"You know, just when I start to believe things can't possibly be any more strange, you tell me that we just need to hitch a ride on the Dawn Treader." Even knowing they would be riding on a fictional ship does nothing to dissuade Mathias from this idea, especially now that Veronica has mentioned they might have to spend a few days on another island.

"I think I could handle that," he decides with a smile, his hand falling from the rock wall to Veronica's shoulder. His fingertips trail down the outside of her arm until he can curl his hand around her own. "It would be an adventure."