The fire-sprite chewed his lower lip, trying to look down at the dog-thing and up at Alice at the same time. Alice let her hands fall.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she repeated. “Why don’t you put the spear down and see if Ishi is all right?”

With one last, suspicious glance at Alice, the boy turned away, kneeling beside the dog-thing. The tough, rocky creature was already on its feet, and the fire-sprite patted its two heads. Alice went to retrieve her boots, which were lying where she’d changed into the Swarm. The flames had singed them a little, but she was pleased to see they were mostly intact. The same could not be said for her pack, which had torn open in the fall and spilled food everywhere. She managed to tie it all up again with a few more knots and gathered everything that hadn’t been ruined.

When she turned back to the fire-sprite, the boy was on his feet again, staring at Alice but not actually pointing his spear at her. She supposed that counted as an improvement.

“Ishi’s all right,” he said, “luckily for you.”

“I’m glad I didn’t hurt him,” Alice said. “I’m Alice. What’s your name?”

“Flicker.” The boy peered at her. “You’re not the Reader who usually comes, are you? Geryon.”

Alice couldn’t see how anyone could think that she and Geryon were the least bit similar, but she let this pass. “No. I’m his apprentice.”

“Oh.” Flicker’s expression darkened again. “You should have sent a message ahead. Nobody ever comes up here anymore. You could’ve gotten lost.”

“I’m sorry,” Alice said. “I’m glad I ran into you, then.”

“I’m not,” Flicker said, and sighed. “With all this noise, there’s no chance of catching the bluechill now. I had better take you back to see Pyros. Come on.”

Flicker led her at a quick pace, padding barefoot through the cold, rocky tunnels. However much Flicker’s hair looked like fire, it certainly didn’t shed any warmth. Ishi stayed by his side, keeping well away from Alice, which felt a bit unfair. He attacked me first, after all. They entered an area where the passages showed definite signs of being adapted for habitation—the curved floors had been flattened, and there were arched doorways leading to chambers on either side. It all looked disused, though, and a thick layer of black dust covered everything. Here and there rocks had fallen from the ceiling and lay scattered on the floor. Every passage sloped down, as though they were descending into the heart of the world.

Her guide seemed determined to be uncommunicative. He directed her with grunts and gestures, as though he begrudged every word. If she was going to secure the fire-sprites’ help, Alice decided, it was up to her to begin the conversation.

“Ishi is your pet?” she asked again.