More Fables and Fantasies: A 5 Story Collection: Fables and Fantasies, #2

By Dale T. Phillips

In these five tales you'll read serious stories about dragons, swords, castles, people on quests, demons, witches, and also fairy-tale characters acting out in fun. So there's a little something for everyone. These are lands where the people may be like us, but the landscape is of the fantasy realms, and anything can happen. You may change upon this journey, like the characters themselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Genretarium Publishing
• Release date: Feb 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386533634

Dale T. Phillips

A lifelong student of mysteries, Maine, and the martial arts, Dale T. Phillips has combined all of these into the Zack Taylor series. His travels and background allow him to paint a compelling picture of a man with a mission, but one at odds with himself and his new environment. A longtime follower of mystery fiction, the author has crafted a hero in the mold of Travis McGee, Doc Ford, and John Cain, a moral man at heart who finds himself faced with difficult choices in a dangerous world. But Maine is different from the mean, big-city streets of New York, Boston, or L.A., and Zack must learn quickly if he is to survive. Dale studied writing with Stephen King, and has published over 70 short stories, non-fiction, and more. He has appeared on stage, television (including Jeopardy), and in an independent feature film. He co-wrote and acted in a short political satire film. He has traveled to all 50 states, Mexico, Canada, and through Europe. He can be found at www.daletphillips.com

Book preview

More Fables and Fantasies

A Five Story Collection

Dale T. Phillips

Copyright © 2016 Genretarium Publishing

Cover Design copyright 2016 Melinda Phillips

http://www.snapichic.com

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is coincidental.

Try these other works by Dale T. Phillips

Shadow of the Wendigo (Supernatural Thriller)

The Zack Taylor Mystery Series

A Memory of Grief

A Fall From Grace

A Shadow on the Wall

A Certain Slant of Light

A Sharp Medicine

Story Collections

Fables and Fantasies (Fantasy)

More Fables and Fantasies (Fantasy)

Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

More Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

The Last Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

More Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

Strange Tales (Magic Realism, Paranormal)

Apocalypse Tango (Science Fiction)

Halls of Horror (Horror)

Jumble Sale (Different Genres)

The Big Book of Genre Stories (Different Genres)

Non-fiction Career Help

How to Improve Your Interviewing Skills

With Other Authors

Rogue Wave: Best New England Crime Stories 2015

Red Dawn: Best New England Crime Stories 2016

Windward: Best New England Crime Stories 2017

Insanity Tales

Insanity Tales II: The Sense of Fear

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http://www.daletphillips.com

DEDICATION

To the stories that scare us, amuse us, teach us, and entertain us

CONTENTS

Foreword

Throughout the history of humankind, people have feared the unknown, the unseen. We created stories to deal with this, of people challenging the unknown and what happens when they do. These are our myths and fables, and many times they represent lessons to be passed down.

The forest in many cases represents the dangers of the unknown. It is the uncivilized land, apart from society, where the forces of nature can crush the unwary. There dwell animals, maybe monsters, and those who do not fit into normal life. In the village, in the city, we don’t think of magic, of enchantment. But in the dark of the forest, spells hold sway.

Red Riding Hood is told to stay on the path. Hansel and Gretel are abandoned in the forest. Over and over, when someone is outcast, they must flee to the place where people are not. We see this again in Shakespeare, in the Forest of Arden, where anything can happen, and the world is turned upside down. Or check out the Sondheim show Into the Woods, a perfect distillation of what this all represents.

So here we have a number of stories dealing with this theme, among others, with an old-fashioned fairy tale feel. We also have a holiday tale that deals with the Krampus, anticipating the popularity of this character in 2015, where it seemed he was making an appearance everywhere. Not the first time I’ve forecast a big trend, but amusing nonetheless. And the story is also a reminder that forced cheer at holiday time is not for everyone, for many among us have suffered terrible losses, and are brought to painful memories at certain times of the year.

Here is also a fun little romp, Happily Ever After. I enjoy taking familiar characters and putting them into alternate stories to see what happens.

May your stories end happily ever after ...

If you like these, there are more in the first collection, Fables and Fantasies.

If you like the writing or tone of these stories and would like to tackle something longer, I’ve written the Zack Taylor mystery series, starting with "A Memory of Grief and continuing on to book four, A Certain Slant of Light."

IF YOU LIKE THESE TALES, please check out other titles. And thanks for reading.

http://www.daletphillips.com  

His Father’s Sword

IT’S NOT FAIR, SAID Ardent to his uncle Nolan, watching the troop of armed men ride away with what they had taken.

The man spat on the ground. Of course it’s not fair. No arguing with the Bountymen, though, they take what they will.

They hardly left us anything. How can we live through the cold time on this? Ardent kicked one of the three small remaining sacks of sagram. He looked at the pair of scrawny chickens in one cage, next to the meager piles of vegetables. We’ll starve, if this is all we have.

Ardent confirmed this with a look at his Uncle, who would not return his gaze. The older man sighed, and reached down for the sacks of sagram. Best get this back, then, and put away.

You know it’s not enough, said Ardent.

What would you have me do, boy?

I want to see it, said Ardent.

His uncle stiffened. Won’t do no good.

The Bountymen work to pay the Dragonshare. So if the dragon were gone, we wouldn’t have to give them everything.

You can’t be talking like that, boy. And they’d still keep taking it. They’re used to it by now, think it’s their right. Anyway, there’s no way to get rid of the dragon.

Why not? My father fought him.

And died for his pains. And you not a quarter his size, what chance would you have?

Better to die fighting than starve slowly.

Nolan shook his head. Ah, you’re your father’s son, alright, even if you don’t have his size or strength. Stubborn as he was, and as much heart.

Ardent said no more, knowing his uncle would show him. Ardent picked up the remainder of what the Bountymen had left, and together they walked back.

When they had returned, Ardent looked around the cottage, and finally faced his uncle. Mother’s away. We’ve got time.

Nolan gave him a long thoughtful look. He nodded, pulling over