@simplly-lilly booped the dragon for a starter
Sword still firmly clasped in hand after her daily training session had been interrupted by one of the city guards, Saskia rushed across Vergen’s stony streets towards the main gates. Her brow was slick with sweat, and she brushed it off absentmindedly with the sleeve of her beige tunic.
“What is the meaning of this?” she asked once she had reached the place where a significant crowd had gathered. Hearing their queen’s assertive voice, the mass of people parted in two, leaving the Dragonslayer the space to walk in their midst.
Near the city gates stood a single woman, two guards crossing their lances in front of her as to stop her from entering. The first thing Saskia noticed about her was the pair of horns adorning her red-haired head. She immediately understood why they were reluctant to let her in.
“Move aside, and allow our visitor to enter the city,” she ordered shortly, a weariness creeping up in her voice.
The guards stationed by the gates exchange a confused glance and hesitated. “But-- but milady, she’s a monster!” cried a halfling man, and the crowd shifted slightly like ripples on water, some of them offering their murmured agreements. Yet they were quieter now that Saskia had arrived-- and quieter still when she began to speak, addressing all of them.
“She is a person, just like any of you,” the queen said, a harsh frown accentuating the gravity of her voice. “Is this not how you have been treated in human cities before? You, of all people, should know better than to throw around such foul accusations.”
The crowd murmured again, this time agreeing with Saskia instead. The halfing man who had spoken earlier nodded, still obviously displeased with the situation, but complying regardless.
“Now, would you all please go and mind your own business? We have already wasted enough time on this nonsense.”
As the crowd dispersed, and the activity in Vergen resumed to a degree of normalcy. Saskia waited until they were all gone, and then approached the newcomer, extending her hand. “I apologize for their behavior,” she said, offering a tired smile. “Many would see us razed to the ground, thus they have reason to be suspicious of outsiders. Yet the name-calling was entirely unwarranted, so allow me to offer you a proper welcome to Vergen. My name is Saskia and I’m Upper Aedirn’s queen.”
