"++What a strange man.++" Sikke stated the second Enoka was out of earshot. Still shocked, Aike could only nod their agreement.
- - - -
Several months passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. Aike supposed keeping busy was what did it. Between the standard affairs of settling into their office, and the building of the promised outposts in the mountains, there were plenty of nights fuelled solely by tea and tobacco.
After returning from the border, Aike had had their work cut out for them, with several council meetings and coordination between the Trapdoor squadrons taking place daily. It was exhausting work, convincing others that Talu was not planning anything nefarious, and more work still to justify pulling soldiers from the east.
Still, as they promised, it was done. There was only the one outpost constructed before winter settled into the mountains, but there were plans for more at the first sign of spring. When the newly formed patrols had come across clear signs of outsider movement in the passes, well...
That evidence made it far, far easier for Aike to guarantee those other outposts. They supposed reality had set in - it was one thing to hear the sad stories from Talu. It was quite another to see the marks of slaver camps within half a day's march from home.
The mountain passes being more heavily guarded was also what allowed Aike to travel along them just as the shortest days of winter approached. They had kept in contact with Chief Great Horned Owl, of course, but there was something of an added gesture to walk the paths themself. A kind of proof to the changed safety of the mountain, that the Governor could make the journey into Talu with only their guard and not risk being attacked and sold off.
Again, Aike did not regret the excuse to head out of the city. They breathed deep the cold winter air, sighing it out in a soft puff of vapor. They wore their armor, as always, though the cooler weather necessitated the addition of thick, woolen ponchos and knitted gloves, especially as they climbed upwards to where snow had managed to fall and stick. It made the journey slow, but nothing Aike or their guard hadn't dealt with before, and they managed to arrive at where the pass emptied into Talu just before midday. The group stopped at the final post marking the end of the Cortlan road, waiting patiently to be invited.
Well, Aike mused as they saw several of their trapdoors stand with open mouths attempting to catch the few snowflakes that drifted in the air,
mostly patient.
