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"Do you like it?"

She laughs softly. "I didn't think this would be your kind of place."

Not a few minutes ago they set foot on an island. Not long to walk from the sandy beach to a place on the edge of the forest. The sky was absolutely clear, but there were so many sounds to distract her from the sea. Like the birdsong behind the trees and the gentle sway of the leaves in the wind. It looked like nothing more than foliage to her but when Orm brushed the trees away, it revealed a dainty little door. And next to the door was a glowing lantern. And now here they are.

"You mean on land?"

Aeryn shrugs. "I thought you didn't like land."

The door opens at his command, his fingers on the small of her back as he guides her inside.

"I don't mind land so much. Just the people on it."

As soon as she enters, her breath gets swept away. Books. Hundreds upon hundreds of books. There's so many of them as high as the ceiling, next to every window, every entrance. There's a small desk in the corner with ink and pens splattered across it and a hearth fire to her left.

"This is amazing," she whispers. "I . . ." She stops herself from touching the velvety spines of the books. "This is beautiful Orm. Why do you have this place?"

"You won't laugh?"

"Only one way to find out."

He pauses. "This is my study. When Atlantis was buried beneath the ocean, there was this library, a tremendous mountain of knowledge. It was passed from king to king. Finally to me when my father passed. I brought them here. Out of reach of the public eye."

"Why?"

His eyes find hers. "Not everything should be public knowledge Aeryn. There are . . . a few books in here that could well cause an uprising if they were ever known. Things like what really happened to our forefather Atlan. And your home. The eighth Kingdom." An uncomfortable silence suddenly falls on the both of them until finally Orm shakes himself from his stupor. "Anyway, it's safe. I've been here for months at a time before without even Vulko finding me. I thought you could stay here, until . . . until you're better."

What exactly is wrong with her? She feels alright in and of herself doesn't she? A little tired perhaps but that is just the drugs. And in time it will wear off, and then she can find what she is going to do with herself now that she has been freed of the Captain.

"Alright. Thank you."

The King looks strangely relieved. "Good then. There's a . . . what do they call it now? The place where you make the food . . ."

"Kitchen."

"That's right. There's a kitchen, and a washing place. And if you get bored, you've always got books. Or there's one of those . . . what do you call them? The musical thing, with the small white pieces on it."

"Piano?"

"I've gotten quite good at that," Orm insists.

"If you say so."

"Hey!" She narrowly dodges the ball of water that would have hit her face. "I am very good at it, I'll have you know!"

"I never said you weren't!" She laughs, holding her hands up in surrender. "So . . . what happens from here? Are you staying or . . ."

"I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable."

"No no," she insist. "I want you to stay. So . . . so I can remember more . . . about us, you know?"

The biggest smile comes across him. She finds herself remembering the little boy who always used to smile so much. And she wants to make him smile again.

"Alright. I'll stay."

The rest of the day is passed in blissful ignorance. For Orm is not yet master of all the seas. For if he was, he would have known who was watching.