Four-Hands and the Law of Three Debts

Euphie—Elf, wanderer, casual drinker—writes of her fateful meeting with Kieran ‘Four-Hands’ Sheaford—thief, philanderer, adequate poet—and of the ancient Elven philosophy which binds the two unlikely companions. When Kieran rescues Euphie from a wild pack of dire wolves, she swears to return the favour in kind and accompanies the mercenary with the intent of protecting his life as he has protected hers. However, two great anxieties weigh on her. The first: Three debts are eternal. For an Elf, a debt is a very serious thing that must be repaid, especially if it is a matter of one’s life. If an Elf’s life is saved thrice, there can be no reparation but a lifelong allegiance to the selfless saviour, who must surely be worthy of reverence. If Euphie does not repay her debt, she will be forever beholden. The second concern: Kieran is an arrogant, vulgar, Elf-hating reprobate who flies in the face of the teachings of Euphie’s ancestors and serves only his own greedy and lecherous whims.