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Tara said what I was thinking that this would be such a fun thing to do and I agree. I ask you to give it a try, either write a book plot or a review in the comments below.
Mine: ( I have had this in a file for a long time. This is the first and only complete chapter of a story I have not written).
Circus Dragons
cfk (all rights reserved)
Jels wanted to be an animal trainer and be a part of the intergalactic circus with his friend and boss Jerzy whom he admired. He had a good-sized spaceship to haul animals from planet to planet. The fact that the circus was playing on worlds that had demons and under the guardianship of the demon prince himself didn’t dampen his spirits.
His first choice of animal had died on the way here. Watching a dragon flying around the space landing tower had grabbed his attention. On the off chance that he could buy a dragon, he went to the main dragon lot and the prices of first class dragons blew his mind. So off he trudged to the used dragon lot where odd kinds of unwanted dragons went cheap.
Jels told the salesperson, Brom, that he was a mind-reader, but either he didn’t believe him or he forgot because as they went around the lot, he didn’t guard his thoughts in the least.
“There is one mighty-fine dragon,” Brom said out loud. The green he pointed at looked impressive. Good haunches, broad back, but Brom’s inner voice was saying, “I saved this one from the meat factory, but despite his age, I should get a sucker to buy him.”
“How old is he?” Jels asked.
Brom smacked him on the back. “I was just thinking that an older dragon is a wiser dragon, wasn’t I?”
“How much older?” Jels asked.
“Well, he’s experienced. A bit long in the tooth, but he has them all.” He grinned at Jels. Inside, Brom was thinking, “Don’t risk opening the mouth, just move on.”
Jels looked around the lot for another salesman, one he could trust. But the lot was empty except for two young boys throwing meat into the maws of the dragons on view.
The next dragon, a deep blue with a long tail, was too slender for a man the size of Jels to ride. The third dragon, a huge bronze, was expensive though he was a handsome, fit beast. Jels regretted his slim purse more than he could say. He walked over to a red one that was sleeping.
“Not him, for love’s sake,” Brom said. “Trust me. That is one bad dragon. Raised in the pits on Varney and never taught manners. Lazy beast. I only give him space here to please the boss. He thinks we can make a deal with the demons to buy him.”
Jels heard the rest of the inner speech, “Gods help us if we don’t unload this eater quick, but if the demons discover how lazy he is, we will be fried. Oh, gods, why did the boss saddle us with this one?”
Jels walked around the beast and prodded him with his foot. “Man’s a liar,” said the dragon without opening his eyes. Jels didn’t flinch. He reached up with his walking staff and scratched behind the dragon’s jaw.
“What is his name?” he asked.
“Who cares? You can’t afford this beast. The demons have to have a couple fit to buy so we put a good price on anything that flies decent. This one is a beaut at flying. Upside down, sideways, under bridges, low over the river. His former master was scraped off by accident.”
Brom’s inner voice said, “I have him. He’s intrigued. I’ll pretend to be reluctant. The more I say he can’t have him, the more he’ll be determined to talk me into it.”
Jels rolled his eyes and the dragon snickered.
“How much?” he asked again.
“Three gold and two more for the saddle. Two more for the assistant and three more for hobble chains and a face mask.”
“Hobble guards and a face mask? Barbaric,” Jels said.
“You didn’t hear me say he scraped his last master off?” Brom asked.
“So, he is cheaper than you said, then? Three gold is a king’s ransom for a killer dragon.”
“The demons will pay well. He ain’t likely to scrape one of them off. But if they don’t want him, I can sell him for meat. The Vant planet isn’t fussy,” Brom said.
Jels shuddered. Brom’s inner voice was happy to think that might happen.
“So what do you have in my price range?” Jels asked.
“I got an off-color gold over here. Just about the right weight for you if you don’t grow and a good hunter. He is simple in his mind, they tell me. His owners had to sell because the first trainer lost his job. He has good manners. No hobbles needed for him.”
For once, Brom’s inner voice was silent so it seemed he was speaking the truth this time. Jels walked around the gold beast. The color was not the usual, it was true, but it wasn’t that bad. Might get a few breeders to give him a try since gold was a favorite color. Pay for him that way.
“Do you like to fly?” Jels asked the beast.
“Love it,” the beast said.
Jels smiled. “Not so dumb or simple, I am guessing,” he sent to the beast.
“Only to dumb humans,” said the beast. “My name is Coy and I am five years from the shell.”
“I am a circus master,” Jels said. “I need to train you for an act. We will be taking the show to all the planets within five standards. Think you are up to that?””
“I have to fly a lot?”
“Three times a day and twice nightly for four of seven sun marches. I give snacks for special performances but if we mess up, we can lose our job so we do have to put on an unusual act.”
