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Enjoy this reading of Dragonfire Or, Ask a Stupid Quest... from More Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home edited by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

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Dragonfire

Or, Ask a Stupid Quest…

I. The Epic Argumen

By her I bided day by day,Full of a love I dared not say,Awestruck, I waited, lost and weak,Nearly too terrified to speak,Sorrowing, as I sighed for her,Frozen by weakness—there we were,I in the frailty of my heart,She in her thoughts, alone, apart.

Finally, once she took my hand,Only to say, “Please understand;Love at a loss should never beStranded as we are. Go from me,Seeking the courage hearts know best,Showing it all at my request;Search for what lovers all require:Return to me with dragonfire.”

2. Preparation and Prayer

Sighing, she left. Her steps were slow,Waiting for things I might not know.Homeward I went, not looking back;All through the night I filled a pack,Stocking a bag of cleric’s tomesChalices, charms and palindromes,Weapons of wonder and of war,Sorcerers’ scrolls and kenderlore.

Sunrise I stood beside my bed,My rucksack high above my head.Forward I strode, my bed unmade,Walking the road ahead, I prayed:“Grant me the cunning of a gnome,Cold of an elvish catacomb,Courage of knights, and so inspireMy quest to bring her dragonfire.”

3. The Search for Guidance

Ready for doom, I shared my quest,Full of the one whom I loved best,Telling a shepherd all.He LaughedAnd wiped his eyes and said, “Ye’re daft.What do you want with all that gear?

Planning on being gone a year?”I said, “I seek a dragon, where—”The shepherd shrugged. “He’s just up there.Left at the lane’s-end here, then straight,Right at the spring and upper gate,Above the pasture land a way—I walk it every other day.Looking for dragonfire? Then go,Tell him that Ralphie says hello.Half a day’s hike or so, not higher,I think you’ll find your dragonfire.”

4. The Quest, However Brief

He and his kinfolk laughed at me.Turning my face from mockeryFacing my destiny, unsure,Heedless of toil and sheep manure,Scaling the slopes alone, unkissed,Facing the mountains and the mist,I climbed the ramparts, not to tireTill I discovered dragonfire.

5. The Hero’s Request

Labor and sunset saw me standOver the highest pasture land,Near where a dark and yawning caveGaped like a hero’s fresh-dug grave.Nothing at all that I could see,Scanning the dragon-made debrisWould challenge hearts and so inspireSome proof of love from dragonfire.Looming above me suddenly,Awesome, he stood regarding me,Saying in tones of worldly woe,“Please tell me you’re a peddler. —No?”I stood before him there and said,“I love a woman. I aspireTo take for mine your dragonfire.”

6. The Supernatural Response

His answer came abrupt and clear:“Young man, did Ralphie send you here?”I nodded, mute. The dragon, wise,Looking at me through golden eyes,Answered my challenge, all intent:“But this is hardly what she meant—”Turning aside his deadly breath,“—A lover wouldn’t seek your death.Sleep until sunrise, then go down,