"Why would I?" Baruk made a face and took another gulp before he turned to Darryl, "Didn't you say the healer gave birth to three kids at once because of this wild gin? Also I remember previously you told me your family had problems siring children and yet you managed to plant many seeds on your wife,"

Since Xhemin was pregnant when she left, they all expected her to give birth in the mainland and it was Chieftain who brought the news about what happened to the children. Upon hearing it, Baruk Tam knew the wild gin had something to do with the many children the healer gave birth to.

​​

"Imagine what relief and happiness will it bring to our village if my Maru will give birth to many children at once," The newly Baruk added. "It would be considered as a biggest gift from heaven,"

Indeed, Baruk Tam was the only one in Somer village who had the blood of Baruk since he had no more biological family to speak of. He thought then that if Maru will give birth to many at once, then the Somer people will find security and hope knowing that their village does not depend anymore on one person which was him as in case of his sudden demise, many will take his place.

"We still don't know yet if it will work on you," Darryl pointed out. "Its effect might differ in each person,"

"But still I know it's very effective," The Baruk had full confidence in it and poured himself another glass ready to have another round of drink "Remember the previous Chieftain? He was already so old when the first Chieftain died but because of this gin, he was able to sire many children in short span of time,"

"Just take it slowly, you don't want to end up sleeping through your wedding night," Darryl replied, tapping off the Baruk's shoulder. Seeing that the Baruk had drank almost half of the bottle already, Chieftain Enoch grabbed it away from him.

"Don't be greedy. Give me some and brother dee," The Chieftain then poured himself and Darryl another cup.

"You don't have wives mind you," Baruk Tam grabbed the bottle again and poured his glass another round. "This wild gin is useless in you both,"

The three brothers then continued their drinking session—drinking, singing and teasing and only when they had finished the whole bottle did somebody knock on the door to fetch Baruk Tam.

"Baruk Tam, the Highest Lady is ready," Someone called from the outside. Immediately Darryl and Enoch looked at him and both gave him a naughty wink.

With full confidence and renewed vigor, the Baruk went out of the room excitedly. Gone was the trace of anxiousness in his face and the once shaking legs he had was gone.

***

Darryl had drank too much that night and even though he was used to alcohol, his head was then turning unusually, so he opted to stay in Baruk Tam's household and went to the chambers he used to sleep in when he was still staying there.

The moment his room flew, he made full strides and let himself fall down the bed and in just a moment, he snored. The room was dark and so nobody noticed that at the corner of one room, a woman wearing a silky robe was standing. When she heard her prey's little snores, she smiled.

It was Princess Lana and she knew pretty well that Darryl would immediately be falling asleep after the drinking session he had with Baruk Tam and Chieftain Enoch. Earlier, while he was serving them the liquor the Chieftain asked her to bring, she put a sleeping tablet in the hero's drink. She had hidden the tablet in her sleeves and when she poured out some gin to the hero, she was able to successfully put it in split seconds without anyone noticing.

Princess Lana then went to the bed and sat beside the sleeping man. The room was dark and so she could not see his handsome visage and besides, he slept in his stomach and so his face was facing down the bed.

She didn't really want to do this, after all she was the Highest Princess of this land and men should be the one chasing her. However, the hero of Somer Isles was different. Ever since he came, he wasn't intimidated by her position and he was so handsome as what the songs and poems about him have told. Also, with the visions Illa Durray uttered, it gave her full confidence that it was her right to become Darryl's concubine and so she should do everything to make it happen.

She knew then that Darryl was fast asleep and that even though he was drunk, nothing sexual could happen that night. So she planned to just undress him and herself so when the morning comes, the hero will believe his drunk self had defiled her. In that way, he will be forced to take her in his household and fulfill the vision.

They said that although the hero has deep devotion to his first wife, he was still a responsible man. So deep within her, she knew that he would take responsibility for her in the belief that he had taken her purity.

"Hero, you are mine," Princess Lana smiled viciously. "The vision of Illa Durray must happen and that next spring, I will give birth to your child. I'll make sure that happens and that child will ease all your doubts and hesitations of taking me. I might even end up being the wife, instead of just a concubine. Afterall, I heard the healer and you are about to get divorce,"

With that, Princess Lana took off her silk robe that there was nothing left but her untouched body. She already asked her handmaidens to prepare her for tonight because who knows what really happened, instead of planning to just sleep beside him, he might wake up and be allured with her. Afterall, she was the most beautiful woman at the Manggan Archipelago right then.