King Magnus heard this news, and at the same time that the people of
Vindland had a large force on foot. He summoned people therefore to come
to him, and drew together a great army in Jutland. Otto, also, the Duke
of Brunsvik, who had married Ulfhild, King Olaf the Saint's daughter,
and the sister of King Magnus, came to him with a great troop. The
Danish chiefs pressed King Magnus to advance against the Vindland army,
and not allow pagans to march over and lay waste the country; so it was
resolved that the king with his army should proceed south to Heidaby.
While King Magnus lay at Skotborg river, on Hlyrskog Heath, he got
intelligence concerning the Vindland army, and that it was so numerous
it could not be counted; whereas King Magnus had so few, that there
seemed no chance for him but to fly. The king, however, determined on
fighting, if there was any possibility of gaining the victory; but the
most dissuaded him from venturing on an engagement, and all, as one man,
said that the Vindland people had undoubtedly a prodigious force. Duke
Otto, however, pressed much to go to battle. Then the king ordered the
whole army to be gathered by the war trumpets into battle array, and
ordered all the men to arm, and to lie down for the night under their
shields; for he was told the enemy's army had come to the neighbourhood.
The king was very thoughtful; for he was vexed that he should be obliged
to fly, which fate he had never experienced before. He slept but little
all night, and chanted his prayers.