The Circle of Reeds hadn't had the time to dress itself in the usual ceremonial skin. The space was filled with women talking to each other in low voices, and a certain tension hung thick in the air.
Maivira, the Stream-Flower, sat on her stool, perfectly still and holy like a carved idol. Saori, at her right side, carries a worried expression, her gaze darting from one person to another in the crowd.
In the center of the circle, Caio Esteves, the Seedbearer. A literal alien in this world of women, he is both the defendant and the one who is expected to save everything. He is practically naked, the loincloth more symbolic than useful.
Fuck. This is bad. One wrong move and they kill me here.
He opens the UI in front of him, looking at the last notifications again.
[RECOMMENDATION: INTERVENTION REQUIRED]
No shit. Tech's off the table, we have nothing but reeds. But the ritual…
He knew exactly which ritual was expected. Literally, sex. But not any sex, pregnancy sex.
***
The first to speak should be Maivira, according to the hierarchy. But she and Saori exchange some glances, and Saori stands up.
The noise in the building dies into a silence.
"River sings wrong today. Food is at risk. But I hear another melody, a new path opens. To receive a man's seed is a risk, a shift might collapse tribe structure."
As I thought… Same notification, different skin. Their 'river song' is my pop-up window. No wonder they talk like this.
"We do not open our bodies lightly. Not even for salvation."
Aruá is right behind and to the left of her House's head, Naira, which makes her easy to spot for Caio, visible between Naira and Saori. And he can see that the accusing words had hurt her.
Saori sits back down and looks at Maivira.
The Stream-Flower rises slowly. Her belly and the stillness of her face make her look like one of those stone-age figurines.
"Some say river welcomes him. But does he? Are we hearing well? We trust a stranger, then food goes wrong."
She moves her head just enough to look straight at Aruá, then sits back again. Aruá doesn't meet her gaze, looking downwards instead. The words were a slap that found its target.
That is true… the river healed me, but the crop failing began when I started to teach writing. But somehow… I feel like her issue is more personal than anything else.
Then the House heads speak, each on their own turn.
Every one of them tells about omens, good and bad. The failing of crops, the color of the sky, the jumping of the fish. But the general tone is 'we could try.'
Until it's the time for Hessa of Stone-Underwater, the lowest of the Houses. Her House is dedicated to trade and diplomacy, or, in other words, 'everything that deals with outsiders.'
"Soon other tribes know of Caio. We refuse him, other tribe takes him. We misuse him, river rebels. We do nothing, hunger kill us. I say we use him. Let his seed bring fertility to Yarikari."
Her words are sharp and slow, landing like heavy stones on the Circle.
Everyone falls silent. Even Maivira can't dismiss her words.
After some moments, Caio finally stands up. He speaks slowly, taking care to not mess with the pronunciations or misplace the words.
"I am willing to help. I know a Seeding ritual. I won't hide from it, but I refuse to touch anyone who doesn't truly want me."
The women react in shock and confusion. The concept of a man demanding consent is not present in their stories, but it is not unwelcome.
Caio avoids looking straight at Aruá as he speaks, for he doesn't want to impose. He fixates his gaze on the space right in front of Maivira, the highest-ranked woman in the Circle.
He notices Maivira's knuckles getting white because of her clenching her fists.
Someone in the outer ring stands up to speak, and Caio looks in that direction.
It's Aruá.
"I can hear the river more clearly than any of you. Caio is a new chord, yes, but not one in disharmony. I trust him. As a healer, I can check risk."
In the beginning, her voice is cracking and insecure, but it becomes steadier as she keeps speaking. But the last line is softer, almost whispered.
"And I… do not wish to turn away. I want to be the first to carry his seed."
The Circle bursts with women speaking, shouting, standing, weeping. Outside, a child begins to cry. The ten women on the stools restrain themselves, not joining the chaos that ensued.
Caio couldn't see anything else, just Aruá. He didn't notice Maivira breathing fire, nor did he notice Saori cursing, totally out of character. Jara's wicked grin and Naira's horrorized stares also pass through his head.
At that moment, only Aruá matters.
***
After the shock has passed, the Circle sends the two of them outside to speak privately. It's a tradition of the tribe when heated discussions and decision-making happens, meant so the involved parties can 'clarify intent.'
They walk along a thin bridge to the next platform, the coolness of the night mitigating the heat of the day.
Am I really doing this? Is this really happening? A woman proposing to me, like that? And 'first'?
Doubts flash through his mind as he tries to collect his thoughts and process what is happening, the wobbles of the platform answering his internal hesitation. But Aruá's voice cuts through them, anchoring him.
"I am afraid, but… But I want to do this. I want to be with you."
He finally turns to look at her when they arrive at the next platform in safety.
"I'm afraid as well. I don't want to hurt you or the tribe. And also… I'm not an object to be used. I don't want to be seen just as my seed, but as a person."
Aruá's gentle hand reaches to his, intertwining her fingers on his.
They stay like that for a moment, in silence. Neither moving closer nor stepping away. Just their gazes locked, their breathing uneven.
Caio is the one who breaks the moment.
"If we both want it, then we walk this path. Together."
Aruá finally smiles, for the first time since the Circle of Reeds began.
"Yes."
***
When they return to the Circle, they are both placed in the center.
The leaders have been waiting for them, and the voting begins.
He'd already pieced together how their votes worked: the lowest stool spoke first, the highest last. The closer to the river's center you sat, the later your word came.
They go, House by House, voice by voice. Six 'yes,' one abstention among the House heads.
Then Rana votes 'yes.'
Saori votes 'yes.'
Maivira's eyes are storming, but she votes 'yes' as well, a faint crack in her voice betraying her anger.
[RITUAL PROTOCOL: HEARTH-SEEDING]
Cost: VE 10
Warning: Emotional Axis Shift Likely
Note: "Desire" and "Willingness" are required conditions.
A notification pop-up appears in front of Caio, telling him that the ritual has been selected and is ready to be done.
He stared at the glowing lights until they blurred, his heart beating even stronger and faster.
***
Aruá leaves first, walking slowly to her house to make her preparations. Caio follows her with his eyes, then also leaves the Circle.
He goes to a bathing spot behind his house. He had been carrying planks of wood and dealing with coal the whole day and hadn't had the time to bathe yet. He takes off his loincloth and enters the river, washing himself with the 'soap' the Yarikari make out of ashes and grease.
He feels a gaze watching him. It's not hostile, but he knows that it isn't Aruá either, because it isn't gentle.
He tried to pretend he didn't notice, but he took a quick peek to see who was watching.
Maivira was standing in the shadows between two pillars, watching him with an enraptured gaze. When she noticed him staring at her, she looked away like yanked out of a dream she didn't want to admit having.