By dinnertime, it was all settled. The day had been a rush, with Hannah running through chores, pulling together a quick dinner, and packing up enough clothes for one week away. She hurried around the house one last time, while her brother stood by the front door. "Are you done, Hannah?" he called out.

"Almost."

"I thought you already checked the house. What are you looking for?"

"I'm just making sure all the windows are shut, and everything's been kept and – "

"Normally, I'd tolerate you, but you don't know the kind of trouble I'd be in if I get back late."

"Alright, alright, I'm done." She joined him at the front door, where he scooped up one bag, leaving another for her. Such chivalry.

Together they stepped out, the stillness of a summer night bearing down on them. Even though the hour was still early, the village had already fallen dull. There was a light whistle from the river nearby, and some hushes from houses, but other than that, the air was dead.

Rio started walking, and Hannah followed, slightly slow to his step. It felt strange to be leaving Chell beside a brother dressed in the uniform of Dalen's guard. She was just glad no one was around to see them. They hadn't told anyone about their leaving other than Kaye and the Averys.

"How long will it take?" she asked her brother, whispering for some reason.

"The walk? Not more than a few hours."

She looked ahead, beyond the village into dark trees and a gravelly road. "Tell me it's safe."

Her brother laughed lightly. "Yes, perfectly safe, Hannah. Our greatest danger is the mosquitoes."

"What happens once we reach Dalen?"

"Well, I'm afraid there are no quarters at the station for trainees' families, so I'm going to have to put you up in a local church."

"A church?"

"A convent, actually. I stayed there during my drafting. It's a beautiful place, and since it's run by nuns, you should have less problem adapting than I did."

"Why a church?"

"Well, I didn't have much choice. That was what the peddlers told me to do, since I didn't have money to stay anywhere. Some of the other drafters from out of town did the same thing. They let you board for free, and even give you food – though I'm not going to say much on taste."

"I didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I."

"Did you find it strange? I mean, being there?"

"At first. But I met some nice people there."

"Do they make you pray?"

"No, they don't make you," he answered, rolling his eyes. "They just invite you. I watched them a few times, tried to learn a little bit about it. It was interesting, but I was confused about a lot of things, you know, because – "

"Because Ma and Da never taught us."

"Right." He faced forward in the darkness, and Hannah inched closer to him, unnerved by the spread of shadows. They hadn't gone far from the village when she heard footsteps building up behind them. She turned, expecting one of the Averys, and getting a rude shock.

It was John Trent himself, tall, sinewy, his long face a sneer. There was nothing to be seen now of the damage Rio had done to him that night, although Hannah had a feeling that had not been forgotten. He did a look over Rio, lips pursing. "Iver. So it's true."

"So what's true?"

"That you're a big city soldier now. Very nice," he said mockingly. "Going back, are you?"

"Yes. I'm needed there, I can't be away long."

"Well. I suppose it's for the best. It's no loss to Chell." He paused, glancing uninterestedly at at Hannah. "Not for either of you."

Rio opened his mouth, but Hannah cut him off, turning her back. "Let's go," she urged, moving down the path. He lingered for a moment, glaring at the older man, but finally moved after her.

John stood there for a while, watching as they left. Hannah sighed, relieved that another fight hadn't happened. "You know, he will miss you. Tell me who will entertain him now?"

"Hmph. Fadden can take over that duty."

She gave her brother a curious look. It took her a while to dare and ask her next question. "Did you speak to him?"

"Fadden? I saw him, yes."

"And? Was he happy to see you?"

"I think he was, behind it all. But we didn't say very much. Everything's just too different now."

"Do you think you've changed?"

"Me? No. My life has changed, not me. But I don't think we can ever go back to how we were, he and I."

"You don't know that, Rio."

"No, I do. It's alright. I'm not so sad about it anymore, and neither is he. We've both just accepted it."

"I'm sure you'll still miss him."

"Sometimes I do. But the men at the station are great. I hope to introduce you to them tomorrow."

She kept quiet, not admitting that she didn't feel like meeting his city friends. It would just be too strange. She was after all, just a village girl. What could she have in common with them?

She glanced over her shoulder, and it was like staring down a dizzy, shapeless tunnel. This was the farthest from home she had ever been. Away from the farm, from Kaye and the Averys, from all the people she'd known by name and face since she was a little girl. Was it really so much better in Dalen?

She was trying to understand that it had more opportunities, more to offer for someone like her brother, but the truth was she was afraid of that place. It was Dalen that had swallowed her mother, ruined her father, and was now taking her brother away from her. She herself had never cared for cities, their cold ways and their need to rush life.

But Dalen surprised her, with its beauty if nothing else. After good time on the road, it finally opened into a patch where land met sea. There was the whisper of waves, huge ships bobbing in a dark bay. Among the outcrops, a bridge began, stretching to a row of watchtowers and battlements. Somewhere behind them, the island city slept.

Hannah was awed into silence. Despite the hour, travelers were still making their way in and out of Dalen, and royal servants were renewing the fires in the bridge lamps from atop iron ladders. How awkward she felt, like she didn't belong there at all.

She approached the bridge meekly, keeping close to her brother. Along the wall, shadows shifted, dozens of lean, young men in green coats, weapons burning in moonshine. Hannah shied her eyes away, looking to her brother. "Do you know any of them?"

"No, of course not. They're high guardsmen. I should be lucky to be in their place in a few years." He led her forward, and they found themselves on a dim, horizontal street still bubbling with human noise.

"Out of the way!"

"Hannah!" She felt a tug, and stared as a man on horseback careened right over where she'd been standing. Rio released her arm, making an impatient sound. "Pay attention, will you?"

