They sat down at the head of a long table on fur-cushioned wood. The king beckoned and women in colorful robes, with ribbons in their curly hair, brought roasts and bread and filled golden cups with red wine. The aroma of the roast mingled with the cozy smell of the warming fire. After a long time, Oro felt a pleasant sense of security again. During the meal, he took the king's arm:"Son of the tsar, the gods will reward you for your hospitality. I place myself in your hands. But listen, it was not the power of chance that brought me here, but something that should never have happened, something monstrous, something that threatened the future of all mortals and immortals and that you must have sensed. To prevent it from happening again, gods and heroes sent me to you to ask for help from your people."

He explained to the astonished king and the heroes and warriors gathered around the table in harrowing words the cause of the great solar eclipse that had also darkened their land; he told them about the fate of the love-stricken fool of the gods, about the construction of the sun grottote and finally about the advice of the assembled gods and heroes. Everyone in the hall heard him as he recited his ominous mission:"So I was sent out to win over the two bravest, most terrible in battle, best among mortals, as protectors of the sun. You are worshippers of the sun and among you, and only among you, immortals and mortals believe these invincible heroines or heroes to be. So I ask in the name of all life on earth, give the world these two to protect the sun. Highly honored, like the immortals, they are assured eternal glory." After his speech, there was a tense silence. Everyone looked at Arescorpio. But he too remained silent with his head bowed. When he looked up, he looked sadly into the circle and then at the hunter:"You, Oro, know my people, know our laws and the limits of my power. You also know of our unbridled pride and quick-tempered anger. Nevertheless, you ask for the best and bring us discord and destruction. You demand a decision that neither I nor any of us, nor even a majority, can make. Every one of our warriors and heroines believes he or she is the best. I know where your desire leads; I do not know how to avoid disaster. Oh, if you had never come. But you are here and are my father's delight and my guest. Nor did you ask for anything dishonest, but for honorable and glorious things. But it is what it is. So let what Providence has decreed be done."

The king summoned warriors and heroines to a meeting the next day in the wide field outside the city. During the night, he consulted with the elders on how the expected bloody disaster could be prevented. The only thing that seemed to help them was a sacred oath. The army of the Scorpio was gathered together as the dawn heralded the day with rose-colored clouds. The voices of the warriors sounded muffled with the bright clanking of their armor. The king looked sadly at his army from the ledge of the gate. Silence fell as the horns of his crier sounded."Hear, heroes and heroinesof Scorpio!" he called out, and heralds spread his word