“Well.” Helga rolled her shoulders. “My daughter has pleaded quite eloquently on your behalf, Reader. She says that the idea of breaking you into the fortress was entirely hers, which is exactly the sort of foolish notion I expect from her. Since the only real harm done is a broken door, I believe I will be generous. You and your companion may pass through the curtain, and good riddance to you. If you wish to kill yourself at the Palace of Glass, it is hardly my concern.” She waved a hand. “Bring their things and take them away.”

“Thank you,” Flicker said, bowing low. “We are very—”

“What about Erdrodr?” Alice said. “What will happen to her?”

Helga’s face went cold. “I hardly think that is any of your concern.”

“I gave my word that I would bring her through the portal,” Alice said, not daring to look at either of her companions. “I don’t know if that means anything among your people, but it does for me.”

“Your word?” Helga’s sneer broadened. “All the worlds know what the word of a Reader is worth. You had best go at once. I can feel my generosity waning by the moment.”

“Go,” Erdrodr said in a low voice. “It’s all right, Alice. Just—”

“She comes with us,” Alice said.

“Now she’s willing to put up a fight,” Flicker muttered.

Helga glared down at Alice, blue eyes gleaming with fury. “Are you challenging me, little Reader?”

“I don’t want to challenge anyone,” Alice said. Her heart was hammering, but she forced herself to meet Helga’s gaze. “But I will, if that’s what it takes to keep my word.”

Muttering ran through the ice giants behind them. Helga’s face twisted for a moment into a mask of rage that was quickly replaced with a superior smirk.

“Is that so?” she said softly. “How shall we compete, then? A race around the castle? Shall we see who can shift the heaviest weight? Who can make the climb to the top of the tower?”

Alice kept her expression neutral, but she was thinking frantically. She doubted even Spike’s strength would let her out-lift, out-run, or out-climb Helga. The giant was twice her size, and her limbs were corded with thick muscle. Maybe I could try to out-think her. But intelligence glittered in those ice-blue eyes, and Alice had a nasty suspicion that if the ice giants had anything like chess or checkers, then Helga was a master of it.

Then it came to her, all at once, and she found a grin spreading across her face. Of course.

“Flowers,” she said. “We’ll compete with flowers.”

A silence fell throughout the hall.

“Alice, no,” Erdrodr hissed. “You don’t know what you’re asking—”

A deep, raspy sound cut her off, rising until it filled the great room and echoed off the walls. Helga was laughing.