King Athelstan had passed the night before in the town whereof mention was made above, and there he heard rumour that there had been fighting on the heath. At once he and all the host made ready and marched northwards to the heath. There they learnt all the tidings clearly, how that battle had gone. Then the brothers Thorolf and Egil came to meet the king. He thanked them much for their brave advance, and the victory they had won; he promised them his hearty friendship. They all remained together for the night.

No sooner did day dawn than Athelstan waked up his army. He held conference with his captains, and told them how his forces should be arranged. His own division he first arranged, and in the van thereof he set those companies that were the smartest.

Then he said that Egil should command these: 'But Thorolf,' said he, 'shall be with his own men and such others as I add thereto. This force shall be opposed to that part of the enemy which is loose and not in set array, for the Scots are ever loose in array; they run to and fro, and dash forward here and there. Often they prove dangerous if men be not wary, but they are unsteady in the field if boldly faced.'

Egil answered the king: 'I will not that I and Thorolf be parted in the battle; rather to me it seems well that we two be placed there where is like to be most need and hardest fighting.'

Thorolf said, 'Leave we the king to rule where he will place us, serve we him as he likes best. I will, if you wish it, change places with you.'

Egil said, 'Brother, you will have your way; but this separation I shall often rue.'

After this they formed in the divisions as the king had arranged, and the standards were raised. The king's division stood on the plain towards the river; Thorolf's division moved on the higher ground beside the wood. King Olaf drew up his forces when he saw king Athelstan had done so. He also made two divisions; and his own standard, and the division that himself commanded, he opposed to king Athelstan and his division. Either had a large army, there was no difference on the score of numbers. But king Olaf's second division moved near the wood against the force under Thorolf. The commanders thereof were Scotch earls, the men mostly Scots; and it was a great multitude.

And now the armies closed, and soon the battle waxed fierce. Thorolf pressed eagerly forward, causing his standard to be borne onwards along the woodside; he thought to go so far forward as to turn upon the Scotch king's division behind their shields. His own men held their shields before them; they trusted to the wood which was on their right to cover that side. So far in advance went Thorolf that few of his men were before him. But just when he was least on his guard, out leapt from the wood earl Adils and his followers. They thrust at Thorolf at once with many halberds, and there by the wood he fell. But Thorfid, who bore the standard, drew back to where the men stood thicker. Adils now attacked them, and a fierce contest was there. The Scots shouted a shout of victory, as having slain the enemy's chieftain.

This shout when Egil heard, and saw Thorolf's standard going back, he felt sure that Thorolf himself would not be with it. So he bounded thither over the space between the two divisions. Full soon learnt he the tidings of what was done, when he came to his men. Then did he keenly spur them on to the charge, himself foremost in the van. He had in his hand his sword Adder. Forward Egil pressed, and hewed on either hand of him, felling many men. Thorfid bore the standard close after him, behind the standard followed the rest. Right sharp was the conflict there. Egil went forward till he met earl Adils. Few blows did they exchange ere earl Adils fell, and many men around him. But after the earl's death his followers fled. Egil and his force pursued, and slew all whom they overtook; no need there to beg quarter. Nor stood those Scotch earls long, when they saw the others their fellows fly; but at once they took to their heels.

Whereupon Egil and his men made for where king Olaf's division was, and coming on them behind their shields soon wrought great havoc. The division wavered, and broke up. Many of king Olaf's men then fled, and the Norsemen shouted a shout of victory.

But when king Athelstan perceived king Olaf's division beginning to break, he then spurred on his force, and bade his standard advance. A fierce onset was made, so that king Olaf's force recoiled, and there was a great slaughter. King Olaf fell there, and the greater part of the force which he had had, for of those who turned to fly all who were overtaken were slain. Thus king Athelstan gained a signal victory.

Aðalsteinn konungr hafði verit áðr ina næstu nótt í borg þeiri, er fyrr var frá sagt, ok þar spurði hann, at bardagi hafði verit á heiðinni, bjóst þá þegar ok allr herrinn ok sótti norðr á heiðina, spurði þá öll tíðendi glöggliga, hvernig orrosta sú hafði farit. Kómu þá til fundar við konung þeir bræðr, Þórólfr ok Egill. Þakkaði hann þeim vel framgöngu sína ok sigr þann, er þeir höfðu unnit, hét þeim vináttu sinni fullkominni. Dvölðust þeir þar allir samt um nóttina.

Aðalsteinn konungr vakði upp her sinn þegar um morgininn árdegis. Hann átti tal við höfðingja sína ok sagði, hver skipun vera skyldi fyrir liði hans. Skipaði hann fylking sína fyrst, ok þá setti hann í brjósti þeirar fylkingar sveitir þær, er snarpastar váru.

