While his men still pursued the fugitives, king Athelstan left the battle-field, and rode back to the town, nor stayed he for the night before he came thither. But Egil pursued the flying foe, and followed them far, slaying every man whom he overtook. At length, sated with pursuit, he with his followers turned back, and came where the battle had been, and found there the dead body of his brother Thorolf. He took it up, washed it, and performed such other offices as were the wont of the time. They dug a grave there, and laid Thorolf therein with all his weapons and raiment. Then Egil clasped a gold bracelet on either wrist before he parted from him; this done they heaped on stones and cast in mould. Then Egil sang a stave:

'Dauntless the doughty champion
Dashed on, the earl's bold slayer:
In stormy stress of battle
Stout-hearted Thorolf fell.
Green grows on soil of Vin-heath
Grass o'er my noble brother:
But we our woe - a sorrow
Worse than death-pang must bear.'

And again he further sang:

'With warriors slain round standard
The western field I burdened;
Adils with my blue Adder
Assailed mid snow of war.
Olaf, young prince, encountered
England in battle thunder:
Hring stood not stour of weapons,
Starved not the ravens' maw.'

Then went Egil and those about him to seek king Athelstan, and at once went before the king, where he sat at the drinking. There was much noise of merriment. And when the king saw that Egil was come in, he bade the lower bench be cleared for them, and that Egil should sit in the high-seat facing the king. Egil sat down there, and cast his shield before his feet. He had his helm on his head, and laid his sword across his knees; and now and again he half drew it, then clashed it back into the sheath. He sat upright, but with head bent forward.

Egil was large-featured, broad of forehead, with large eyebrows, a nose not long but very thick, lips wide and long, chin exceeding broad, as was all about the jaws; thick-necked was he, and big-shouldered beyond other men, hard-featured, and grim when angry. He was well-made, more than commonly tall, had hair wolf-gray and thick, but became early bald. He was black-eyed and brown-skinned.

But as he sat (as was before written), he drew one eye-brow down towards the cheek, the other up to the roots of the hair. He would not drink now, though the horn was borne to him, but alternately twitched his brows up and down. King Athelstan sat in the upper high-seat. He too laid his sword across his knees. When they had sat there for a time, then the king drew his sword from the sheath, and took from his arm a gold ring large and good, and placing it upon the sword-point he stood up, and went across the floor, and reached it over the fire to Egil. Egil stood up and drew his sword, and went across the floor. He stuck the sword-point within the round of the ring, and drew it to him; then he went back to his place. The king sate him again in his high-seat. But when Egil was set down, he drew the ring on his arm, and then his brows went back to their place. He now laid down sword and helm, took the horn that they bare to him, and drank it off. Then sang he:

'Mailed monarch, god of battle,
Maketh the tinkling circlet
Hang, his own arm forsaking,
On hawk-trod wrist of mine.
I bear on arm brand-wielding
Bracelet of red gold gladly.
War-falcon's feeder meetly
Findeth such meed of praise.'

Thereafter Egil drank his share, and talked with others. Presently the king caused to be borne in two chests; two men bare each. Both were full of silver.

The king said: 'These chests, Egil, thou shalt have, and, if thou comest to Iceland, shalt carry this money to thy father; as payment for a son I send it to him: but some of the money thou shalt divide among such kinsmen of thyself and Thorolf as thou thinkest most honourable. But thou shalt take here payment for a brother with me, land or chattels, which thou wilt. And if thou wilt abide with me long, then will I give thee honour and dignity such as thyself mayst name.'

Egil took the money, and thanked the king for his gifts and friendly words. Thenceforward Egil began to be cheerful; and then he sang:

'In sorrow sadly drooping
Sank my brows close-knitted;
Then found I one who furrows
Of forehead could smooth.
Fierce-frowning cliffs that shaded
My face a king hath lifted
With gleam of golden armlet:
Gloom leaveth my eyes.'

Then those men were healed whose wounds left hope of life. Egil abode with king Athelstan for the next winter after Thorolf's death, and had very great honour from the king. With Egil was then all that force which had followed the two brothers, and come alive out of the battle. Egil now made a poem about king Athelstan, and in it is this stave:

'Land-shielder, battle-quickener,
Low now this scion royal
Earls three hath laid. To Ella
Earth must obedient bow.
Lavish of gold, kin-glorious,
Great Athelstan victorious,
Surely, I swear, all humbled
To such high monarch yields.'

But this is the burden in the poem:

'Reindeer-trod hills obey
Bold Athelstan's high sway.'

Then gave Athelstan further to Egil as poet's meed two gold rings, each weighing a mark, and therewith a costly cloak that the king himself had formerly worn.

