Chapter 1 – Claim the bride
Fear blossoming through Gwen’s body, she had never seen such a large and horrific sight in her life. His armour full of dents and holes and dirt. Dried blood marked the metal and his flesh as Koba Craig stalked toward her position. As if just coming fresh off the battlefield, Gwen flinched the second his eyes landed on her. Never seeing such an intense gaze in her life, Gwen steadied herself as her brother’s hand came down on her shoulder keeping her in place. Never either seeing such visibly used and damaged armour, there was so much blood smeared, and yet she could tell at a glance, not a single drop belonged to him as he seamlessly continued forward.
Hearing of Koba’s greatness as a warrior, Gwen almost winced at the memories of her father as he would shout and curse Koba’s surviving of each battle he was commanded to. Koba’s death resulting in his wife inheriting all his wealth, the mines on Koba’s land generated more capital than the rest of the mines in the empire combined. Each and every mine he opened a success, his land was rich in valuable minerals unknown to the previous owners. Rewarded the once obsolete and desolate land with every success he obtained, the king seemed to grant him more and more resources and power to Gwen’s families dismay. Even recently granted the title of Duke himself, it was an honour the king had never given another.
Gwen unsure on how this would or could affect her future, she stood in place as her heart raced in her chest. Soldiers lining the hall, Gwen knew her brother was taking every precaution still slightly stiffening as Koba continued toward their position. A giant sword visibly sitting at Koba’s back, the hilt glinted at Gwen as it protruded out from behind Koba’s shoulders as she found herself stapled to the floor at the sight. Sneaking glances, Gwen kept her gaze predominantly on the floor as each step Koba made to come any closer sent a deafening echo through her ears and the hall. Chewing on her near bleeding lips, Gwen stood obediently knowing this was her duty to her family. That she should have already come to terms with her position long ago, even if she did not know exactly what that was, or entailed.
Trembling beside her elder brother, Genten watched his sister with a sickness growing inside him. The thought of sending Gwen to this man did not sit well with him, and yet he could do nothing to stop it. Genten’s father holding more sway than him in the empire, all this time, two years he kept Gwen in the safety of their hands, but now time was up. Genten was about to lose her. Koba was Gwen’s lawful husband, there was nothing he could do now to stop her being taken, not now.
Koba coming to a stop right before them, Genten’s hand was still latched to Gwen’s shoulder as he squeezed with pressure wanting to draw her backwards. Eventually giving her a light encouragement forward with a slight push, Gwen stumbled at Genten’s action not ready for the propulsion forward. Righting herself and standing upright once more, Gwen pitched her eyes back down to the floor where two very large mud covered boots came into view. “Are you sure I cannot convince you to stay a few days Duke? As you can see, my sister seems to be a little shy. I myself am reluctant to see her leave so suddenly. If you stayed, it would afford you some time to get to know one another in a more familiar environment. Have a bath maybe.” A hint of amusement in Genten’s voice at his last comment, Gwen flinched as her eyes rose from the floor to view her husband still standing before her.
Koba’s eye on his mouse of a wife, it was not the first time he had seen her, but it was the first time she had seen him. Her fear and trembling clear, something irked inside Koba as Genten’s filthy hands had held her shoulder. Genten’s push of her in his direction, Koba forced himself to keep his placement. Not reaching out to steady his petite little wife as she stumbled, Koba was already in fear that even a sudden movement from him would scare her. Ignoring the words of Genten, Koba had even less patience for Gwen’s brother than he had for her late father. Both men a plague on the empire in Koba’s eyes, they bled their subjects dry while lapping up the riches from their lands pouring it into their castles, parties, and dirty back door deals to keep a wider control on the empire. The family had produced no real triumphs in more than three generations, just an ongoing production of tyrants. At least that is what Koba had thought till the day he laid his eyes on Gwen unable to think of anything else since.
Married now for two years already, it was two years by proxy. Agreeing to once again go to war, the king had promised Gwen to him in exchange. Duke Shafer first in state of defiance at the king’s promising of his daughter, Shafer used every string and contact he had to keep Koba away on the battlefield ever since, even when it meant aiding the enemy behind closed doors. The predicted few month battle dragging out for years, Koba lost many men, and many days. Shafer’s sudden passing marking the end of Koba being kept away, he was finally back to claim his land, his wealth, and most importantly, his bride. Gwen Schafer…, Gwen Craig, Duchess Craig.”
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