to mar it; it was because Thor, deep in his cups, had rashly boasted to Loki of the impregnability of the defenses of Sif's quarters.<br /> Thus, when Balder was troubled by nightmares and Odin foresaw that Balder's death was fated to be soon and Freya obtained the promise of all things in the Nine Worlds not to harm him, Loki found the challenge irresistable. He would stand and watch the gods reassuring themselves of Balder's invulnerability by attacking him with every manner of weapon, and ponder the problem.<br /> "Surely," he thought," Freya could not have gained the promise of EVERY substance. There are too many, and most of them are blatantly harmless. The trick, then, is to find some way to hurt him with something apparentlyit occurred to him that as fearful as the gods were for Balder's safety, they might respond badly to seeing him blooded; indeed, they might do violence upon the one who had bloodied him, especially if that one were Loki. Most of the gods had reason to be short-tempered with Loki, for he had played almost all of them for fools at one time or another, and gods even more than men have little tolerance for that.<br /> Then he spotted blind Hod.<br /> He doubled up in silent laughter. As usual, Hod was taking no part in the game. Loki sauntered up to him and poked him in the ribs.<br /> "That can only be Loki," said Hod.<br /> "None other," replied Loki.<br /> "Well?" said Hod.<br