I would ask
Who follows thee
Of kings (jöfr) from the thunder of edges (battle)?
There are five (said Eirik).
I shall tell the names of all.
I am myself the sixth.
CHAPTER XXIX.
SUPERSTITIONS.—SHAPE-CHANGING.
Popular belief in the power of shape-changing—Journeys taken under assumed shapes—The language of birds—Use of animal food to incite to bravery—The drink of oblivion.
We have many instances in the Sagas showing that there was a popular belief in the power of some persons to change their shape[[381]] (hamhleypa), either by their own will or by the power of witchcraft. No matter into what animal shape an individual had been changed, no spell could ever touch the human eye, which remained unchangeable.
Men often undertook journeys under an assumed shape, in which case their own body was supposed to lie as dead, in a magical sleep; and a spirit was considered most fit for a journey when it was in animal shape: the name of the person who was on the journey was never to be mentioned, and it was considered most important that a sleeper should not be aroused, for if disturbed the whole enchantment was destroyed.