Astrid flew back over the property, dropping slightly. Florence kept a close eye on the red dragons. They were definitely aware of the ghost dragon and her rider, but none of them seemed threatened enough to come for them. She took one of the ropes and tied the end around the sack of components. Perhaps lowering it would give it a better chance of hitting the right spot… and maybe Fifer could use the rope for something too.

Florence peered back at the south window of the onion-bulb tower as they crossed the property line. Sure enough, there was Fifer, pressed against the pane, seemingly alone. Florence waved, and Fifer waved back.

Once they made it without incident to the other side, Florence repeated the order, having Astrid drop a little farther and go a little slower. “I’m going to try to lower this sack of supplies through one of the holes in the roof,” she explained. “If I miss, it’ll get stuck on the rooftop and won’t do anybody any good. So we need to get it right.”

“I think we can make this happen,” said Astrid. “I’m not sensing any serious animosity toward me coming from below. Just a little prickliness.”

“Great. Let’s get as close as you dare, then, and circle around the roof hole.”

Astrid slowed her airspeed and dropped lower, doing her best to look casual about it to those below. Florence lay on her stomach across Astrid’s back, arms outstretched and letting down the rope with the sack of supplies. Astrid circled and Florence kept the rope dangling as she waited for the perfect moment to let go.

Just as Florence was about to make the drop, movement at the back of the property caught her eye. One of the dragons had lifted off. It let out a roar and a blast of flames as it called to the other three.

Astrid jerked upward and abandoned circling. Florence cringed, forced to make a split decision, and let go of the rope. She watched as it barely missed its mark and stuck on the roof.

The other three dragons took flight and roared back to the first. They came straight for Astrid and Florence. “Hang on!” said Astrid.

The warrior trainer scrambled to sit upright. She reached for her bow and nocked a magical arrow as the four red dragons came at them from all directions. “Go, Astrid!” Florence cried, then let the arrow fly at the nearest dragon. It missed and soared over its head. She pulled another out as Astrid flew jerkily, trying to find her best path to safety without running into one of the attackers.