Year of the Boar, Eighth Month, Day 15.

I had thought that working in the camp with the Traders had kept me fitter than I was when I set out from Pale Twilight but after only a day of walking in the lands of Dying Crane, I am already exhausted. The ship put to anchor a few miles out from the shore and the Chief brought to me to shore in small rowing boat which used to hang at the side of the ship; a toy in comparison. We did not speak until we reached the beach; I felt emotional after all the goodbyes I had said and somewhat worried about the prospect of wandering unknown lands by myself again. When the tiny boat ran aground on the ridges of sand under the edge of the water, the Chief plucked me from the board on which I sat and carried me and my pack through a metre of so of water. He set me down about half way up the beach and put his hands on my shoulders as he looked into my eyes.

"You could stay." His voice was soft. "You would not have to marry me but you could stay."

I wanted to cry but I knew that I must not. If I had cried, I would have fallen into his arms and never left them and I had made a promise. A promise to Yuika but also a promise to myself. If I came all this way and then did not go to Dying Crane, what would the point of all of this have been...?

It was several moments before I managed to speak.

"I have made a promise. I cannot break my word..."

The Chief nodded; he kissed me ardently and then turned and walked back to the sea without saying any more. He did not look back and indeed, I would not have, either.

I started walking then. I have been studying the map of Dying Crane's lands for so long now that I do not really need to look at them. The Lands in this area of Dying Crane are low-lying and green and fairly flat. The mountains lie to the west and I am thankful that I do not need to be wandering around in those. The temperature up here is significantly colder than it is in Pale Twilight. I cannot imagine how cold it must be in the mountains. Sol-Bi gave me a fur wrap to wear; I tired to tell her that I would not need it but I am glad that she insisted. I dread to think what it will be like when night falls. I have managed to build myself a fire so that I shall at least be warm when I go to sleep. I would rather not have it but I have a knife with which I can defend myself should the flames attract attention and I would prefer not to freeze to death while I sleep.
I have a day or two of walking before I reach the House and I must think of a plan before I arrive. I can hardly just barge up to the doors and demand an audience with Lady Yuika. It is a pity that I have had no bird lately, for it would be far easier to send word to Nanami and have her come and collect me. I have thought of almost every other contingency; I wonder why this has not occurred to me before.