Break Sword

The Vikings leapt from their ships with an enormous army. King
Sigmund and King Eylimi set up their banners and the trumpets were
blown. King Sigmund gave orders to blow the horn that had belonged
to his father, and this was the way he urged his men forward. Sigmund
had a much smaller army than Eylimi.

A great battle now began, and though Sigmund was old, he fought
hard and he was always at the front of his men. Neither shield nor
armor could protect a man from him, and he went again and again into
the army of his enemies on that day, and no one could see what the
outcome would be of this battle between the two armies. Many spears and
arrows were in the air. But Sigmund’s family spirits protected him so
that he was not injured, and no one could count how many men fell by
his hand. Both of his arms were covered in blood up to the shoulders.

And when the fighting had continued for a while, a man appeared
in the fray who was dressed in a long hat and a blue cloak. He had
only one eye, and a spear in his hand. This man charged against
Sigmund and hefted up the spear at him. And when Sigmund struck
hard with his sword, he hit the spearshaft and his blade broke into
two pieces.

Now the tide of the battle turned, and Sigmund’s luck left him and
much of his army was killed. Sigmund stopped even trying to defend
himself, and he continued to urge his troops on. Now it went like the
saying goes, that no one can compete against superior numbers. Both
King Sigmund and King Eylimi, his father-in-law, fell in this battle.
They were at the front of his troops, and most of Sigmund’s men fell
with him.


- Volsunga Saga, Chapter 11