“I . . .” The giant composed herself a little and coughed. “I am sorry. I have never seen one of you before. Byrvorda said you were no larger than an infant, but I did not expect . . . I mean . . .”

Her face colored from white to off-blue in what Alice guessed was a blush.

“It’s all right,” she said. “I’m Alice. What’s your name?”

For some reason, this question made the giant wince. “Erdrodr,” she said. “Erdrodr of no name.”

“Why were you looking for me?” Alice said.

“Byrvorda was telling everyone at dinner that she’d seen a human and a fire-kin at the wall. A Reader, she said.” Erdrodr peered at Alice a little closer. “Are you a Reader? You don’t look like the ones in the stories.”

“I am,” Alice said, deciding not to mention that she was only an apprentice. “Byrvorda said we can’t go through the gate until Helga comes back. Has she returned?”

“Oh, no.” Erdrodr shook her head vehemently. “Even when she returns, my mother will never let you pass. She guards the curtain jealously.”

“Your mother? You’re Helga’s daughter?”

Erdrodr nodded, a mournful look on her face.

“Could you speak to her for us?” Alice said. “If I can help somehow—”

“Mother is less likely to listen to me than she is to listen to you. But I can help you, if you can help me. I can get you inside the castle. But . . .” She hesitated, then blurted out, “You must make me a promise.”

Alice blinked. “What kind of promise?”

“I must go with you. To the other side of the curtain. No matter what, you must allow me to come.”

There was a long pause.

“You’d better explain a little,” Alice said. “Do you mind if Flicker joins us? He has a spear, but I promise he’s not a threat.”

“Of course.” Erdrodr scuffed a clear place in the ash with her foot. “We should sit. The guards may look this way, and I told them I was going to work on my sketches.”

“All right.” Alice waved, and Flicker got up from behind the boulder. Erdrodr had just settled herself on the ground, heedless of the smudges on her white robes. At the sight of him, the ice giant jumped back to her feet, so quickly that a startled Flicker pointed his spear.

“Oh!” Erdrodr said, staring.

“What?” Flicker said, raising his spear. “What’s going on?”

Alice hastily stepped between the two of them. “Is something wrong?”

“No!” Erdrodr blinked and shook her head. “I have never seen a fire-kin before. I did not think . . . he is beautiful. The colors . . .”

Flicker’s hair went briefly to a white-green, and Alice wondered if that signaled embarrassment.

“It’s all right,” Alice said to him. “I think she was just surprised.”