[Privately, Paul suspects that after finding out some of the leaves of these plants were edible, Gideon might experiment with more of them. Her cheerful indifference to the possibility that anything she could put in her mouth might hurt her has been another of the small things that will one day grey Paul's hair before its time.

He keeps that to himself. Gideon's dignity is something he will always strive to protect.]

She'd be impressed. [Affection and admiration warm the words; Oscar already knows what Paul cares about. There's no harm in letting it be known.] It sounds like we already have a place to start. You can tell me why silver eyes matter so much, and I'll tell you...

[He is quiet with his thoughts for the first few steps back towards the door, tracing the edge of the fern's pot.]

I'll tell you about Illion. It's a place my ancestors fought a long time ago.