Þá mælti hann, at fyrir því liði skyldi vera Egill, - "en Þórólfr," sagði hann, "skal vera með liði sínu ok öðru því liði, er ek set þar. Skal sú vera önnur fylking í liði váru, er hann skal vera höfðingi fyrir, því at Skotar eru jafnan lausir í fylkingu, hlaupa þeir til ok frá ok koma í ýmsum stöðum fram. Verða þeir oft skeinusamir, ef menn varast eigi, en eru lausir á velli, ef við þeim er horft."

Egill svaraði konungi: "Ekki vil ek, at vit Þórólfr skilimst í orrostu, en vel þykkir mér, at okkr sé þar skipat, er mest þykkir þurfa ok harðast er fyrir."

Þórólfr mælti: "Látum vit konung ráða, hvar hann vill okkr skipa. Veitum honum svá, at honum líki. Mun ek vera heldr, ef þú vill, þar er þér er skipat."

Egill segir: "Þér munuð nú ráða, en þessa skiptis mun ek oft iðrast."

Gengu menn þá í fylkingar, svá sem konungr hafði skipat, ok váru sett upp merki. Stóð konungs fylking á víðlendit til árinnar, en Þórólfs fylking fór it efra með skóginum.

Óláfr konungr tók þá at fylkja liði sínu, þá er hann sá, at Aðalsteinn hafði fylkt. Hann gerði ok tvær fylkingar, ok lét hann fara sitt merki ok þá fylking, er hann réð sjálfr fyrir, móti Aðalsteini konungi ok hans fylking. Höfðu þá hvárirtveggju her svá mikinn, at engi var munr, hvárir fjölmennari váru, en önnur fylking Óláfs konungs fór nær skóginum móti liði því, er Þórólfr réð fyrir. Váru þar höfðingjar jarlar skozkir. Váru þat Skotar flest, ok var þat fjölmenni mikit.

Síðan gangast á fylkingar, ok varð þar brátt orrosta mikil. Þórólfr sótti fram hart ok lét bera merki sitt fram með skóginum ok ætlaði þar svá fram at ganga, at hann kæmi í opna skjöldu konungs fylkinginni. Höfðu þeir skjölduna fyrir sér, en skógrinn var til hægra vegs. Létu þeir hann þar hlífa. Þórólfr gekk svá fram, at fáir váru menn hans fyrir honum, en þá er hann varði minnst, þá hlaupa þar ór skóginum Aðils jarl ok sveit sú, er honum fylgði, brugðu þegar mörgum kesjum senn á Þórólf, ok fell hann þar við skóginn, en Þorfiðr, er merkit bar, hopaði aftr, þar er liðit stóð þykkra, en Aðils sótti þá at þeim, ok var þar þá orrosta mikil. Æpðu Skotar þá sigróp, er þeir höfðu felldan höfðingjann.

En er Egill heyrði óp þat ok sá, at merki Þórólfs fór á hæl, þá þóttist hann vita, at Þórólfr myndi eigi sjálfr fylgja. Síðan hleypr hann til þangat fram í milli fylkinganna. Hann varð skjótt varr þeira tíðenda, er þar váru orðin, þegar hann fann sína menn. Hann eggjar þá liðit mjök til framgöngu. Var hann fremstr í brjóstinu. Hann hafði sverðit Naðr í hendi. Hann sótti þá fram ok hjó til beggja handa ok felldi marga menn. Þorfiðr bar merkit þegar eftir honum, en annat lið fylgði merkinu. Var þar in snarpasta orrosta. Egill gekk fram, til þess er hann mætti Aðísli jarli. Áttust þeir fá högg við, áðr Aðils jarl fell ok margt manna um hann, en eftir fall hans þá flýði lið þat, er honum hafði fylgt, en Egill ok hans lið fylgði þeim ok drápu allt þat, er þeir náðu, því at ekki þurfti þá griða at biðja. En jarlar þeir inir skozku stóðu þá ekki lengi, þegar er þeir sá, at aðrir flýðu þeira félagar, tóku þegar á rás undan.

En þeir Egill stefndu þá þar til, er var konungs fylkingin, ok kómu þá í opna skjöldu ok gerðu þar brátt mikit mannfall. Riðlaðist þá fylkingin ok losnaði öll. Flýðu þá margir af Óláfs mönnum, en víkingar æpðu þá sigróp. En er Aðalsteinn konungr þóttist finna, at rofna tók fylkíng Óláfs konungs, þá eggj aði hann lið sitt ok lét fram bera merki, gerði þá atgöngu harða, svá at hrökk fyrir lið Óláfs ok gerðist allmikit mannfall. Fell þar Óláfr konungr ok mestr hluti liðs þess, er Óláfr hafði haft, því at þeir, er á flótta snerust, váru allir drepnir, er nát varð. Fekk Aðalsteinn konungr þar allmikinn sigr.