Year of the Boar, Sixth Month, Day 14.

My hand shakes as I write this; I am making rather a mess - the ink looks more like a spider had bathed in it and then wandered across my pages than the the courtly hand with which I usually write. But for now, at least, it will have to suffice. Whether it is from cold or exhaustion, I cannot say. I may even be ailing for something although I do not feel particularly cold or ill at present. Since I have no accurate way to mark time, I cannot be certain, of course, but I believe that I may have been asleep for the last 48 sticks or so... Shortly after I committed my last observations to paper, I felt overwhelmed by fatigue and thought it would be reasonably safe to take a short nap here before moving further into Crying Orchid's Lands. I took care to move closer to the base of the bush near which I rested, and using my supply bundle as a pillow. I covered myself with leaves and grass as best I could. And then I slept. I woke once during the dead of night, and once when the sun hung low on the horizon, heavy, gold and lethargic. On both occasions, I tried to convince myself to get up and begin walking again, but I could not. Now the sun is bright and at the peak of its course.
The lands here are deserted, there are no villages near-by and the roads, such as they are, do not look well-trodden. I have allowed myself to believe that I am out of danger just for the time being and I have taken the time to make a careful inventory of my supplies. If I continue to eat as sparingly as I have been, I may be able to survive a ten-day or more without seeking help. After that, however, I shall be forced to look for a village at the very least and the sort of trouble that might invite, concerns me greatly. I must take a closer look at my map and see if I can plan a route that will keep me as far away from the castles as possible while not adding too much distance to my journey. I gave some thought to making straight for Purple Lightning once I was on the road, but I have come to the conclusion that I must first go to Dying Crane. Nanami can help me, even if Lady Yuika will not. But, I ramble. Before I set off again, I must at least make an attempt to document my journey thus far.
I have mentioned that I barely slept for the first five days of my travels; I believed that Mother would be quick to dispatch a cohort to retrieve me and return me to the castle. Within the lands of Pale Twilight, they could do this without impunity since I have no authority at all, and I would merely be a fugitive that Mother wished recaptured on our Lands. On other Houses' Lands, according to the Treaty, permission would have to be sought from the current Ruler for extradition. Mother of course, may order her soldiers to disregard the Treaty, but I do not... think... she would. My present thinking is that my best chance of survival is to ask for hospitality among the villages rather than the Nobility. Villages far enough away from the castles that the Ruler's do not get wind of my appearance until I have well and truly disappeared again. I do not think I can hope to remain anonymous for long; I am not a good mimic and the peasants will know instantly from my accent that I am not one of them. The only thing I will be able to do is tell the truth and hope that they help me...
Eventually I shall make my way to a House that is faintly hostile to Pale Twilight, Golden Harvest or perhaps Silent Thunder (although that might still be risky), they may be willing to risk Mother's anger by harbouring me for a few days. But Golden Harvest is still many days travel from here and while the Treaty may buy me some time on Crying Orchid's Lands, ultimately - (with great concern for my well-being, of course)- Shuuichi will send me straight back to Pale Twilight if I am caught on his Lands.
Thus I have stayed as far away from any kind of civilisation as possible - walked as much as possible during the hours of the night and bathed in streams in the dark too, and during the day, I have kept myself hidden, walking only under cover of greenery or woods. Surprisingly, I have seen no one. I do not know whether to be relieved or worried by this. Part of me does not trust this luck and I fear a trap. I believed that once I finally escaped Pale Twilight's Lands, I would be elated. In fact, what I feel is trepidation. I have been walking for only five days and my feet are blistered, my knees ache and my hands feel rough. Dying Crane is at the other end of the Kingdom, I must believe that I can make it there, but it is likely to take many more weeks of this and I do not know if I have the strength.
I must sleep a while longer and then be on my way. I will give some thought to laying a false trail for those who may be pursuing me, too.