Eight years after her father was felled by a trio of orcs, five years after rescuing a young man who would present her with her first kiss, and two years after surviving a battle with an orc chieftain, Erika the Crimson walked proudly and confidently wherever she went. Bandits, orcs, bears, and even a giant were no match for the freckled barbarian and her battered claymore.
She entered a small village on the main road that stretched across Talbetha and watched in amusement as several children played with wooden swords and make-believe armor. As she passed by, the children stood in awe of her sword and stature.
"Are 'ya here for the bounty miss?" One boy asked.
"No, no bounty t'day," Erika smiled.
"So, you're not here for the bounty on the dragon? Because you look like you could kill a dragon all by yourself!" Another yelled.
Erika stopped and smiled. "Dragen? Whot's this 'bout a dragen?"
The children pointed to a decree that was nailed to a nearby post, and the smiling redhead decided to see what all of the fuss was about. Still unable to read, she eyed the parchment for several moments before turning to a young man who was unloading barrels off of a nearby cart.
-fin-
YOU ARE READING
Erika, A Barbarian's Tale
FantasyBefore the betrayal, before the dragon, before the fabled Eight, there was Erika, a barbarian princess from the highland village of Alkanat. Caught between the son that her father wanted and the woman that she was destined to become, young Erika Ku...
