A Most Unserious Dragon

By Annie Reed

Mordived doesn't want to be a very serious dragon like his father, or even simply a serious dragon like his older brother. Rather than slay knights and eat virgins, Mordived wants to make people laugh.

Of course, such career aspirations are highly frowned upon in the world of dragons, so Mordived sets out on his own to prove that dragons don't have to be fierce to coexist with men.

Or do they?

Includes the BONUS story "A Most Romantic Dragon."

"The appearance of a new Annie Reed story is a treat. Try one and you'll be hooked." -- Dave Hendrickson, author of CRACKING THE ICE, forthcoming from WestSide Press

"A friend recommended the works of Annie Reed. I was not disappointed. In fact, if her other shorts are as good as this one, I plan to read many more." -- Carol Davis Luce, author of NIGHT GAME (reviewing Annie Reed's short story CHANGELING)

Author Annie Reed is a prolific, award-winning writer whose stories have been published in numerous science fiction and fantasy anthologies, as well as in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. Annie can be found on the web at www.annie-reed.com.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thunder Valley Press
• Release date: Aug 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465967039

Annie Reed

Award-winning author and editor Kristine Kathryn Rusch calls Annie Reed “one of the best writers I’ve come across in years.”Annie’s won recognition for her stellar writing across multiple genres. Her story “The Color of Guilt” originally published in Fiction River: Hidden in Crime, was selected as one of The Best Crime and Mystery Stories 2016. Her story “One Sun, No Waiting” was one of the first science fiction stories honored with a literary fellowship award by the Nevada Arts Foundation, and her novel PRETTY LITTLE HORSES was among the finalists in the Best First Private Eye Novel sponsored by St. Martin’s Press and the Private Eye Writers of America.A frequent contributor to the Fiction River anthologies and Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Annie’s recent work includes the superhero origin novel FASTER, the near-future science fiction short novel IN DREAMS, and UNBROKEN FAMILIAR, a gritty urban fantasy mystery short novel. Annie’s also one of the founding members of the innovative Uncollected Anthology, a quarterly series of themed urban fantasy stories written by some of the best writers working today.Annie’s mystery novels include the Abby Maxon private investigator novels PRETTY LITTLE HORSES and PAPER BULLETS, the Jill Jordan mystery A DEATH IN CUMBERLAND, and the suspense novel SHADOW LIFE, written under the name Kris Sparks, as well as numerous other projects she can’t wait to get to. For more information about Annie, including news about upcoming bundles and publications, go to www.annie-reed.com.

Book preview

A Most Unserious Dragon

Annie Reed

with complete bonus story

A Most Romantic Dragon

A Most Unserious Dragon

Copyright © 2011 Annie Reed

A Most Romantic Dragon

Copyright © 2012 Annie Reed

Published by Thunder Valley Press at Smashwords

Cover and layout Copyright © 2011 Thunder Valley Press

Cover art Copyright 10-19-10 © julien Tromeur

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This story is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

A Most Unserious Dragon

A Most Romantic Dragon (Bonus Story)

Copyright Information

About the Author

A Most Unserious Dragon

Dragons, or so Mordived's father told him often and most sternly, were very serious creatures.

Our birthright is to rule the land, Mordived's father said, his chest puffed out proudly and little wisps of steam escaping his nostrils. Ruling is serious business. Men believe they rule the kingdoms, but true power belongs to the dragons. Slaying knights is our duty, and eating virgins our reward for such serious business.

But I don't want to slay knights and eat virgins, Mordived said.

Even eating cattle gave Mordived indigestion. He could only imagine what eating an entire virgin would do to his digestive system. As for knights, all that shiny silver armor gave him headaches.

Mordived's father stomped his foot so hard that the ground trembled and the walls of their cave shook. Little rocks and frightened bats tumbled from the ceiling, the bats fluttering back deeper into the cave and the rocks pelting Mordived and his father on their wings. His father didn't seem to notice.

Undaunted, Mordived said, I want to be a comedian. Not a fighter. Nor an eater of virgins. Mordived would much rather make the virgins laugh.

Mordived's father reared back his head, drew in a great breath, and let loose with a stream of fire that toasted what few tree roots dared to grow through the ceiling of their cave.

Enough! Mordived's father roared when the fire burned itself out. No son of mine will ever be anything but a serious dragon!

Mordived slunk away, not wanting to be mistaken for a tree root.

His older brother was a most serious dragon. Gilgamule had