Lord Grendel then led the she-Kur some yards through the grass, so that she would know herself so led, helpless, on a male's leash.
He then stopped, and turned about, and regarded that Kur who had lingered, who had not departed with the others.
"Approach,” said Lord Grendel to the Kur, and he advanced, until he stood four or five yards away, in the grass.
"Do you want a female?” he asked him.
"Yes,” he said.
Nondominants, of course, are forbidden females. They are often regarded as the fourth Kur sex, the others being the males, females, and wombs. Yet the matter is ambivalent, for at times, particularly in the absence of dominants, a nondominant becomes not only capable of reproductive activity, but becomes a dominant. This transformation, too, occasionally, though rarely, takes place almost spontaneously. Even we do not fully understand this. The change, perhaps, has less to do with physiology than decision, and will. The matter is obscure, even for us.
"Take this one,” said Lord Grendel, tossing the loose end of the rope leash to the other Kur.
The she-Kur looked at Lord Grendel, wildly, but was helpless.
She strained in her bonds.
"I love another,” said Lord Grendel, to her. Then to the other Kur he said, “She is yours."
The other Kur jerked the female to him, she stumbling. He held her by the leash, closely, and looked down upon her. He was considerably larger than the female, and he seemed now much taller and broader, and more robust, than he had but minutes before. But minutes before he had not been a dominant. But minutes before he had not owned a female.
He kicked her feet out from under her, and she fell to the grass.
"Belly!” said he to her. “Obeisance!"
She went to her belly before him, and squirmed to his feet, which she then began to caress, frightened, with her long, dark, tongue.
He lifted his head and howled with pleasure, and she shuddered. Cabot wondered if he had not waited long for this moment. How long, Cabot wondered, had this Kur sensed the dominant latent within him?
The Kur then placed one large, clawed foot on the back of the bellied she-Kur, pinning her to the grass. Her leash looped up to his hand.
"What cause do you favor?” inquired the Kur of Lord Grendel.
"You see we wear no purple scarves,” said Lord Grendel.
"You wear no scarves at all,” said the Kur.
"Nor do you,” said Lord Grendel.
"I was unable to fight,” said the Kur.
"Now you are able,” said Lord Grendel.
"What cause is yours?” he inquired.
"That of Lord Arcesilaus,” said Lord Grendel.
"Then that, too, is my cause,” said the Kur.
"It is a cause with ill prospects,” said Lord Grendel.
"So much the better,” said the Kur.
"Why is that?” asked Cabot.
"To perish while grievously outnumbered,” said Lord Grendel, “is glorious."
"To succeed while so outnumbered, I trust,” said Cabot, “would be more glorious still."
"Certainly,” said Lord Grendel.
"Sometimes I fear Lord Agamemnon is wisest,” said Cabot.
"He is more practical, surely,” said Lord Grendel.
"Have you seen purple scarves about?” Cabot asked the Kur.
"Is he a pet?” asked the Kur.
"No,” said Lord Grendel.
"No,” said the Kur. “Not here, not today."
"Strange,” said Lord Grendel.
"Not at all,” said the Kur. “The forces of Lord Agamemnon are deployed in defense, for the world is under attack. That is why your small insurrection has not been crushed utterly, long ago."
"I see,” said Lord Grendel.
"It is growing darker,” said Cabot. “Perhaps we had best return to the camp."
Lord Grendel and Cabot then turned about, and the Kur drew on the she-Kur's leash, and pulled her to her feet, where she stood, unsteadily.
Then he put his teeth on her throat, and she whimpered.
"Please do not kill me,” she said. “Please spare me, for I am now only a female, and yours."
He removed his teeth from her throat.
"Please seed me,” she said.
"Have no fear,” he said. “You will be well and frequently seeded."
"I think you will find her an excellent submissive,” said Lord Grendel.
"I trust so, if she would live,” said the Kur.
"I am Grendel,” said Lord Grendel. “This human is Tarl Cabot."
The Kur then gave a name, but Lord Grendel did not accept it, as it was a cognomen fit not for a dominant but a nondominant. So the Kur chose a new name, to fit with his new being. This cannot be rendered into English or Gorean, so we will choose a name, one not unknown on Gor, Statius.
The three males then returned to one of the local, temporary camps of the insurrectionists, one in the ruins of a small, improvised citadel, two walls of which had been shaken and crumbled three days ago by minor power weapons.
The attackers, when swarming through the breached walls, found the citadel, at that time, abandoned.
It was difficult to locate the insurrectionists who, in their small, scattered groups, moved frequently.
Humans provided much intelligence to the insurrectionists, and even major power weapons are ineffectual in the absence of targets.
Several humans, too, particularly of the forest humans, were now becoming adept with the bow.
The three males were followed by Statius’ bound female, on her leash. She would not be the only submissive with the insurrectionists as the Kur males were uniformly dominants, and such enjoy possessing females. These submissives did much of the labor about, and around, the camp. They were the sort of Kur female who were despised by the Kur females who knew only nondominants, but then the latter sort of females, those who knew only nondominants, are perhaps to be forgiven for their views, as they lacked certain experiences.
Chapter, the Forty-Fifth:
THE LADY BINA DESIRES TO MAKE HERSELF USEFUL
"How long must I wear this bell?” asked the Lady Bina.
"You are not trusted,” said Cabot. “It has been decided in the camp that you will be belled. It helps to keep track of you."
"When we are outside the camp, when we march, why are my hands bound behind me?"
"That you may not attempt to silence the bell,” said Cabot. “If you were to flee, its smallest sound would be heard for a hundred yards by Kurii, who could then bring you back for punishment, or execution. Too, should you escape from us, its note could easily be detected by those of the purple scarves, who would, following the edict of Lord Agamemnon, as you are human, kill you on sight."
She made a tiny, angry, fuming noise, and stamped her small, bared foot in the dirt.
This brought forth a note from the bell.
"I myself,” said Cabot, “would put your pretty little ankles in shackles."
"You are a beast,” she said, holding the bell.
"I would take no chances,” said Cabot, “with a traitress."
"I am not a traitress!” she said.
"The tiara is pretty in your hair,” he said.
"They force me to wear it!” she said.
"Surely you know why,” said Cabot. “It is another sign that you are not to be trusted. It is an ensign of your treachery and shame."
She looked away, angrily.
"There are many in the camp,” said Cabot, “who wanted to kill you, and several are still of that view."
She looked at him, suddenly, frightened.
"Be glad,” said Cabot, “that there is only a bell on your neck."
"I am a free woman!” she said.
"Assuredly,” said Cabot. “Unfortunately."
"'Unfortunately'?"
"Yes,” said Cabot. “Women such as you belong in collars."
"Like that ugly, despicable slave slut, to whom you have given the name ‘Lita'?” she said.