Chapter 14: Ordered To Conceive
Since Sam now had Koga as a mentor, Calista went to the local clinic to apprentice under experienced healers. From then on, they began a daily routine - they’d spend each night in their room at the Honeydew Inn, and then each morning Sam and Calista would go train, while Lazula would go back to her crew’s headquarters to await anyone’s return. This continued for several weeks, until finally Grimrar and a few of his pirates made it back to Ravager’s Roost.
Lazula brought Sam to meet her captain, and Calista came along as well. The crew’s headquarters was a spacious walled estate with a large castle, nestled among the higher-end homes near the wall to the jungle.
"Why didn’t we just stay here?" Sam asked as they walked through the large gate at the front of the estate.
"Only Grimrar’s inner circle have rooms here," Lazula explained. "The rest of us go somewhere else at night to sleep, usually the inns or the brothels."
"Ah, okay," he replied.
Past the front gate was a gorgeous courtyard with a colorful garden. The castle had a tropical villa feel to it, made with yellow-painted stones and a brownish-red terracotta roof. They passed through the front doors of the castle into an enormous atrium. Potted plants, crystal lamps, and ornate tapestries were everywhere. Winding staircases led up to higher floors.
Across the atrium, another set of double doors opened to a private tavern with a huge, throne-like chair sitting on an elevated platform, looking over the rest of the room. The chair had luxurious furs and animal skins draped over the back of it, and sitting in the seat was a massive devil who must have been at least eight feet tall. His ripped, bare, hairy chest was showing from under an open black pirate coat with the sleeves torn off. He had gold armor pieces on his shoulders and forearms, and a crimson cape on his back.
He had green skin, pointed ears, yellow eyes, and two short dark gray horns curving up from his forehead. His orange hair was long and wavy, and his matching beard was thick but neatly trimmed. A black pirate hat sat atop a red bandana on his head and a bottle of rum was held firmly in his grasp. He was lounging in his throne with one leg up over the armrest, while his green devil tail swayed back and forth in the air.
"Ah! Lazula!" he said as he spotted them approaching. There were about a dozen other crewmembers in the room, drinking rum as well. He waved the three of them closer. "Come! Come!"
"Here he is, Cap’n!" Lazula said as she gestured to Sam. "Been here about a month now."
"Aye, sorry to keep you lot waiting," Grimrar said with a little bow of his head. "Had a bit of trouble back at Shannarport. My First Mate Jimmy thought he could get away with robbing the city’s vault. Fucker got us all in trouble. Took us ages to shake the naval pursuit. Still got some of my men behind bars there. Damn rotten shame."
Grimrar then looked directly at Sam. "Queen Maeve tells me she didn’t feel like waiting for me to return, and so she reached out to you herself. And I also understand you are now training under Koga Miyazoko?"
Sam nodded. "That’s right. Do you know him?"
"Aye," the devil replied. "He used to be part of my crew. He’s still a pirate, but usually works alone now. Solo mission type stuff."
"Did Maeve tell you anything more about her plans for me beyond training?" Sam asked.
"Aye, she did," he confirmed with a nod. "Breeding Week starts in about three months. She wants you to knock up one of the Druids!"
"WHAT?!" Sam, Calista, and Lazula all cried out in unison. Grimrar threw his head back and laughed heartily at their response.
"It’ll be fun!" the devil insisted. "Breeding Week begins with the Commencement Ball at the Mayor’s Grand Palace. And here’s your invitation!"
Grimrar reached into a bag next to his throne and pulled out a rolled up scroll, handing it to Sam. The teen unrolled it and began reading it.
~~~~~
Dear Prince Samreon Qhousalar,
You are hereby invited to partake in the festivities of the Breeding Week Commencement Ball at my Grand Palace. Please come dressed in your best formal wear. Dinner and drinks will be provided, in addition to a room to spend the night with your chosen Druid female.
I look forward to meeting you!
Signed,
Mayor Bartholomew Q. Horxenhall
~~~~~
"How does he know my name?" Sam asked. "Is he affiliated with Maeve too?"
Grimrar nodded. "Aye. He has been instructed to help make sure you get a Druid pregnant."
"Is this whole damn city under Maeve’s control or something?" Calista asked in an annoyed tone, crossing her arms.
"No, it’s under our control," the devil clarified. "The pirate captains who own land here. We are the Gold Legion. We elect the Mayor, and he answers to us. Horxenhall is following Maeve’s orders because we told him to."
"So then you’re under Maeve’s control, then," Calista shot back.
Grimrar snarled. "Watch it, girl. You may be part of Samreon’s harem, but my patience only extends so far."
She blushed and looked away. "We... We’re not a harem..."
"Actually, we kinda are," Lazula said with a smirk. "And maybe we’ll get to have a new temporary member if Sam brings a Druid girl to play with us after that first night at the Palace."
Sam looked at Grimrar. "What’s in it for you? Why are you aligning yourself with Maeve?"
"My secrets are my own, for now," he replied, grinning. "But maybe I’ll tell you someday."
"Fair enough," Sam said. "So three months. I’ll be there."
"Good to hear!" Grimrar said with a bellowing laugh. "Be sure to train hard until then!"
Sam nodded, and then they left the castle. As they were walking back through the city, Calista looked at Sam.
"Are you... Are you really gonna try and get a girl pregnant?" she asked.
"I’ll be at the Ball, but... I don’t think I’m ready to be a father yet," he confessed.
"Oh, you won’t be," Lazula revealed. "The Druids take special potions to make sure all babies they have are girls, and then they keep them in their Secret Garden to become new members of their Circle. If you get one of ’em preggos, you’ll never actually see the child or be responsible for her."
"That... kinda makes me feel even worse about it..." Sam replied slowly.
They all just walked quietly for a while.