“She went freely to her doom,” said Vagnhöfdi. “Now I must begone lest mine come upon me. Already I hear thunder off beyond the hills.” Hadding could not, but he believed. Vagnhöfdi’s brooding look sought his eyes. “Beware, yourself, of overmuch haughtiness. Your own doom is a strange one. More than that I know not; but I do not think you will always be lucky.”

Hadding lifted his head a little. “Whatever befalls, I’ll make of it what I can.”

“You might do that better if you went at things less rashly.” Vagnhöfdi sighed again. “But you are you, and young. Maybe some wisdom will come with the years, if you live. Otherwise, well, that’s what your doom is. Haflidi and I will abide the news. We shall meet you no more.” A great hand stroked the brow beneath it. “Farewell, fosterling.”

He picked up his weapons, rose, and trudged off. A lowering sun threw his shadow across the dale farther than men could see. He himself reared black athwart the sky. They watched in awe until the mighty darkness went from sight over the hills.

Already before then, the swiftest among them had reached their king. One was good with wounds. He undid Hadding’s boot, cleansed the foot, hefted and handled it, and told his fellows to bring him what he would need. Hadding set teeth together. He caught his breath only when the work hurt most.

Night fell. Uffi and Hunting had gotten together a number of their men. By the light of stars and waning moon they sought back to the battlefield. There they found the body of their father Asmund. They bore him away.

Days passed. Hadding grew fevered. He never raved with it, and soon cast it off, but it left him weak for a while afterward. During it, his housecarles, chieftains, and other trusty men gathered back those Danes who had fled. They saw to the care of the hurt, handing out of stores, mending of harness and weapons. Those who were unfit to fight more went home, along with those who felt themselves needed on the farms at sowing time: for the term of levy was up, as set forth in olden law.

However, no few stayed camped by the river. Hopes of reward, plunder, revenge, and fame lured them. The wondrous ending of the battle here heartened them. True, Hadding gave out frankly that there could be no more such rescues. Hence-forward they would win whatever they won by their own hands. But they thought he must be well worth following.