The moment Jenwy graduates school, she signs up with the Anti-Nikynite Watch.  Utopian theocracies like Nikya might not be the biggest problem in the world today (she argued the pro case in debate class, and got roundly trounced), or the most tractable (she argued that case too, and... well, has to admit that the long history should've told her there wouldn't be a permanent solution) - but they're probably the most interesting and exciting to deal with.

It turns out that the war scare dies down just a few weeks after she gets there, and the army that was coming together falls apart as the volunteers all resign and leave.  Jenwy quickly volunteers to be a spy, but they say that even though she's willing to lie, they don't think she can pretend to be a convert convincingly.

So Jenwy throws herself into helping the few refugees who make their way out.  But it still isn't enough.

She's staring toward the Nikynite border feeling bored, and toying with the idea of resigning from the Watch and just walking in by herself.  She probably wouldn't do any good, but it's not like anyone would stop her.

And then a strange glistening... mirror?  No, it's a snake... with a mirror tied onto it? comes from around a hill, slithering toward her.  Curious, she crouches down and steps forward to get a better look.  And then it jumps at her, and she's elsewhere.