Year of the Boar, Eighth Month, Day 23.

It is a relief to sleep in a proper bed again. The innkeeper has put me in a room at the back of the inn where there is a delightful view of the gardens behind the main house. They appear quite extensive from what little I have seen so far and there are two or three tea houses as well as a large stable. I can only imagine that this must be a rest station for merchants, traders and travellers from across the border. It is more expensive than the last I stayed at although the price seems more than reasonable for the luxury of having a soft bed and good quality linen.

The weather is far more clement than it has been and I am glad that I can enjoy it from what seems a far more privileged position than the road. 

The innkeeper sent a woman in to deal with my hair yesterday afternoon; it was in a far worse state than I had imagined. In the few weeks since I cut it off, it has grown little but the sea air and living in the open have done it no good at all. I did not think that I had been neglecting it so badly but when I think on it properly, I cannot remember when last I pulled a comb through it. It appears that the woman the innkeeper sent has some sort of experience in looking after Ladies although which ones, I could not say. I did not think it wise to ask given that I am supposedly keeping a low profile. I cannot put my hair up since it is still too short but at least she has returned its former gloss and tidied up the ends again so that I no longer look like an urchin. She has also found me some salve for my face, hands and feet; it will soothe the sunburnt skin and soften the callouses that have developed. She has also done my nails. I had never considered myself to be vain but when I caught sight of myself in the looking glass, I felt mortified. My face was burnt even though I had not thought it that hot up here and my hands looked like I had been working in fields for my entire life; why that should have bothered me, I could not say. The life of a peasant may have suited me far better than being shut up in Pale Twilight but perhaps... and I dislike myself intensely for admitting it... perhaps it has something to do with the Chief finding me attractive...
I have not given him a great deal of thought over the past few days and I do not know why I should now...  we are never likely to meet again... but I suppose... I suppose the memory of what passed between us will stay with me for a time... As I thought about him, I felt my hand stray to my breast and I touched the skin he had broken there... it remains tender and his teeth have left a mark that seems likely to scar. Perhaps the woman's ointment will soothe that, too...
I have asked the innkeeper to find me some books. I do care which ones but I must have something to do while I sit here and wait. I have also asked for some parchment and some ink since my supplies are running extremely low. I have also asked for some brushes; that way, I will conserve the ones I have in case I do find myself travelling to Purple Lightning. There has been no word from Nanami or any of my network for that matter and until another bird arrives, I must simply wait. I cannot make any decisions until I have some more information. Of course there is no guarantee that any bird that does come will have the information I actually want. For all I know, the next one may arrive from Shikiko only to tell me that Mother is still on the warpath... It irritates me to be at the mercy of so many factors out of my control but that is the situation in which I have found myself and I suppose I must accept what I cannot change for now...

Year of the Boar, Eighth Month, Day 22.

My assumption that there must be an inn not far to the west was correct. I am thankful that I did not have to travel too much further in order to find a place to rest. I spent last night under a tree and I did not sleep well or for long; I started walking almost as soon as I woke rather than linger where I was. The inn I found is pleasant; the rooms are spacious and the innkeeper seems friendly enough. I have given her my Silks to clean and press and I have asked for someone to come and sort out my hair. While I wait for the House to return to Dying Crane, I will remain here and take advantage of the bath house and the gardens. I will also try to come up with a plan. I wonder whether to ask Yuika for her support in getting back to Purple Lightning although I do not know how good the situation is at the border; I cannot go through Fallen Sakura so I would have to go west into the Seventh Kingdom and down the border to slip into Purple Lightning from here. We shall see. In the meantime, I intend to enjoy some relaxation.