King Ronan's POV
'To give a child to you, humans. A child to a king.'
Ronan blinked, completely flustered, hearing the echo of her words.
— A child? To… me? As in… me and her. Having a child? — At the unfazed expression from Uilla, Ronan scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. — What would you gain from this? What is the point? And… What does a child have to do with my wife's disease?
— The purposes of the gods are way too big for even us, Ciani, to completely take in. But, we do know that this child will play a role in helping our people in the future. We just don't know how nor when. And, as it is written in our most ancient rules, this kind of decision must always carry a give-and-take. In return for helping us fulfill our gods' will, the child will also save your wife's life and become a weapon to you when he's grown up.
Ronan bent his body, resting his elbows on his knees and his head on his hands. Breathing slowly to try and clear his head to understand the overwhelming wave of information.
— I know it's too much. And I don't expect for you to be able to grasp the whole picture of it and make a decision now. — Uilla got up from her chair. — We have prepared a bedroom for you to stay the night and rest. It will also give you time to recover from the trip here.
— I… my men are out there waiting…
— They're all sleeping. Don't worry. They're safe and sound and will wake up when you return to your ship.
He got up, still quite shaken, and followed her to a hut in the vicinity.
— Here. You can have some rest. — She pointed to the bed. — We will have a celebration later at night in which you'll participate. There's water and fruit on the table. Someone will come to wake you up and help you get ready for it.
— To wake me up? — He shook his head. — I do not think I will be able to get any sleep now.
— Oh, you will. — Said Uilla waving her hand in front of Ronan's face while singing some words, and suddenly the whole world around him melted and he felt the soft touch of the bed under him before falling into unconsciousness.
The sound of water splashing woke him up. Ronan opened his eyes to find two tall, strong men with red eyes, dressed in colorful light clothes, inside of the hut.
— You already awake? — One of them said with a friendly smile. — We brought you water to clean your body. We do not have a tub big enough for you to fit in, since we actually shower instead of bathing, unless it is in the lake. So you can use this bucket.
— There's a set of clean clothes there. — The second one pointed to a chair. — get dressed and meet us at Mother Uilla's house.
And so Ronan did, still quite lost in thoughts about the turn things were taking.
When he was done, wearing a long red tunic, he went to Uilla's place.
— Good. — She said. — Let's go down for the festivities.
They started descending the hill through a quite steady and sturdy wood set of stairs, until they reached the vale, where a big fire was on and music was being played.
— Tonight we are celebrating the gods' help in this step to saving our people.
— This… step?
— Having you here safe and unharmed. — Uilla answered. — And there you have Sabna.
The young woman approached them with careful and polite manners.
— Welcome, Ronan. I'm Sabna. It's… a pleasure to finally get to know the future father of my Godchild.
— Go-Godchild…? Wait… I cannot make this decision alone, my wife-
Sabna laughed, suddenly.
— Yes, we still need your wife to accept it. But do not worry, if you are thinking I'm letting any man touch my body, you could not be more wrong.
— So… how are we supposed to-
— We have our ways. — Uilla intervened. — Now, it's time to celebrate, not talk about any plans. Let's eat, drink and dance. Tomorrow you'll be taking your leave back to the continent.
And like that, Ronan was led to the circle around the people dancing and the fire pit. Food was being served. A variety of fruits and grilled vegetables, bread and a creamy soup.
Ronan ate gladly, realizing that his stomach was growling. He watched the people dancing, amazed by their skills and beauty. He drank with them, almost forgetting that those people were once driven away from the continent by his people, to whose swords they also lost their families.
— You know, we have never heard of a land devil whose beauty could compare to ours. — A woman, maybe 10 years older than him in appearance, approached.
— A… land devil?
— Oh. It's what we call your people. It sounds too aggressive, right? I imagine you feel offended. It is not my intention, but I won't take it back, though.
— No need… — He scoffed. — Suits history.
— Yes, quite right. So, does your people still remember us?
— … Not too much. And not in a friendly way, I am sure.
— The irony… — She gulped from her goblet. — And are you not afraid? Being surrounded by devilish-red-eyed, cursedly-blue-blooded, ten-times-stronger murderer bastards?
— I… I do not fear you. — He lowered his head, staring at the cup in his hand. — Not that I do not think you have reasons and power to kill me right here and now, but I know that you would not have to put up any story to make me believe in you, first. If you wanted me dead, I would not be breathing since many hours ago.
— I see… you're not totally dumb as the other land devils. — She chuckled, smiling and taking a sip of her wine.
— I actually admire you. I have always studied a lot about your people. Well, I am being arrogant and presumptuous, now. — Ronan shook his head, arching an eyebrow. — A lot, meaning, I studied everything written in the books found in the continent. Of course, there must be so much more than they allowed to be recorded and preserved.
— I'm pretty sure of it. But just the fact that you took time studying about us is a good thing, I believe. Why'd you do that?
— I do not know… maybe I just knew, somehow? — He gave her a timid smile. — That one day I would end up actually meeting you.
— It is not impossible…
Like that, the conversation stopped for a time, before Sabna came and stood next to them.
— Mother. — She extended a hand to the woman beside Ronan. — Are you enjoying a conversation with a land devil?
— A particularly peculiar and handsome land devil, yes. — The woman smiled at her. Now they were next to each other, Ronan could see the resemblance. — I think he's fit to be the father of my grandchild.
— God-grandchild, mom. — Sabna warned her mother with a gentle smile. — The child won't belong with us… and you may never see them.
— Well, you're right. But I can still dream about them being the hope for our future.
— Hope for your future… is this what Uilla was talking about? That this child would become a weapon and…
— We don't know what role they'll play for us. We just trust the gods. — Said Sabna's mother. — We know they would not ask for such a peculiar thing without it having to do with our people's interests.
Ronan nodded, taking in those reflections. It must be good having something to believe in more than yourself. All his life, all Ronan could ever trust blindly was his own wits, sword and will.
— It's getting late. — Uilla approached. — You should go get some more rest. Tomorrow you'll be early on your feet. We're gonna visit the temple for a last explanation of the plan, before your departure.
Like that, Ronan bid good night to everyone he was talking to or next to, not bothering to make a big deal of his tucking in, since a lot of people were entertained in dancing, chanting and eating, and headed back to the hut to sleep.