“Right," Coy said. His huge head hovered in front of Jels' face and one great eye peered at him. So I can see in your mind despite your trained brain scowl that there is a great deal of danger. You sure you want a cheap dragon for what you got planned?”
Jels shrugged. “We will be a team by the time we are done training. Danger just makes for fun.”
“Not for me. I would rather be used as a trainer beast for kids if it comes to that. Go buy that lazy one. Cheat the demons of him. The salesman will let you pay what you wish. I know a dragon in search of adventure when I see one, and that red is faking it about being lazy. He ain’t need any hobbles, either.”
“You are willing to take the chance of being chosen by the demon prince?” Jels asked. “I don’t see any customers around here looking for a nurse beast, do you?”
“You got a point,” Coy said. “I could get used to doing a few tricks, and any of us left behind are going to be meat most likely rather than bought by a prince. But you are nothing but trouble fars I can see.” He laid his snout down on the ground and closed his eyes. Jels considered Coy’s words. No one kept dragons around long in a used dragon lot.
Jels heard a humming in his mind and slapped his forehead to stop it. The assistant to the red dragon was trying to tell him something. “Used lot…what did you expect? Just make him an offer,” the young one said. Jels touched Brom lightly on the shoulder to get his attention.
“This assistant that you are willing to sell along with that red dragon, is he by any chance a demon?”
“Just a little one, ha, ha,” Brom said.
“Right. So let me get this straight. If I buy the red one and his assistant, I get a demon to deal with as well as a lazy dragon the demons have already been offered and probably refused?”
Brom was sweating. His mind was no longer vague and hazy. Inside he was stuttering. “Damn boss! Where is he now? Oh, he’s home having a long lunch. I get the pincher, is what. I don’t want anything to do with selling the demon prince a dragon from Varney that might go rogue at any second. Not worth my life. The rest of this lot aren’t going anywhere, either. And the kid…if anyone hears about him, I will be the one sold for meat.”
“The lad’s from Varney,” Brom said. “Good at what he does. Worth two gold. But you ain’t got that kind of money, do ya.”
The humming started again. “The red dragon’s name is Flame and the bronze one is Court and he is also from Varney. My name is Bareth,” said the assistant. “No demon is going to take us at any price being from Varney. I tell truth.”
"Flame,” Jels called to the sleeping dragon. “You want to work for the circus? The job’s dangerous. You think you could manage to learn a few tricks or teach me a couple? There could be a bonus here and there. What do you say?”
“Danger is one of my many names,” the dragon said.
“And you, Court? You got any thing to say?”
The bronze stood up and swung his great head around to look at Jels. He winked.
Jels smiled at Brom. “I will give you one gold for the bronze dragon, two for the red, and two for the assistant along with his guild papers. I am going to set him free and then hire him if he wishes to stay with me. I don’t need the saddle and I sure don’t need anything to hobble or harm the dragons. Take it or leave it.”
Brom thought about it. “Gold in the hand is worth more than fake gold in the bush and your good will is worth more than selling a dragon for meat. Boss won’t be happy I took so little, but if you hurry up before he gets back from lunch, I guess I can talk him down.”
“Damn right, I will talk him down.”
“Good. I want the gold one, too. I will give you one gold for him and I don’t need an assistant for him since he is so peaceful and simple like you said.”
“Well, man…you are so rich, how about taking the green off my hands, too?”
Jels thought about it. He didn’t have much money, it was true, but the gold was a good hunter, the demon assistant was young and eager to be hired, and what were a few more dragons? He looked at the slender blue with regret. If he took the old green and the blue got a bad owner with a temper or went for meat, could he live with himself?
Five different colors, the assistant slender enough to ride the blue…it could be quite a show.
“I will also buy the blue for one gold if you throw the green in for one half,” Jels said. “I have to get a move on so I have no time to dicker with you. I got a long way to go before nightfall. A gold for a tip for you if I am out of here with the papers in half an hour.”
“What the hell,” Brom said. “Big eaters, the lot of them. Boss got drunk and was set up. He is avoiding the truth, but I can deal.” He held out his hand for the money.
“When I have the papers free and clear, then you get paid,” Jels said.
Half an hour later, the five dragons lifted off the used dragon lot. Jels blocked out their thoughts for now.
He didn’t want to know, really, what they were thinking. Lots of time to find out later.
Your turn. Your book blurb can be very short such as:
The Comedy Club invites an alien to perform and as the strange humor surrounds the group wrapping around them like orange scented blossoms, the people begin to change into forms that they love the most. The heroine becomes a black panther. They speak to each other in visions passed telepathically.