Erika, A Barbarian's Tale

Chapter Three

"Wake up, barbarian."

Erika was suddenly awakened as the water hit her face. She shook the water out of her eyes and then glared at the man with the bucket. "Was that really nesus'sry?"

Although the massive redhead's legs were bound and her arms were chained above her head, the guard still kept his distance. "The charge is assaulting a nobleman."

"Bah, I dinn'a hit nobody."

"The city clerk will decide that," the guard answered. He gave Erika one last condescending glance before turning and leaving the cell.

Erika adjusted, but sleeping with her arms bound above her made her neck and shoulders ache, and the solid stone floor was rough on her butt. She was scuffling her feet and trying to find a comfortable sitting position when the guard returned with someone new.

"Prisoner, this is the Baron's steward and the city clerk, but you will refer to her as Madame Jean'esse," the guard stated flatly.

"You'll be forgivin' me iff'in I don't stand, M'Lady," Erika quipped.

"Mind your tongue, Prisoner!" The guard yelled as he kicked her boot.

Jean'esse was a regal-looking elf, with long flowing robes and an abundance of golden jewelry; including a tiara-like headpiece. "I am not of noble birth, so you shall not use the title My Lady when you speak with me. Do you understand?"

Due to her current circumstances, Erika decided to forgo her usual sarcastic response. "Aye."

The elf stepped closer, and the limited light in the city dungeon revealed long dark hair, medium skin tone, and what appeared to be permanently arched judgmental eyebrows. "You are accused of assaulting one of the city's noblemen."

""It wasn'n 'me fault" Erika protested. "He was druunk, an' he fell on 'me table! I jes pushed him off a might."

The stern looking elven woman's naturally arched brow raised even higher. "According to the city's independent cleric, his back and belly had substantial bruising, along with several broken ribs."

"He fell on 'me table an' I pushed 'em off! What was I s'posed 'ta do?"

The clerk's demeanor never changed. "After the barkeep informed the city guard what had transpired, I'm told that it took six fully grown human males to restrain you."

"I may have been a might druunk," Erika admitted with an annoyed undertone.

The stern cleric regarded the chained barbarian for several moments before finally turning to the human guard beside her. "Leave us."

"Yes, Madame Jean'esse," the guard replied. He glared at the chained Erika, and then turned on his heel and left.

Jean'esse turned back to the prisoner. "You told the captain of the guard that you were known as Erika the Crimson?"

She blew upwards in a vain attempt at removing the wet bangs from her face. "Aye."

"The same Erika that reportedly took on three men in a fist-fight while protecting an injured man in Roakaan last moon?"

"T'was three on one, and the poor lad coul'nna fight with a busted wing!"

"One of those men was Baron Donough's cousin."