At this point, we suppose the vi-cat in the vicinity of the princesses, here in the vicinity of the compound of Ingeld on Tenguthaxichai, was, at least initially, more puzzled than aggressive. Surely encountering two soft-skinned young animals of an unusual species, the human, in the forest after a storm was not a frequent occurrence within its experience. It might also be noted that, whereas the vi-cat, if sufficiently hungry, will attack anything, even a torodont, its customary prey is what we might call “the fleet ones,” and not the human. Too, perhaps the vi-cat, if pondering a charge, was somewhat distracted not only by the unusual nature of the possible prey objects but by there being two. Which would it first attack? If it attacked one, it would presumably lose the other. An analogy, though one not all that profitable or convincing, would be the value of schooling amongst certain forms of fish. For example, a single fish may be easily detected, and easily pursued, and often seized, but if it is flickering about in a shimmering swirl of similar fish, it is much more elusive. A similar problem seldom occurs, incidentally, with a land predator, such as the Persian lion, the vi-cat, the Megarian leaper, or the fanged ort. This seems to be for two reasons, first, the difference between land and marine predation, such as differences in size of the prey group, the type of movement involved, and the attack dimension, which, for the land predator is simpler, and more one dimensional; second, differentiation amongst prey animals. Fish in a school seem much the same, but in a herd or flock, some animals are likely to be slower, weaker, older, sicker, more isolated, and such, and, statistically, these will be most at risk. While the vi-cat was possibly puzzling the matter out, it had tended to approach the two princesses in the typical fashion of the vi-cat, low, tail nervously lashing, a quick forward movement, then stillness, then another quick forward movement, and so on, until, of course the charge. It seems clear that it was at least two of these short, quick movements which Alacida had heard.
What decided the princesses to vacate the supposed shelter of the woods, emanating from a source not feet away from them, was an unmistakably menacing sound, a rumble or growl in the darkness. They may not have understood this sound as the growl of a vi-cat, but there was no mistaking that its source was large and dangerous. It is not clear whether or not the vi-cat had given this announcement of its presence intentionally or unintentionally. It might have been a simple inadvertent expression of its curiosity or puzzlement; it may have been deliberate, to wait for a response, in this problematic situation. In any event, the princesses did something very understandable, if, possibly, very foolish, which was to cry out and race, in terror, toward the gate of the palisade.
Whereas the princesses were substantially in the darkness, and would have had great difficulty in seeing the vi-cat, even had they turned about and cared to do so, the vi-cat suffered from no comparable handicap, as it, as many predators, had excellent night vision.
The princesses fled, screaming, toward the palisade gate.
The vi-cat, presumably still puzzled, padded along, behind them, remaining some yards in the rear.
“Let us in! Let us in!” had screamed Viviana, pounding on the stockade gate, outside the compound of Ingeld on Tenguthaxichai.
“Please! Please!” had wept Alacida.
“We are cold!” had cried Viviana.
“Give us clothing!” had cried Alacida.
“We are hungry!” had cried Viviana.
“We fear a beast is about!” had cried Alacida.
“There is a beast about!” cried Viviana. “I am sure of it! We heard it! Let us in! We are cold! We are hungry! We are princesses of the empire! We are unclothed! Mercy! Have mercy!”
“Please!” wept Viviana.
After a time, presumably to investigate the commotion at the gate, a lantern, borne by someone, it could not be clearly seen who, on the catwalk behind the palisade, appeared, several feet above the piteous, desperate princesses.
“Let us in! Please! Please!” called the princesses, looking up toward the light, their faces, and fair forms, illuminated in the light, they standing in the mud below.
The lantern then disappeared.
The princesses turned about to peer into the darkness. But they could see nothing.
“Is it there?” asked Alacida.
“I do not know!” said Viviana, in misery.
Then, again, Viviana pounded on the gate, weeping.
After a time the lantern again appeared, above them, held over the palisade wall.
Alacida turned about, again, looking back, into the darkness, toward the woods, and screamed.
Viviana, turning, too, screamed in fear.
Reflected in the lantern light, like two burning coals, were the eyes of the vi-cat, only yards away, its body low, almost flat on the ground, its powerful legs gathered under it, like springs.
They heard heavy metal keys thrust into massive locks, and turned, and then a jangling of metal and chain, and, a bit later, two wooden bars being slid free of their metal housings, behind the gate.
The gate opened, some two yards or so, but the princesses, to their dismay, could not enter, for the way was blocked by a number of armed men. Of these men, two carried lanterns, and one a torch. There was no mistaking the massive, stern figure of Abrogastes, foremost amongst these fellows, mostly armsmen and retainers. On either side of Abrogastes were his sons, Ingeld and Hrothgar.
“On your bellies!” said Abrogastes.
The terrified princesses then placed themselves prone, naked, in the mud, before Abrogastes.
Doubtless it was the first time they had been bellied before males.
“Which one do you want?” Abrogastes asked Ingeld, who had priority, as a prior son to a subsequent son. The annals are clear that Ingeld was the second son of Abrogastes. The ranking of Hrothgar is less clear. It is usually supposed he was the third or fourth son of Abrogastes. As noted earlier, some of the sons of Abrogastes are known only by brief references, and some by name only. Too, the names of some may not have figured in the imperial records, at all.
“The blond slut,” said Ingeld.
“You,” said Abrogastes, to Viviana, “crawl to him on your belly. Cover his boots with kisses, and then speak as follows. ‘I, Viviana, princess of the empire, despite my unworthiness, beg on my belly to be permitted to be the bride of Ingeld, prince of the Drisriaks.’ You will then kiss again his boots, in further supplication. Following that you are to rise to all fours and, head down, wait to the side. We will tell you then what you are to do.”
Shuddering, Viviana complied.
“Next, you,” said Abrogastes to Alacida.
Alacida then crawled on her belly, through the mud, to the feet of Hrothgar, and pressed her lovely lips to his boots, ministering to them as though she might have been no more than a slave. “I, Alacida,” she said, “princess of the empire, despite my unworthiness, beg on my belly to be permitted to be the bride of Hrothgar, prince of the Drisriaks.” She then, as had her sister, again addressed her lips to his boots. Afterwards, she, too, rose to all fours, and, head down, went to wait beside her sister. They were now similar to two docile, obedient quadrupeds.
Both were concerned, though neither spoke of the matter, at the strange feelings which had been precipitated in their bodies.
They now knew that they were different from what they had been before.
“Away! Away!” cried the retainer with the torch, thrusting it in the direction of the vi-cat, which then snarled, but turned about, and padded back to the woods.
The gate was then closed, and secured.
“Dear Princesses,” said Abrogastes, turning to the positioned princesses, “we shall consider your petition. If we see fit to accept it, you will sit upon jeweled thrones and be the mothers of emperors. If we do not accept it, you will be collared and sold on far mud worlds, never to be heard of again in the empire. Do you understand?”