Bound

Tiella and Balar exchanged a glance at her words. After a moment, Balar spoke,

"You may be right, but the debt must still be paid." He clutched the amulet that hung around his neck. "I will give him his three lives and then I will tear his bloody heart out myself if it can be done. If you wish to hunt him down yourself I wish you every success."

"Tell her about the amulet." Tiella urged and Balar growled for her to be silent.

"Tell me what?" Luna asked.

Balar glared at Tiella for a moment and she gave a nod. Slowly Balar drew out the amulet he wore beneath his tunic, it glistened in the morning light.

"It is a device of the elven people, from before the breaking." Tiella explained, "It binds my life force to his." She drew a similar amulet our from her own tunic. "It allows us to live a full life together."

"This is your bargain with the beast?" Luna asked.

"It is." Tiella admitted.

"and he can take it away in a heartbeat until the debt is paid." Balar growled.

"You fear death so much?" Luna said.

"Not my own." Balar replied, "Our souls are bound, if I die she..." he could not bring himself to say it.

"We are bound and at his mercy." Tiella said.