Sindri- Norse CreatureCreature"Master Smith"

The Wager

Sindri, called Eitri in Snorri's Skáldskaparmál, is a dwarf smith. After Loki cut off Sif's hair and obtained replacement treasures from the Sons of Ivaldi, he wagered his head with Sindri's brother Brokkr that the two brothers could not forge anything finer. Brokkr accepted. They returned to their forge.

Sindri instructed Brokkr to work the bellows without stopping, no matter what happened, or the work in the fire would be ruined. Loki transformed into a fly. When Sindri placed a pig's skin in the forge, the fly stung Brokkr's hand. He kept pumping. Out came Gullinbursti, a golden boar for Freyr. When Sindri placed gold in the forge, the fly stung Brokkr's neck. He kept pumping. Out came Draupnir, Odin's self-multiplying ring.

For the third and final piece, Sindri placed iron in the forge. Loki stung Brokkr on the eyelid so hard that blood ran into his eye. For one instant, Brokkr paused to wipe it. That instant was enough.

The Short Handle

Sindri drew the hammer from the forge. It could strike with any force, never miss, and always return to the thrower's hand. But its handle was too short. Loki's last sting had done its damage.

The gods judged the treasures and declared the hammer the finest of all, short handle and all. Brokkr had won the wager. He came to claim Loki's head, but the trickster argued that his neck was not part of the bargain. Brokkr settled for sewing Loki's lips shut with a leather thong. The stitches did not hold long.