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Updated: May 1, 2025
In the morning Sigvald and his Jomsvikings perhaps felt that they had vowed more than they were able to perform, yet it was not possible to withdraw from the enterprise unless they were willing to be called cowards. They therefore thought it would be well to start without delay, that they might, if possible, take Earl Hakon unawares.
He called to his men to flee, for, said he, "we did not vow to fight against fiends, but against men." But though Sigvald sailed away with thirty-five ships, there were some of his men who scorned to flee even from fiends. Twenty-five ships stayed behind to continue the fight. The viking Bui was commander of one of these.
"Aha!" laughed Helgi. "Blows the wind that way?" "What does she want?" asked Estein. "I know not; she would not tell." "Tell her to come in," said Earl Sigvald. "Do you think it is fitting that the king should go out at every woman's pleasure?" "That is what I told her, but she said she would see the king outside or go away." "Bid her come in or go away!" cried the earl.
Steel rang on steel as every armed warrior there clashed his approval. By all the gods whose names he could remember Earl Sigvald swore that the true Estein was come back, and King Hakon exclaimed joyfully, "There speaks my son at last. Prepare yourself then, Estein. Ill tidings have been changed to good." "And you, Ketill," said Estein, turning to his former companion, "will you come with me?"
When the peasant saw that his trick was discovered he jumped overboard, hoping to swim to shore. But one of the vikings flung a spear after him, and the peasant sank and was seen no more. Now though the vikings had fewer ships than Earl Hakon, they were larger and higher, and Sigvald hoped that this would help them to gain the victory. Slowly the fleets drew together and a fierce battle began.
In each finger the troll held an arrow, which, as it seemed to them, always hit and killed a man. Sigvald saw that his men were growing fearful, and he, too; felt that the gods were against them. "It seems to me," he said, "that it is not men whom we have to fight to-day but fiends, and it requires some manliness to go boldly against them."
There is no cure for spells like a pair of bright eyes." But when the king spoke to his son, he found him resolutely opposed to marriage. Hakon loved him so dearly that he forbore to press the matter, and again he consulted Earl Sigvald. "If he will not marry, let him fight," answered the earl. "For a prince of the race of Yngve, the clash of arms cures melancholy better than a maid."
While King Harald was reigning in Denmark, he built on the shores of the Baltic a fortress which he called Jomsburg. In this fortress dwelt a famous band of vikings named the Jomsvikings. It is one of their most famous sea-fights that I am going to tell you now. The leader of the band was Earl Sigvald, and a bold and fearless leader he had proved himself.
Then once more the storm-cloud crept over the sky and a terrific storm of hail beat upon the vikings, and now they saw, not in the clouds, but in Hakon's ship, two trolls, and they were speeding arrows among the enemies of Hakon. Even Sigvald, the renowned leader of the Jomsvikings, could not stand before these unknown powers.
"Go in, Osla," said her uncle, "I bid thee," and so she went in with Estein to the hall. As he led her up to the high seat, dead silence fell on the guests, and all men gazed in growing wonder. Opposite Earl Sigvald he stopped, and throwing back her hood, cried, "You will live to see me married yet, jarl. My southern voyage shall be changed into my wedding feast. Behold Osla, Queen of Sogn!"
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