*Enter, the Dragon

There are many types of dragons: Dragonne, Firedrakes, and Pseudodragons, to name a few. Some are cat-size and others, simply gargantuan. Regardles of color and temperment, the one most feared are those that speak. Beasts that grunt and howl can be conquered and defeated. But how does one defeat a creature that has reason and logic? Sometimes the Dragon might appear in the fog of a waking dream or as a trick played on wide-open eyes.

"Oh, pleeeeeasssse get up" the dagon said. It picked Karl up by his hood and placed him standing. "So, why are you here?" the Dragon asked spitting each syllable out like cherry pits. "I have no idea... mandated by fate perhaps? I'd like to ask you the same question." Karl said. "No, no, no. Let's play this game. I'll ask you questions and you answer them. You're here for a reason, so you might as well tell me now." The dragon pulled up a chair for Karl and motioned him to sit down. "Or what you'll fry me up and eat my heart out?" asked Karl.

"Tsk, tsk. That's not very sporting. Looking at you I'd say you're more a stewing Druid, than a fryer. So tell me Druid, what is your name?"
"Karl the Druid... capital K, capital D."
"So tell me Karl, you're making a face at me, are you angry?"
"No! I'm in pain and I'm frightenned and confused!"
"I seeeee. You know where this fear comes from?"
"The dark unknown? desperate uncertainty?"

The dragon held it's scaley claws to it's chest and in a slow dispassionate voice said "No, Karl, it comes from here." The dragon put on his glasses and took out a long-leaf notebook and a pen. "Let's get this started, I have an eleven o'clock appointment scheduled for this morning. Ready?"

"Do you or your parents have a drug history?" "No."
"Do you wake up angry?" "No."
"Have you ever been in abusive relationship?" "I was engaged to an alchoholic."
"Hmmmmm. I'll take that as a YES."
"Have you ever been arrested before?" "No."
"Are you employed?" "Yes"
"What do you do for a living?"
"Freelance adventurer."
"Do you live in an apartment or home." "One bedroom apartment."
"You live alone? " "Yes."

The questionaire ended after an hour, the dragon quickly reviewed his notes. "So I think you're either here by mistake or you're just a damn good liar. I'm putting down Mandated by Fate as your reason for being here. You sure you're not angry?" "No, I'm not angry. Hey, what do you do with all this information anyway?" "I just fax it in, I only ask the questions."

Handing Karl printed instructions with the Kings County court seal the dragon said. "I have to make my eleven o'clock. Take these and sign here, date this, sign here too. Make a copy and hand this in when you show up, be sure to keep the original. Be there at 8:00 am sharp and wait for a blue van in front of the station." With a brisk start, the dragon streched its wings and flew up into the morning sky leaving Karl behind.

"Wait! Where do I make copies around here!" Karl stood there leafing through his papers, he noticed there was no phone number, address or e-mail. He let out a loud sigh.

To be continued...