They went into the battle and fought bravely and all those of the army of the Haddings who came against them fell in heaps. A witch had come among them in the likeness of a swan. She sang and worked such powerful spells that none of Olaf's men took heed to defend themselves. Then she flew over the sons of Greip, singing loudly. Her name was Kara. At that same moment Helgi the Bold encountered the eight brothers and slew every one of them.
VII. At this point Hromund entered the battle. Helgi the Bold caught sight of him and cried:
"Here comes the man who slew my brother Hröngvith. Now you must beware of that sword of his which he got in the barrow.—You held aloof while I slew your brothers."
"You need not question my courage, Helgi," replied Hromund, "for one or other of us must fall now."
Helgi said: "Mistletoe is such a heavy weapon that you cannot use it. I will lend you another that you can manage."
"You need not taunt me with faint-heartedness," cried Hromund. "Remember the blow which I dealt Hröngvith, when I shattered his skull to atoms!"
Helgi said: "You have bound a girl's garter round your hand, Hromund. Lay aside the shield which you are carrying. It will be impossible to wound you so long as you carry that: I am sure that you are dependent on that girl."
Hromund could not endure these galling words, and flung down his shield. Helgi the Bold had always been victorious, and it was by means of magic that he had gained his success. His mistress' name was Kara—she who was present in the form of a swan. Helgi brandished his sword so high over his head that it chopped off the swan's leg. He drove the sword down into the ground as far as the hilt, and said:
"My luck has fled now; and it was a bad business when I missed you."
Hromund replied: "You were very unlucky, Helgi, to be the slayer of your own mistress, and you will have no more happiness."