"Sorry." She looked around, taking in the mountains of home upon home. Many still showed light and life. All around her, people swarmed the street, weaving and flitting among themselves. "How do they walk here?"

"It's getting late, I'd better take you to the church."

"Where?"

"This way," he said, following the city wall eastward. "There are a few of them in the city, but this one's the nearest. And just so you know, it's called Magda's Tower, after the Mother Superior."

"Uh, alright." She slowed to peer into a shop front, mesmerized by an array of curly-haired porcelain dolls. How beautiful, she thought. She'd never known such toys even existed. They looked more like fragile works of art than anything to really play with. Her own childhood doll (now long missing) had been a floppy, noseless thing, nothing to compare.

"Come on," Rio tried to coax her away. "There'll be enough time for that tomorrow,"

"Look," she gasped, hopping over to the next store. "Dresses."

"Expensive dresses."

"How much do you think it would be for their very cheapest one?"

"Still too expensive. Don't look."

She made a face, but obediently went ahead. They kept walking, right to the end of the wall where a last bit of land disappeared into shoreline. On a blot of wild gardens and stunted trees stood a round, weaving building – it looked to Hannah just like a chess pawn. Rio pulled open a low wooden gate, letting her walk inside, and together, they went up the steps, coming inside a bright, pristine hall. All around them, pictures were etched into the curved stone, stretching and seeping into each other like a massive artwork of artworks. Some images were of saints and cherubs, but others showed tree-filled heavens, animals running and streams flowing.

"Look at that," Hannah whispered.

"They were done by artists all over," a voice spoke up, coming from a corner. They both turned, facing a tall, older nun seated behind a small desk. She was scribbling something quick and unseen, but looked up after a minute, her eyes striking and blue. "We allow anyone to come here and contribute their works."

"After one person started, others kept adding on," Rio told his sister. "It's a few years' worth of art. And still ongoing."

"Rio Iver, is it?" the nun said, recognition sparking in her eye. "Well, look at you. I'd heard from Shelby you were accepted. Congratulations."

"Thank you. It's good to see you again."

"And who's this you've brought with you? Your … ?"

"Sister. This is Hannah. She's come from the village to stay in Dalen for a few days."

"You two just came, did you?"

He nodded. "I hope you have room?"

"Of course. Now that drafting's over, Magda's all empty and quiet again." She got up, a broad, strong-looking woman. "I'm Sister Vicki, by the way," she said to Hannah. "Welcome to Magda's Tower."

"Thank you."

"Come with me. I'll show you to the dormitories on the third floor. We should be able to get you a good room now that most of them have been vacated." She headed for the stairs, and Rio and Hannah followed.

"How long will you be staying, Hannah?" the older nun asked as they took the way up. Hannah had never seen so many stairs before, and their curling shape made her giddy.

"A few days probably," she answered, firmly gripping the rail. "How many floors are in this tower?"

"Seven. Most are for classes and sleeping. The dining hall, infirmary and common room are downstairs. You should be spending quite a bit of time there while you're here. Well – not the infirmary, of course. Unless you're frightfully unlucky."

"Actually, one of the drafters fell sick his first day here," Rio said.

"Oh, that's right. The Rhiullardi boy. Poor thing. I think it was the long journey that did it. The stress too."

"Did he … die?" Hannah asked.

"Oh, no, no. He got better, thank goodness."

"But he missed drafting," Rio told her. "He was so upset. He said he'll be coming back next year. Why, by that time, I could be a lieutenant or something."

Hannah almost snorted. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"From what I've heard, your brother did quite well on the tests," Sister Vicki said. "You should be more encouraging." She turned off onto the third floor, heading down the bend until she came to a door with an 'empty' mark. She pushed it open and went inside, lighting a small lamp. A bed, a mirror, one table and stool.

"It's not much," Sister Vicki declared.

"I like it," Hannah said. Clean, cozy – she really didn't need anything else. At the end, out a square window, was the city, a rolling carpet of blocks and roads. A breeze squeezed its way inside, and she sighed against it, becoming relaxed.

Beside her, Rio set down her bag, letting out a heavy breath. "Well, everything looks good, so I'd better be going."

"Oh, that's right," Sister Vicki went. "Shouldn't you be at the station?"

"I'm going over there now."

"Can you make it?" Hannah asked him.

"It's not far. Just straight down the road."

"Better hurry," Sister Vicki advised him. "You wouldn't want to get into trouble, not when you've just been accepted."

"No, not at all. Hannah – I'll come see you again tomorrow as soon as I can get off. Probably at lunch. If you have anything you need, you can speak to Sister Vicki or any of the other nuns. Don't be afraid to ask."

"He's right," Sister Vicki assured her. "I'll help where I can."

"I really have to go. I'll see you, Hannah. Thank you for your help, Sister Vicki."

"Not at all."

He sent them a quick wave, walking briskly out the door before they heard his feet winding quickly downstairs.

"I should be going too," Sister Vicki sighed. "I can't be away from my post too long."

"Your post?"

"Watch duty. Basically I stand as guard and a receiver of guests. My most favorite duty. Anyway, I hope you enjoy yourself here, Hannah. You must be tired, so have yourself a good rest tonight."

"Thank you, I will."

Sister Vicki nodded, shutting the door for her as she slipped out.

Alone now, Hannah made her way across the room, sitting carefully on the strange, stiff bed. If she tipped her head back, she could see out the window, up to a cold moon and wispy clouds. She was tired, tired from the long walk and long day. As yet, she didn't really have anything to say on Dalen yet. So far, she'd made one friend and almost gotten run over in the street. Not much of interest. Tomorrow would be a good test. Tomorrow, she would start trying to understand this place that was her brother's new home.