Year of the Boar, Sixth Month, Day 17.

I remembered, after I had put my brush away the last time I wrote, that I had not yet read the letter that Shikiko passed on from Nanami. She apologises for the brevity of her last missive but explains in more detail that events that had kept her from communicating more comprehensively. It seems that Lord Broken Rampart (whoever he is) has been creating quite a stir at Dying Crane. Apparently his lordship has decided that he does not like Itsuki, at all. Indeed, he appears to almost enjoy baiting her. After Lady Yuika's "episode", Nanami tells me that she and Broken Rampart talked at some length. Yuika fell into a barely conscious state and had to be carried back to her rooms. At first (Nanami writes) the Lady was reluctant and shied away from his lordship's touch and even his voice. Repeatedly he asked what ailed Yuika, refusing to accept her vague responses about the heat affecting her. He sent Nanami for a cool damp cloth and actually soothed her brow by all accounts and eventually, something in his manner led the Lady to allow Nanami to answer his questions about her Mistress's ailment. His lordship saw to it that Yuika was settled and asleep before he and Nanami talked in her ante-chamber and Nanami says that she told him everything that Yuika had confided in her. Furthermore, (and were I not absolutely convinced of Nanami's loyalty and good sense I would perceive another trap) she wishes to tell him of my existence and the fact that she serves two Mistresses. I do not know quite how to respond to that, one the one hand, I cannot see the harm in it... but on the other... what if he is not to be trusted after all...? I wrote Nanami a reply apprising her of my location, and my planned route, and telling her that she should take the course that she feels is wisest where his lordship is concerned. Until a bird finds me with another message however, I have no way to send it, so it will have to wait.
I have had to slow my walking pace just a little and as the weather seems to be getting a great deal hotter, I find myself sleeping more. Perhaps it is just that my initial fear has dimmed and I feel safe enough to take a more leisurely pace or perhaps it is the fact that my feet and knees hurt a great deal and my ankle has not really recovered. In either case, I am not making such good time as I was when I began my journey and I am worried about having to find more food on the lands on Crying Orchid. I believe that within another few days I will cross the border into Golden Harvest where I may find help... if I do not, of course I will be in trouble because Golden Harvest is so small that there will be no hiding from Lord Yuuta and Lady Iyo.... they may be duped into believing this a childish prank and that Taiji follows not far behind though... I shall give that a little more thought. I have created another copy of my musings; one that has been slightly adjusted to make me sound quite insane and give the impression that not only am I considering how to end my own life, but also that I am aiming to travel up the West border and into the Eighth Kingdom rather than my actual route which is up the East coast and into Silent Thunder before reaching Dying Crane... I left it torn into a couple of pieces, snagged on a bush, just obvious enough to be seen, but at the same time, looking very casual as if I had dropped it by mistake... at least I hope that's the impression I have created... the hour grows later and I have rested long enough, I must be on my way.