I think it would be impossible to Linoge to take a child with him if the people don't agree. He needs (as in other pacts with the evil beings) that the community give the child "voluntarily". He can't have the child if the will of the people is against him. Then he threaten to all of them with the death by drowning. In other words, if he can domain the will of the community to send them all to death. Why he can't domain the will of the people to give him the child and can make them go to the sea?

In religions, esoteric ones, the will of the person it the most important aspect, it can be seen in rituals in general, shamanics, taoists and so on.