章 615: Dragon Lady

The next day everyone was convened in the War Room, in-front of them sat Saskia who was now dressed in a comfortable dress that suited her better than the armour she always wore.

She shuffled uncomfortably under everyone's appraising gaze, though she couldn't help but be baffled by some of the people and creatures here... There was a large, kingly goat man with some sort of humanoid fish bodyguard, a woman with a spider lower-body that seemed to never stop burning, a few Masked people that gave off an odd energy as well as Iorveth sitting in the corner, giving her a small nod of acknowledgment... All of this combined with the Witchers seeming nonchalance about being in the presence of people that literally called themselves "Monsters", is causes her to go a little barmy.

Geralt stands and introduces Saskia to everyone, noting their positions, race, and relation to the city. Afterwards gesturing to her to continue.

Saskia coughs into her hand, "I-I am Saskia, though most of you will know me as the Virgin of Aedirn..."

Vesemir nods, "I heard whispers of you, and rumours of the fate you suffered at the hands of the sorceress."

Saskia "Fortunately, I escaped. The one binding me going missing not soon after." she says with a sigh, though what her forlorn expression meant was another mystery entirely.

Quelaag "Let's dispense with the niceties and ask why she was here with another dragon that tried to destroy our city." she says bluntly.

Asgore nods, "The safety of our people comes first, I believe this is the most important avenue to pursue."

Saskia's brows furrow, "Do you truly not know why Schall, the Gold Dragon would be here?"

Reima shakes his head, "Err... No? Should we?" he asks sheepishly.

Saskia rubs her face, "Your actions of stealing magic from the dragon were not unnoticed, especially with you stealing even more yesterday."

...

Reima "The bonfire's?" he asks.

Saskia "If that's what you call the magical siphons that are draining magic from other areas, then yes. I was forced to accompany Schall as he attempted to find those responsible."

Reima "Well, he's dead now... So what's the issue?" he says sarcastically.

Saskia glowers at him, "The issue? The issue is that, now that this place resembles a beacon to every magical being on the continent, you'll have more than just one dragon to deal with. Armies of Monsters, cabals, and cults of mages, families of dragons. If you truly value your peoples safety then you will destroy those siphons."

Her words cause most to think about it, however, one hard-headed individual is absolutely against it.

Reima "I refuse, if they want to fight us then let them come." he says, deciding that the magical already belonged to him.

...

Asgore "Are you sure that is wise? It sounds like our city will never be completely safe if we choose this route."

Solaire "Don't fear my horned friend, we'll fight those fiends off with an almighty fury!" he says with a thumbs up, causing a few in the room to sigh.

Vesemir "First the Wild Hunt, now Kaedwen and Redania... Now the rest of the world... We're not making any friends Reima." he mutters.

Reima chuckles, "Don't forget Nilfgaard, they probably won't forgive us for destroying their fleet."

...

Saskia interjects, "My apologies, but, I'd like to know what this place actually is... By the sounds of it you've already come into conflict with the north and the south..." she asks, unsure of how they'd need been sieged into oblivion yet.

Reima shrugs, "This is the city of Ichor, just a gathering of people who wish to be left alone and to do whatever they want." he says, drawing chuckles from a few people.

Iorveth, "Saskia, Think of it like everything we wanted Vergen to be." he says, causing her eyes to slowly widen.

Geralt "On the subject, is there any news of Vergen? Most seem to think it's been taken over by Nilfgaard, especially since Stannis and Henselt are dead."

Saskia shrugs, "I've been living amongst the dragons since escaping, most kingdoms attempting to capture me for their own ends."

Quelaag "Do you intend to return and bring back another group of Dragons for revenge?" she asks.

Saskia shakes her head, "I cannot return... My scales are marked by the claws of Schall, if I come back without him they will assume I killed him. Something completely forbidden, especially when Gold Ones are a rarity, even amount our kin."

Iorveth "Then, there is a simple solution to all of our problems... You will stay here to make reparations for your friend's attack, and you will receive our protection from your own kind." he says while leaning back with his arms crossed.

Reima shrugs, "You tried to stop him, you're good in my books. Though, I hope you don't mind if we skin him and make clothes out of his scales." he says, causing a few to grimace.

Saskia ignores his comment about skinning Schall and airs her troubles, "I-I'm unsure if I want to participate in something like this again... Only tragedy has ever come from it." she mutters.

Iorveth "It will work this time Saskia, we have allies, we have power... Most of all, we have the WILL to see it done."

Geralt "No one is forcing you to do anything Saskia, you could just live your days as a citizen here, never involving yourself in combat or politics. You don't have much of a choice other than to leave and likely be killed." he says with crossed arms.

Saskia nods, "I would like to know one thing though... What was that creature that killed Schall?" she asks, fear audible in her voice.

Reima grins, "The old man? Just a sleepy dragon who never moves from the mountain top... Aside from yesterday obviously. You can go speak with him if you want."

Saskia quickly shakes her head, "N-no... I don't think that would be a wise idea... I, I will stay in the city until I decide what role I wish to have within it. Is that fine with you?"

Everyone nods, seeing no negatives to having this well-known advocate for equality in their midst, having already made enemies out of the entire world. What was a few more to the list?