But when spring came Egil signified to the king this, that he purposed to go away in the summer to Norway, and to learn 'how matters stand with Asgerdr, my late brother Thorolf's wife. A large property is there in all; but I know not whether there be children of theirs living. I am bound to look after them, if they live; but I am heir to all, if Thorolf died childless.'

The king answered, 'This will be, Egil, for you to arrange, to go away hence, if you think you have an errand of duty; but I think 'twere the best way that you should settle down here with me on such terms as you like to ask.'

Egil thanked the king for his words.

'I will,' he said, 'now first go, as I am in duty bound to do; but it is likely that I shall return hither to see after this promise so soon as I can.'

The king bade him do so.

Whereupon Egil made him ready to depart with his men; but of these many remained behind with the king. Egil had one large war-ship, and on board thereof a hundred men or thereabouts. And when he was ready for his voyage, and a fair wind blew, he put out to sea. He and king Athelstan parted with great friendship: the king begged Egil to return as soon as possible. This Egil promised to do.

Then Egil stood for Norway, and when he came to land sailed with all speed into the Firths. He heard these tidings, that lord Thorir was dead, and Arinbjorn had taken inheritance after him, and was made a baron. Egil went to Arinbjorn and got there a good welcome. Arinbjorn asked him to stay there. Egil accepted this, had his ship set up, and his crew lodged. But Arinbjorn received Egil and twelve men; they stayed with him through the winter.

Aðalsteinn konungr sneri í brott frá orrostunni, en menn hans ráku flóttann. Hann reið aftr til borgarinnar ok tók eigi fyrr náttstað en í borginni, en Egill rak flóttann ok fylgði þeim lengi ok drap hvern mann, er hann náði. Síðan sneri hann aftr með sveitunga sína ok fór þar til, er orrostan hafði verit, ok hitti þar Þórólf, bróður sinn, látinn. Hann tók upp lík hans ok þó, bjó um síðan, sem siðvenja var til. Grófu þeir þar gröf ok settu Þórólf þar í með vápnum sínum öllum ok klæðum. Síðan spennti Egill gullhring á hvára hönd honum, áðr hann skilðist við, hlóðu síðan at grjóti ok jósu at moldu. Þá kvað Egill vísu:

Gekk, sás óðisk ekki,
jarlmanns bani snarla,
þreklundaðr fell, Þundar,
Þórólfr, í gný stórum.
Jörð grær, en vér verðum,
Vínu nær of mínum,
helnauð es þat, hylja
harm, ágætum barma.

Ok enn kvað hann:

Valköstum hlóðk vestan
vang fyr merkistangir.
Ótt vas él þats sóttak
Aðgils bláum Naðri.
Háði ungr við Engla
Áleifr þrimu stála.
Helt, né hrafnar sultu,
Hringr á vápna þingi.

Síðan fór Egill með sveit sína á fund Aðalsteins konungs ok gekk þegar fyrir konung, er hann sat við drykkju. Þar var glaumr mikill. Ok er konungr sá, at Egill var inn kominn, þá mælti hann, at rýma skyldi pallinn þann inn óæðra fyrir þeim, ok mælti, at Egill skyldi sitja þar í öndvegi gegnt konungi.

Egill settist þar niðr ok skaut skildinum fyrir fætr sér. Hann hafði hjálm á höfði ok lagði sverðit um kné sér ok dró annat skeið til hálfs, en þá skelldi hann aftr í slíðrin. Hann sat uppréttr ok var gneyptr mjök. Egill var mikilleitr, ennibreiðr, brúnamikill, nefit ekki langt, en ákafliga digrt, granstæðit vítt ok langt, hakan breið furðuliga ok svá allt um kjálkana, hálsdigr ok herðimikill, svá at þat bar frá því, sem aðrir menn váru, harðleitr ok grimmligr, þá er hann var reiðr. Hann var vel í vexti ok hverjum manni hæri, úlfgrátt hárit ok þykkt ok varð snemma sköllóttr. En er hann sat, sem fyrr var ritat, þá hleypði hann annarri brúninni ofan á kinnina, en annarri upp í hárrætr. Egill var svarteygr ok skolbrúnn. Ekki vildi hann drekka, þó at honum væri borit, en ýmsum hleypði hann brúnunum ofan eða upp.

Aðalsteinn konungr sat í hásæti. Hann lagði ok sverð um kné sér, ok er þeir sátu svá um hríð, þá dró konungr sverðit ór slíðrum ok tók gullhring af hendi sér, mikinn ok góðan, ok dró á blóðrefilinn, stóð upp ok gekk á gólfit ok rétti yfir eldinn til Egils. Egill stóð upp ok brá sverðinu ok gekk á gólfit. Hann stakk sverðinu í bug hringinum ok dró at sér, gekk aftr til rúms síns. Konungr settist í hásæti. En er Egill settist, dró hann hringinn á hönd sér, ok þá fóru brýnn hans í lag. Lagði hann þá niðr sverðit ok hjálminn ok tók við dýrshorni, er honum var borit, ok drakk af. Þá kvað hann:

Hrammtangar lætr hanga
hrynvirgil mér brynju
Höðr á hauki troðnum
heiðis vingameiði.
Rítmæðis knák reiða,
ræðr gunnvala bræðir,
gelgju seil á galga
geirveðrs, lofi at meira.

