King Ronan's POV
— We're here. — Uilla headed to a large cave mouth right below the octopus-shaped stone face.
By the cave's entrance, Sabna and a young man stood, wearing white clothes and carrying a few candles and fruit.
They nodded in acknowledgement of the pair arriving and entered the cave behind Uilla.
It was a large space, kept well clean. In the end of the cave, there was an altar. A big stone carved like a table where the statues of many entities stood and another one, shorter, where they started placing the fruit and candles.
Uilla chanted some words in a foreign language while bowing to the altar, then turned to Ronan.
— Here, put this apple on the feet of the Goddess.
Ronan took the apple she pointed at with both hands and placed it before the female entity statue, bowing in respect.
— Sabna. — Uilla called. The woman picked a pomegranate and placed it at the feet of a male entity statue.
— Now. Ronan. You shall take Sabna with you. — She turned to him. — When you get home, explain everything to your wife.
— I still do not know what I must do.
— After your child is born from Sabna's womb, you must present it to your wife so she can hold it. She must hold the baby every night for at least half an hour. When it turns 28 days, a sample of its blood must be collected, diluted and injected on her. If she has accepted the child, it will cure her.
— And if not?
— Then, it won't. Nothing will happen. But there won't be a second chance for it.
Ronan was still troubled by the idea of laying with and keeping another woman in the castle while his wife was right there.
— Sabna will be coming back after the child can feed from other's hands. And you won't be disloyal to the Queen, if that's what you're worrying about.
Ronan realized that his expression carried a heavy doubt, when she said those words.
— May I ask… how am I supposed to make Sabna bear my child without… being disloyal to my queen?
— Nature has other ways. — Sabna answered. — Let's say… I only need your seed. Not your body. And I'll do the rest.
Ronan frowned, but didn't say a word.
— Well. You know everything you need, right now. You may go. Take this. When you arrive on your land, give it to the men that came here with you so they forget about the Island and the woman you're taking along. A few drops on a cup will do the trick.
She handed him a tiny bottle.
— Thank you… — He bowed.
— I hope everything goes right. — She answered with her typical unfazed look. — Sabna. I will see you in a year and a half. Take care.
— Yes, Ancient Uilla. Thank you.
Back to the ship, he boarded with Sabna and took her to an empty room, where he instructed her about the routine on the ship and warned her to stay tucked as much as possible. The crew didn't ask questions, and soon they were heading back.
Having given the medicine to them when they anchored at Kozhar's port, he went to find his men in the inn and took a carriage back to the palace.
— So. Would you now care to explain to me how this other… child-conception way works? — Ronan asked Sabna during the trip.
She sighed, smiling in acknowledgement of his inner turmoil.
— You must collect your seed in a vial I'll give to you. Then I'll do the rest. I myself will take care of getting your seed into my womb. With the help of a medical tool.
— And does it work? — He asked in disbelief.
— For conception, only, it's basically the same as having intercourse.
— I see… What if you end up not carrying a child?
— We'll have to do it again in a few weeks after the first time, if it doesn't work. But don't worry, it surely will. — Her smile was calm and reassuring.
— Have you ever done it before? I mean… having a child through traditional ways.
— I'm sacred to my people. I shall never let any man touch me. — She answered with a solemn expression. — But carrying a child for a mission bestowed upon me by the gods is an honor I must be proud of.
Ronan nodded in understanding.
— When the child is grown enough to be fed by the nurses, you are gonna go back to your people, right?
— Yes. About this, I must go back alone. I'll be glad, however, if your soldiers could accompany me on the way back to the coast.
— Alone? You mean… The travel from the continent to your island? How can you manage it? It is impossible.
— No, I mean I'll get someone to take me there. Just like you went. But you shall stay here with your family.
— Ah… but even so. It was no easy task to find a crew willing to go with me.
— No easy task for you. — She suppressed her laughter. — I can just convince them with magic.
— Magic? — Ronan's eyes widened. — Your magic can even convince people against their will?
— Don't worry. It can't be used with ulterior motives. They're gonna be safe anyway.
Ronan sighed in relief, still dumbfounded by the fascinating new discoveries he had done.
Almost one month after they got to the continent, they finally made it to the castle. Ronan instructed the servants to take care of Sabna, get her a room and not ask questions, then took a bath and dismissed them so he could talk to the queen.
— My king. — Irna smiled to him from the chair by the window, getting up to greet him.
— My queen. It warms my heart to see you. How is your health? — Ronan got to her faster than she could walk two steps and embraced her with all his longing.
— It is quite the same. Not improving, not worsening.
— I see. I may have found the solution, Irna. — Ronan looked into her eyes. — We must talk about it.
— Alright. — She sat back. — Tell me. What is the cure you have been hoping for?
— First… your dream was accurate. The Ciani people Island actually exists.
He then proceeded to tell her about the trip there, Uilla's words and everything, not hiding from her the fact he needed to have another child.
— So you mean… this child's blood is gonna cure me?
— Yes… I do not know exactly how this will work, but that is our best hope for now.
— I see… — She looked nervous when she spoke.
— Are you… uncomfortable by the fact they are Ciani? Listen, I know we have had beef long ago, but if this is our chance-
— No. It is not that. I… am merely anxious.
— Tell me, my queen. What makes you anxious?
She seemed reluctant to answer.
— I feel… stupid. After all the trouble you went through to get me this cure… I cannot stop feeling jealousy. — She looked up with tears glistening in her eyes.
— Irna… — Ronan sighed, taking her back into his arms. — I know this must be hard for you. It is hard for me to imagine such a thing, as well… but I assure you, I would not lay a hand on a strand of another woman's hair.
— I know this. I am sorry. I just think it will take me a while to get used to the idea.
— I know. She said it will take a few days for the chosen day to conception. It will give us some time. Please, trust me.
— Okay… I do.
— I love you, my queen.
— I love you more, my king.
A few days later, Ronan sat alone on a bed in another room holding a vial Sabna gave to him. After a moment trying to handle his self-embarrassment, he collected the sample and got his clothes back to their place, knocking on the door so Sabna, waiting outside, could retrieve the vial.
— You can head back to your chambers now. — She answered.
Ronan went back, trying to shake the awkwardness while greeting his wife.
— Everything went well? — She asked.
— I only had to… collect it by myself so, there was not much that could go wrong. — He sighed. — Let's just hope it is the only time I have to do this.
She smiled warmly at him, nodding.