“Now it is better to stand by one’s word, and not to be the first to ask for peace,” Ketil said.
“Thou art right,” replied Ivar. Then he sang: “Lovely maid of Svithjod, to-day I fight for thee; I will come to thee victorious, Randalin; to-day Ketil will die.”
Ketil began to shout fiercely, and the berserk frenzy came upon him. He bit the rim of his shield, and looked like a wild beast; foam came from his mouth, but after a while he became himself again.
Ivar and Ketil, after shaking hands, went inside the boundaries of the dueling place, and placed themselves on the squares that were marked on the cloak.
First Ivar sang: “Thou, Ketil, wilt to-day lodge with Odin.”
And Ketil sang back: “I do not put my trust in Odin, but before night thou, Ivar, wilt be among the dead.”
Hjalmar held the shield of Ivar, and Bodmod that of Ketil, his father. Ivar had the sword Hrotti, and when it struck Ketil’s shield, it was as if lightning came from it. Ketil, seeing the sparks, said: “I should not have fought against thee if I had known that thou hadst Hrotti with thee. It is most likely, as my father said, that we brothers are to be short-lived, except the one of us who is named after him.”
Heedless of this complaint, Ivar struck at Ketil’s shield, and dealt blow after blow so quickly, that Ketil could not strike him, having to shelter himself behind his shield-bearer; then Ivar drew back to get room to wield his sword and aim a blow at Ketil, but Ketil was too quick for him, and Ivar’s shield was cut asunder. New shields were provided, and these were equally cut to pieces. Each side had now spoiled two shields, both combatants had only one shield left, and the fight was to be decisive.
Then followed the fiercest of combats. Ketil sang: “There is courage in Ketil. My sword Hviting is sharp; it will belie the word of Odin. I tell thee, Ivar, it is unsafe to trust him; use thy arms and hands well before we part, for soon thou art to fall.”
Ivar replied: “Soon, Ketil, wilt thou fall to the ground.”