Hammered

that hardened, seasoned men found terrifying. Some were about men who turned into wolves on the full moon. Others were about degenerate creatures that ate the flesh of the dead and took on the form of the one they last consumed. And some that I had heard, more than once, concerned beings who drank blood and lived for centuries. They had inhuman strength and speed and could tear a berserker apart in seconds without shield or sword. But, more than this, they possessed a cold intelligence. They were the power behind the Romans, the tales said. They were slowly moving north and would eventually come to Viking lands; judging by a few mysterious deaths, a powerful one had supposedly established itself in Prague, the capital of Bohemia. The term today is vampire , but that is a modern word applied in the last few centuries. There were different names used back then: revenant or diable , in French; blutsauger in Germany; in Bohemia we were chodící mrtvola , a walking corpse. Every so often, the legends said, these creatures made others like them, damning men’s souls forever with evil so foul that they could not stand the kiss of sunlight on their skin.
    » Would it not be grand to be immortal? « I said to the men crowded around a wooden table. » Think of what treasure could be hoarded. What influence one could wield. Think of the lands one could visit if only there were time enough to do it. «
    » You would do this if you could? « one of the strangers said. He carried a large hammer instead of a sword, and I remember thinking at the time that it suited him. » If these creatures truly exist, you would sacrifice your humanity? «
    » Well, not now, of course. There is my family to think about. In a younger, more reckless time of life, however, I would leap at the chance. «
    » Truly? You would give up Valhalla, the food and drink of Odin’s table, for what? A sunless, bloodsucking existence on Midgard? «
    » You are leaving out the part where I would be incredibly strong and live for centuries. « My companions thought this rejoinder was particularly witty and laughed. Everything was funny when you had drunk enough mead.
    » Fine. « The stranger spread his hands. » I grant you your own definition. But you would prefer this to the glory and honor of becoming one of the Einherjar? «
    » Again, I cannot say yes now. I have responsibilities to my family and my community. But if I were just starting out again, nothing holding me back, then why not? «
    The stranger sat back in his chair and glared at me. » Why not, indeed? « He looked at his companion, who had lost one of his hands in battle. There was an unspoken query on the first stranger’s face, and the one-handed man answered it with an indifferent shrug.
    One of my friends tried to change the topic to dragons, but the first stranger interrupted him. » Very well, it is decided. You are Leif Helgarson, are you not? «
    I blinked in mild surprise. I could not recall introducing myself or either of my friends introducing me. We had merely begun talking with these strangers in the way veteran warriors will, ready to share laughs but not names unless we planned on seeing them again.
    » Yes. Who are you? «
    » I am Thor, god of thunder. «
    My companions and I thought it was a fine joke and laughed in his face. He did not smile, however, nor did his one-handed companion.
    » You say you would become one of these creatures if you had nothing to hold you back, « he said. » My gift to you is freedom to pursue this dream of yours. You are free of your familial obligations, Leif Helgarson. Now you can follow through on your boast and become a bloodsucking immortal. I dare you. «
    » What are you talking about? « I said.
    One of my friends chimed in. » I want whatever that guy’s drinking. «
    » Your family is dead, « the stranger insisted. » Nothing is holding you back. «
    All laughter ceased. » That is not funny. «
    » I do not jest, « the stranger replied.
    » My family is well. I saw them this morning. «
    » Lightning can strike at any time, and it struck a few moments ago. «
    I wanted to crunch my fist into his face, but if I wished to join the Althing my fighting days were over. I would profit nothing from starting a brawl. So I roughly excused myself instead and left the tavern, a bit unsteady on my feet, and discovered that a storm had rolled in while I’d been drinking. I had some trouble mounting my horse but eventually succeeded. I hurried