The Reluctant Dragon Returns

Table of Contents

The Reluctant Dragon Returns

About the Author

Sienna Woods loved books.  Correction, Sienna Woods adored books.  She worshipped at the altar of books.  Well, not really, but you get the point.  They were a great source of joy for her and a great source of knowledge.  Books were the friends she wished she had; they were witty, worldly, understanding and open-minded.  She was one of those people who turned to books when there was no one else to turn to.  Because she knew that books contained many secrets, useful information that could be used to good effect in her life.  She was especially interested in books containing esoteric knowledge, and she simply soaked up the wisdom contained in myths, legends and fairytales, and she put the knowledge to use whenever possible.  And her parents loved her love of books, too.  For the most part.

Free education, her dad would say.  And keeps her out of trouble.

She’s a little too smart for an eleven year old sometimes, her mom would add.  I mean, do I really deserve to be called a philistine for not knowing what The World Tree is or the forms Trickster takes in different cultures?

Her mother’s complaints weren’t completely unjustified, either.  Sometimes Sienna did lord that knowledge over her parents, who, for the most part, tried to take it as a sign she possessed a healthy self-confidence. 

As long as her head doesn’t get too big, her mom would sometimes add.

Sienna was glad of her parent’s appreciation of her expertise because it served them, even without them knowing it.  What they didn’t know was that the world they lived in was vulnerable to the influence of magical creatures, many of which were quite fickle and if Sienna didn’t know how to treat them, things might have gotten ugly.  She kept the fairies happy by leaving gifts for them under the trees; otherwise they might have pulled little pranks like spoiling the milk.  She kept nighttime spirits happy by reading them stories; otherwise they might have filled the Woods’ family sleeping hours with nightmares.  She burned sage to invite benevolent spirits into their home and to keep evil spirits away, which, she was certain, were going positively nuts to wreak havoc on her family’s otherwise peaceful household.

That’s what they do, she’d say as she waved the smoke around the room with an eagle feather.  We must keep them at bay.

Pretty strong stuff, he mother would respond between coughs, waving her hands in the air. 

And effective on mood too, said Sienna, waving the smoke back in her mother’s direction.

That was just the tip of the iceberg of her abilities and knowledge.  If she had desired it, she really could have guest lectured at the local library, or at least the lemonade stand.  Many had encouraged her to do it.  But as the highly intelligent knows all too well, her capable brain also made her stand out in a not so good way.  By which I mean, she often had to endure ridicule at the hands of her classmates. 

Hey fairy girl, seen Peter Pan lately?  Could really use some fairy dust.

Hey Sienna, interested in some magic beans?  Only five dollars.

Hey, it’s Lord of the Geeks.

Stuff like that.

But she paid the ignorant little attention.  And she did have admirers of her knowledge  too, particularly of the artwork she created that was inspired by her esoteric research.  She received many requests for her highly realistic warriors and princesses, in particular.  But what she really wanted was an opportunity to meet an actual magical creature.  Because even though she truly believed that she interacted with magical beings all the time, she had never actually seen one.  And she wanted so bad to do that, just once.  She knew that if she did, then finally someone would actually understand her and appreciate her for who she was.

Then one night, very unexpectedly, she got the opportunity.  She was seated at the kitchen table with her mother, reading a book about unicorns.

Did you know scientists still don’t know what unicorn horns are made of? she said, shaking her head in exasperation.  Just touching a unicorn horn can let you see the future.  Who knows what else they can do.  When we figure out how to use them for medicinal purposes, humanely of course, everything will change.  Everything.  Priorities people.  She slammed her fist down on the table.

Interesting, honey, said her mother.  Did you finish your math homework?

Yes, mom, said Sienna, rolling her eyes.  At lunch.  It was easy.  But this is much more important.  I’m talking about groundbreaking magic here.

"Well, if you figure it out first,