All Chapters of THE NORTHERN KING'S TRIBUTE : Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

The sky was an iron grey, rain pelting the muddy field as lightning crackled through the dark grey sky, creating more tension between the opposing kingdoms who stood about a hundred feet apart from one another. On one side stood the army of the Eastern kingdom of Thanes, their golden banners which held the kingdom’s crest of a black stallion horse, soaked wet from the drizzling rain. Across the mud-slicked field, the forces of the Northern kingdom of Sulcar stood fiercely, no banner of their kingdom was hung up, only by their ink littered skins will you be able to identify them. A tense silence hung in the air with only the crackling of thunder and lighting filling the air. The twenty thousand soldiers of Thanes sat on their horses, gripping their spears and swords tightly as it rained down on their metal armour. The five hundred Soldiers of Sulcar stood on the muddy field, they were greatly outnumbered but they were un-phased by that revelation. They stood confidently wit

Ilena could feel her heart thundering in her chest in fear of what she had just heard from her father, the king. Loud murmurs filled the banquet hall by the nobles, they were all shocked by this new information that was just said from the king. Sir Glint stands abruptly. “We are to provide a wife for the Northern King as tribute for him to spare our lives!” he announces. Asla panicked, silently happy that daddy had spared her from marrying that Barbaric monster of a king. King Dreg of the Northern kingdom of Sulcar was known to be a fierce and vile king who kills without a second thought. King Egret cleared his throat. “I am to offer up one of my daughters for a wife as a tribute and I will be damned if I offer up my Regal princess of Thanes to that barbarian.” All nobles and officials nodded in understanding, they all drank from their chalice in celebration of peace in their kingdom. Meanwhile, Ilena stood numb with the chalice in her hand. This was a death sentence tha

Dreg stretched out his calloused hand for Ilena to take which she took timidly and was led outside her carriage into the drenching rain. The rest of the Sulcarn men seemed un-phased by the storm pelting down on them as they watch their king use his large body to cover his wife as they rushed into the cabin. Ilena found herself leaning closer to Dreg’s warmer body for warmth as she shook violently from the cold. They follow the elderly lady to their room and thank her. “My lady, we can prepare steaming water for your bath if you'd like?” the elderly woman suggests. A smile stretched on her lips but she looked up to Dreg to know if it was okay for her to agree, he furrowed his brows but nodded. Ilena smiled at the woman. “Yes please...T-thank you.” The old lady smiled. “This way my lady.” She showed her a wash room where there was a single bucket of steaming water and a thin white sleep wear placed for her. “Miss, this sleepwear....” Ilena was confused to why she would g

The night ended quickly, Dreg guided Ilena back to their home which wasn’t a castle but a beautiful large Manor surrounded by a thick forest. The moonlight illuminated the Manor as they made their way into the beautiful building. Torches lit up the earie stairway that led to their room which was more grand than she had imagined. “You seem shocked with how grand this room looks.” Dreg comments. Ilena flushed red. “I didn’t expect this....” Dreg chuckled sarcastically and began undressing which caused Ilena to avert her eyes shyly. “The rumours must’ve not done this place justice.” He teased. “No wait-” He shrugged off his vest and royal beads he wore around his neck, wrist and waist. “I know what your people think of me, of the North- this Barbaric King you fear is now your husband and there’s no changing that.” Ilena’s heart thundered in her chest at the thought of being misunderstood by him. She wanted to explain that she held no sense of disgust or repulsion towards