“Thorgils held the shield of his brother, and Thord Arndisarson that of Bersi, who struck the first blow and cleft Kormak’s shield. Kormak struck at Bersi in the same way. Each of them spoiled three shields for the other. Then Kormak had to strike; he struck, and Bersi parried with Hviting. Sköfnung cut off its point in front of the ridge, and the sword-point fell on Kormak’s hand, and he was wounded in the thumb, whose joint was rent, and blood came on the cloak. Thereupon men intervened, and did not want them to go on fighting. Kormak said, ‘It is little victory which Bersi has got from my accident, though we part now’” (Kormak’s Saga, c. 10).
“‘But I think that thou tellest the difficulties in fighting me,’ said Viking, ‘and that thou despairest when thou seest me.’ Harek said: ‘It is not so, and I must save thy life, as thou wantest thyself to go into the open mouth of death (hel); and give thou the first blow, as is holmganga law, for I have challenged thee; but I will stand still for thee meanwhile, for I am not frightened that it will harm me’” (Thorstein Vikingson’s Saga, c. 4).
After getting ready, they went to the island.
“There was a fine field not far from the sea, where the holmganga was to be. There the place of the holmganga was marked by stones placed in a ring around it. Ljót came thither with his men, prepared for the holmganga with shield and sword. He was very large and strong, and when he arrived on the field at the holmgang-place the Berserk frenzy came upon him, and he howled fiercely and bit his shield.
“Egil made ready for the holmganga, having his old shield, and girt with the sword Nadr, with Dragvandil in his hand. He went inside the marks of the duelling-place (i.e., the squares marked out round the cloak), but Ljót was not ready. Egil raised his sword and sang.
“After the song Ljót came forward and pronounced the law of the holmganga, that he who stepped beyond the mark-stones which are set around the place of holmganga should ever afterwards be called nithing (coward).
“Then they rushed at each other, and Egil struck at Ljót, who covered himself with the shield, while Egil dealt blow after blow so that Ljót could not strike him. He drew back to get room to wield his sword, but Egil went equally fast after him and smote most violently. Ljót went out beyond the mark-stones and to and fro on the field. Thus went the first attack. Then Ljót asked to be allowed to rest, which Egil granted....[[569]]
“Egil bid Ljót to make himself ready. ‘I want this fought out.’ Ljót started to his feet, and Egil ran forward and at once struck at him. He went so close to him that he stepped back, and his shield did not cover him. Then Egil smote him above the knee, and cut off his leg. Ljót fell, and at once died” (Egil’s Saga, c. 67).
The swords had to be of a certain length.
“Bersi had a shield, and a long keen sword. Thorkel said, ‘The sword which thou wearest, Bersi, is longer than the laws allow.’ ‘It shall not be so,’ said Bersi, and brandishing Hviting with both hands he struck Thorkel his death blow” (Kormak’s Saga, c. 14).