Þaðan af drakk Egill at sínum hlut ok mælti við aðra menn. Eftir þat lét konungr bera inn kistur tvær. Báru tveir menn hvára. Váru báðar fullar af silfri.

Konungr mælti: "Kistur þessar, Egill, skaltu hafa, ok ef þú kemr til Íslands, skaltu færa þetta fé föður þínum. í sonargjöld sendi ek honum. En sumu fé skaltu skipta með frændum ykkrum Þórólfs, þeim er þér þykkja ágætastir. En þú skalt taka hér bróðurgjöld hjá mér, lönd eða lausa aura, hvárt er þú vill heldr, ok ef þú vill með mér dveljast lengðar, þá skal ek hér fá þér sæmð ok virðing, þá er þú kannt mér sjálfr til segja."

Egill tók við fénu ok þakkaði konungi gjafar ok vinmæli. Tók Egill þaðan af at gleðjast, ok þá kvað hann:

Knáttu hvarms af harmi
hnúpgnípur mér drúpa.
Nú fann ek þanns ennis
ósléttur þær rétti.
Gramr hefr gerðihömrum
grundar upp of hrundit,
sá 's til ýgr, af augum,
armsíma, mér grímu.

Síðan váru græddir þeir menn, er sárir váru ok lífs auðit. Egill dvalðist með Aðalsteini konungi inn næsta vetr eftir fall Þórólfs, ok hafði hann allmiklar virðingar af konungi. Var þá með honum lið þat allt, er áðr hafði fylgt þeim báðum bræðrum ok ór orrostu höfðu komizt. Þá orti Egill drápu um Aðalstein konung, ok er í því kvæði þetta:

Nú hefr foldgnárr fellda,
fellr jörð und nið Ellu,
hjaldrsnerrandi, harra
höfuðbaðmr, þría jöfra.
Aðalsteinn of vann annat,
allt's lægra kynfrægjum,
hér sverjum þess, hyrjar
hrannbrjótr, konungmanni.

En þetta er stefit í drápunni:

Nú liggr hæst und hraustum
hreinbraut Aðalsteini.

Aðalsteinn gaf þá enn Agli at bragarlaunum gullhringa tvá, ok stóð hvárr mörk, ok þar fylgði skikkja dýr, er konungr sjálfr hafði áðr borit.

En er váraði, lýsti Egill yfir því fyrir konungi, at hann ætlaði í brott um sumarit ok til Nóregs ok vita, hvat títt er um hag Ásgerðar, - "konu þeirar, er átt hefir Þórólfr, bróðir minn. Þar standa saman fé mikil, en ek veit eigi, hvárt börn þeira lifa nökkur. Á ek þar fyrir at sjá, ef þau lifa, en ek á arf allan, ef Þórólfr hefir barnlauss andazt."

Konungr sagði: "Þat mun vera, Egill, á þínu forráði at fara heðan á brott, ef þú þykkist eiga skyldarerendi, en hinn veg þykkir mér bezt, at þú takir hér staðfestu með mér ok slíka kosti, sem þú vill beiðast."

Egill þakkaði konungi orð sín. "Ek mun nú fara fyrst, svá sem mér ber skylda til, en þat er líkara, at ek vitjak hingat þessa heita, þá er ek komumst við."

Konungr bað hann svá gera. Síðan bjóst Egill brott með liði sínu, en margt dvalðist eftir með konungi. Egill hafði eitt langskip mikit ok þar á hundrað manna eða vel svá. Ok er hann var búinn ferðar sinnar ok byr gaf, þá helt hann til hafs. Skilðust þeir Aðalsteinn konungr með mikilli vináttu. Bað hann Egil koma aftr sem skjótast. Egill kvað svá vera skyldu.

Síðan helt Egill til Nóregs, ok er hann kom við land, fór hann sem skyndiligast inn í Fjörðu. Hann spurði þau tíðendi, at andaðr var Þórir hersir, en Arinbjörn hafði tekit við arfi ok gerzt lendr maðr. Egill fór á fund Arinbjarnar ok fekk þar góðar viðtökur. Bauð Arinbjörn honum þar at vera. Egill þekkðist þat. Lét hann setja upp skipit ok vista lið. En Arinbjörn tók við Agli við tólfta mann, ok var með honum um vetrinn.