Alan:

> En þó munum vér það bragðs taka (see bragð, Z2)."
> But still we will take that step (see bragð, Z2).'

Grace:

> Couldn't bragðs mean "at once" in the context?

It can certainly have that meaning on its own ('bragðs skuluð
höggnir' "you shall be hewn at once"), but in this context it makes
more sense to interpret it as part of the idiom 'taka e-t (til)
bragðs' "to take some step (to get out of difficulties)" (Zoega);
'taka (e-ð) til bragðs' "find a solution" (Online Icelndic
Dictionary). Fritzner cites this example in Njála 129: 'taka e-t til
bragðs' "gribe til noget som Hjælp eller Udvei i Nød eller Fare", Nj.
152; Grett. 75., 'taka e-t bragðs' "d[et] s[amme] Heilag. II, 56717;
Nj. 129 (19913)" (seize something as a help or solution in difficulty
or danger [...] the same).

(1) Það taka þeir bragðs að þeir flytja hana til báls er Auðunn
hafði búið.
"What they decide to do [to deal with this situation] is to carry her
to the pyre that Auðunn had prepared."

(2) Hann leitaði ráðs við marga vitra menn hvað hann skyldi til
bragðs taka en engi gat það ráð til gefið er dygði.
"He sought counsel with many wise men as to what course he should take
[how he might resolve the problem], but no one managed to come up with
a plan that was of any use."

(3) Haraldr konungr helt nú ráðstefnu við lið sitt, hvat til bragðs
skyldi taka í þeim vanda ok nauðsynjum er þeim váru nú at höndum komnar.
"King Harald held council now with his men on what action they should
take regarding this difficulty and [these] troubles which they now faced."