>>6111649As you divide your attention between your travel companions and keeping your caravan on what you hope is the road, you start to notice a change in your surroundings–the road is flatter, for starters, and in the distance you hear the creak of wooden structures amidst the breeze.
Windmills, you think, not that you’ve ever seen one before. As you pass by one of the structures your ears are tickled by the faint song of wind chimes blowing in the wind, your nose kissed by the smell of fresh-cut grass.
“Looks like we’re nearly there!” Announces TT with a triumphant strum of her Striili! “Welcome to the Outskirts, Ant!”
“Should reach the City Walls soon!” Adds Volka from the back of the wagon. “Just keep it steady, Rook!”
True to their words, the creaky chorus of windmills increases exponentially as you trek through vast tracts of unseen farmland marked only by the sweet smell of fruits and the tinkle of bells marking each row. You’d probably lose yourself in the unseen spectacle of it all were you not hailed by someone on the side of the road!
“Hoi there!”
Before you can react, Volka, Tzah-Tzie, and even Salty Suutz have already returned the greeting! As the caravan starts up a steeper grade, you raise an eyebrow at your comrades. Friendly people around here.
“It’s just neighborly!” Explains Volka with a hint of teacher in her voice, “You always say hello to others on the road–it’s just how it is!”
“They say it used to be an old rule y’know! If someone was creeping around and didn’t say hi, people assumed they were up to mischief!” The Spinner adds with a grin! “Now it’s just something people do!”
“Just don’t expect someone to greet you if they want to put a knife in your arceptyx.” Adds Oti with the usual charm in his voice. “People around these parts aren’t as well-mannered when they want to kill you.”
Awww…
>CONTD. 