3. THE FIGHTERS TOOL UP

Both combatants were issued with a single light sword and a shield. In some cases, a second sword could be looped around the fighter’s wrist on a thong. Religious rites that were designed to prevent evil magic from blunting the fighters’ blades — a sure sign you’re dealing with a berserker — added a certain level of spiritual protection along with the more conventional tools. Some sagas also offer alternative weapons, suggesting that the rules varied.