Whetstone

Then spoke Ægir: ‘I think it is an obscure way to talk to call
poetry by these names, but how did the Æsir get hold of Suttung’s
mead?’

Bragi replied: ‘There is this story about it, that Odin set out
from home and came to where nine slaves were mowing hay. He
asked if they would like him to hone their scythes. They said yes.
Then he took a whetstone from his belt and honed, and they
thought the scythes were cutting very much better and asked if
they could buy the whetstone. The price he set on it was that he
who wished to buy must give what was reasonable for it, and they
all said they wanted to and bade him sell it to them, but he threw
the whetstone up in the air, and when all tried to catch it they dealt
with each other in such a way that they all cut each other’s throats
with the scythes. Odin sought lodging for the night with a giant
called Baugi, Suttung’s brother. Baugi reckoned his economic
affairs were going badly, and said his nine slaves had killed each
other, and declared he did not know where he was going to get
workmen from. Odin told him his name was Bolverk; he offered
to take over the work of nine men for Baugi, and stipulated as his
payment one drink of Suttung’s mead.


- Prose Edda, Skaldskaparmal