome of Hecla was aglow with a rosy flame like the light of dawn. "Winter lights," said Lambstail, shuddering. "Death lights!" answered Eric. "Look again!"
In front of him were two thralls of Asmund's; they were brothers, and large-made men, and they watched Asmund's sheep upon the fells in winter. These two also grew drunk and jeered at Skallagrim, asking him what atonement he would make for those ewes of Asmund's that he had stolen last Yule, and how it came to pass that he, a Baresark, had been overthrown of an unarmed man.
But when she stood there, over the giddy height, shivers ran along her body, and her mind grew dark. She clutched at the rock, gave one low cry and began to fall. Indeed she would have fallen and been lost, had not Skallagrim, lying on his breast in the narrow hole, stretched out his arms, caught her by the cloak and kirtle and dragged her to him. Presently her senses came back.
Moreover, Eric and Skallagrim, being bound to the mast, had the use of both hands and were minded to die hard. Therefore Ospakar's folks got but one thing by their onslaught, and that was death, for three of their number fell beneath the long sweep of Whitefire, and one bowed before the axe of Skallagrim.
Then he smote down towards the skull of Skallagrim, but as he smote it seemed to him that a voice whispered in his ear: "Thy oath!" and he remembered that he had sworn to slay no more, save for his own life's sake. The mighty blow was falling and he might only do this loose the axe before it clove Skallagrim in twain. He loosed and away the great axe flew.
"We have seen the Valkyries," he said. "Nay," answered Eric, "we have seen the Norns who are come to warn us of our doom! We shall die to-morrow." "At the least," said Skallagrim, "we shall not die alone: we had a goodly bed on yonder goblin ship, and all of our own slaying methinks. It is not so ill to die thus, lord!"
"Now it is time to begin and knock these birds from their perch," said the thrall, "for that is an awkward corner for our folk to turn with Whitefire and the axe of Skallagrim waiting on the farther side." So he balanced a great stone, as heavy as three men could lift, on the brow of the rock, and aimed it. Then he pushed and let it go.
The winter wore away and the spring came. Then Atli gathered his men and went with Eric in boats to where the chief dwelt who held his lands. There they fell on him and there was a fierce fight. But in the end the man was slain by Skallagrim, and Eric did great deeds, as was his wont.
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