Pact at the Iron Gate

Description

Two figures reach through an ornate iron gate and join hands beneath a crescent moon. A skull medallion hangs behind the gesture, while snarling canine heads and roses gather on one side and a skull, candles, chalice, coins, and short blade wait on the other. The barrier makes the agreement more powerful, not less. The figures cannot fully approach each other, yet they have found one point of contact. The surrounding objects suggest loyalty, payment, danger, and ceremony without revealing the terms. The viewer arrives after negotiation has ended, at the exact instant a promise becomes binding.