Not a dream? That evokes all kinds of worries. As much as she's happy to see him, this place has dangers. It's a big city, not the little town that he's used to, and there are politics and invaders and dangers and things he would never have to face at home.

She hesitates at his next question, not sure how he'll take it. "It's a city -- a continent, almost -- on the back of a giant turtle in the middle of the ocean."

. . . Which is sinking. But she's definitely not going to tell him that. One crisis at a time.