The question's perfectly logical. A lot of new Sleepers have trouble before reaching one of the holes drilled into the ice. The rising tide. The timing, however, makes Duty wonder what about him potentially alarms the freshly arrived Sleeper. He's carrying his usual complement of weapons (rapier, condensed spear, two pistols, and a handful of knives) along with the bow Heartrest gave him for the holiday. It's more than enough weapons to get attention. They've simply been there, obviously there, the entire time. Something in the way he carries himself. His name. He's not sure, but it comes with a sense of being evaluated, focused upon, to some end.

"It's difficult terrain," Duty says. The ice isn't smooth and flat and easy to traverse. It also can get slick, which is why his boots have a set of cleats wrapped around them.

"Danger can come anytime here," Duty adds. Whether that be some kind of beast or being teleported into an entirely new environment or alterations to one's emotions. A lot is possible with all kinds of consequences.