The mirror-things took too much of my energy. Alice let out a long breath. She had thirty-six hours to make the trek back to the portal-book near the fire-sprite village. I can make it.

“You haven’t opened the book, have you?” Alice said. “It might be dangerous.”

“We know better than to investigate any book carried by a Reader,” Helga said from the doorway. “And do you feel entirely yourself?”

“Mother!” Erdrodr said. She turned to Alice and shook her head. “She insisted on keeping you under guard while you slept, ‘just in case.’”

“The Palace was dangerous, but I believe I escaped mostly intact.” Alice inclined her head, the best bow she could manage from her sitting position. She felt an almost irresistible urge to be up and moving. The Infinite Prison was right there, her revenge against Geryon almost within her reach. Just a little further. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

Helga waved a hand. “You have been to a place of legend and survived. It honors us to have you.” Her eyes went to Erdrodr. “And you kept your word about keeping my daughter safe.”

“The nation has given me a name!” Erdrodr said in the excited tones of someone who couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Erdrodr the Artist.”

“That’s wonderful.” Alice was no expert on ice giant society, but it clearly meant a great deal to Erdrodr. “I’m glad I could help.”

“I’ll never forget this,” Erdrodr said.

“Nor will I,” Alice said. “Where’s Flicker?”

“Downstairs.” Helga took Erdrodr by the shoulder. “Come, daughter. Give the Reader a chance to dress. And there are still many who wish to congratulate you.”

Erdrodr waved to Alice, then followed her mother. Alice climbed out of bed, wincing a little as the skin stretched around her ice-covered cuts, and put on the rest of her clothes. The Infinite Prison gave a tiny crackle when she picked it up, like a momentary growl of static. She opened her pack and shoved the book way down at the bottom.

Thinking back to the mountain made her shiver. It felt like she’d been in a dream, saying things that made no sense in the cold light of day. I should have run for it as soon as I got the book. The mirror-things had been inside her head from the moment she arrived, clearly.

The huge, lidless eye, silver and alien, ought to have been scary, but it wasn’t. It felt . . . warm. Like it cared for me.

She shook her head. Whatever the mirror-things had shown her, they’d obviously done it for their own reasons, to keep her busy while they drank her life. I’d be a fool to believe any of it. I’ve got the book, and that’s what matters. Revenge on Geryon. I’m almost there.