The witch's mannerisms turned fidgety and frantic as he realized he had no coin to trade, nor the silver rings, both on the forearms and the fingers, which so many northern traders used as substitutes for legal mints. (Money they [i]wore[/i] was more difficult for pickpockets to steal.) He did, however, have necklaces, mostly [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor]Þórr[/url]'s-hammers, but also runes engraved into rectangles, and the odd crow or eight-legged horse; so many necklaces! Charms and wards were they, and most Nords deigned to wear one or two, as these were not magics wielded actively, but rather, passive ones worn.

Which one would he offer? Hrífa struggled with this thought: would a large copper one be enough? Brass, pewter? Or would the man demand precious silver instead? Nervously Hrífa picked and prodded at his neck, trying to untangle the thongs from which these clattering metals hung. Ah, and what if the man cared what type of charm Hrífa offered him? The witch resolved then to dig out a [url=http://baldurjewelry.com//image/data/Viking,%20Norse%20and%20Celtic/Rune%20Pendants/Rune%20Fehu/Fehu%20Viking%20Jewelry.jpg][i]fehu[/i] rune pendant[/url], meaning "wealth." He struggled for a time, looking more anxious as he continually failed, like the charm would wear away or worse, reverse, as it dangled longer from his scrawny neck. Eventually he drew his knife, a short broken-back seax rusty and grey with use, and just sliced at the leather. Meekly he held the pendant out to the man. "H-here," Hrífa said. He was not visibly sweating, though he looked clammy with how nervous he had become.