The pebble found its mark. It detonated, throwing Fifer and Dev backward as if they were rag dolls. The palace and the grounds shook. Fifer rolled to a stop and twisted to get back to a standing position. Dev scrambled up too, and both of them peered at the scene, half-deaf from the explosion and unable to see anything because of the smoke. When the air cleared enough for them to see, one red dragon lay motionless and headless on the ground. The other was roaring and squirming on its back, trying to get to its feet.

“Oh crud,” whispered Fifer. “Cover me! Don’t attack unless you have to,” she shouted to Dev, and ran over to Florence.

Dev grabbed his spears and stood in front of Fifer, waiting for the second dragon. They weren’t about to stop fighting now, but he only had three spears, and he had to be smart.

Fifer laid her hands on the statue’s leg that was in line with the rest of the body. She spoke the words Aaron had told her to say. “Be alive. Live.” Over and over again she said it at each of the breaks, going as quickly as she possibly could. The pieces of Florence’s body melded together.

The remaining red dragon slowly recovered, and he got to his feet. Dev recognized it as the one that had burned his back so terribly. He stayed near Fifer, one spear in hand and the other two on the ground at his feet.

The dragon started toward them.

Fifer moved at a feverish pace, putting Florence’s pieces back together.

Dev focused on the dragon like Fifer had told him to do. When it got within spear-throwing range, he hoisted the spear and gripped it loosely in his hand, and concentrated on his task, which hopefully would ignite the magic part of the spear. Then he ran at the beast, getting as close as he dared, and let the spear fly.

It found its mark, burying itself inside the left nostril of the dragon. Dev’s mouth dropped open. He’d nailed the beast right where he’d intended to. Dev’s strength couldn’t land it deep enough to prove fatal, but it did make the dragon furious. The ferocious enemy roared and spewed fire in a long arc in front of him, singeing Fifer and nearly hitting Dev, but the young man was too quick this time. With fire percolating in his throat—inadequate against these monsters as it was—Dev raced back for his second spear. “Hurry!” he cried to Fifer. “The dragon is advancing! I can’t throw hard enough to lodge it deeply!”