No one said a word for several minutes. The only sound came from the trickling cascade of the fake waterfall.

Nyrian took a deep breath. “I will think on this situation some more, and let you know what I decide.” He made a waving motion with his hand that indicated everyone should leave.

“Not you, Farilane.”

When everyone but Nordstrom and Kolby had left the courtyard, Nyrian motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs, and he settled into another. Light entered the glass ceiling and spilled through the canopy of broad green leaves. Once again, the garden was peaceful.

“Your mother loved you,” her father said. “She was human. It was easier for her. The rest of us . . .” He stood up and began to pace.

Farilane didn’t know if she should stand or sit. She stayed where she was and figured he’d let her know if it was the wrong choice.

“It’s important to me that you know . . . that you understand that I like you. I always have, although I can understand that you might not know it. I like you too much, I think. You make it hard not to. You seem more alive than the rest of us. It’s like you have more of your mother in you. She was fearless, too. She married me, after all.”

Nyrian continued to pace, his hands fidgeting with his sleeves. He was leading up to something—something awkward for him, perhaps something he dreaded. The tension in the garden rose again.

“You did a very good thing,” her father said. “Your efforts to defeat Mawyndulë were crucial. Your bravery, intelligence, and cleverness very likely saved all our lives.”

“Are you trying to say thank you?”

“Yes, I am. And I want to reward you. Virgil mentioned how you gathered books, even wrote some yourself. He also shared that you were upset that there was no place to keep them, and that after your death, the books might be destroyed. Is that true?”

“Yes, and it would be a terrible loss for these—”

He held up a hand to stop her. “Farilane, I’m going to give you that place. You can have your book building, a public space where everyone can share in your treasures.”

“That’s going to be awkward, since reading is illegal.”

“Yes, but rumor has it I’m going to be emperor in a few days. And you’re right. I don’t know why we have some of these laws.”

Farilane stared at him. “I—I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I have an architect coming tomorrow. He and some engineers and a few builders will go with you to pick the perfect place for this new book palace. Once you approve it, they will start building.”

Farilane was stunned. “That’s wonderful.”