"If I didn't treat my friends honorably," Corylus said, "I would soon have no friends."
He put the leather thong over his left index finger and held it out to Coryla.
She looked at the bead; her tongue touched her lips. Very softly she said, "The times are in crisis, cousin. The Spirits of the Earth are rising, against you and all who live on the surface."
"My honor is good!" Corylus said. "I am citizen of Carce!"
The sprite hesitated. The Ancient took the thong from Corylus and settled the amulet between the teeth at the back of his jaw.
The sprite laughed merrily. She stepped forward and kissed Corylus hard, then put her arm around the Ancient; he bit down.
Then Corylus was alone within the enclosure, except for the pinch of powdered glass drifting to the pavement.