Year of the Crow, First Month, Day 13.

 The walk in the garden yesterday afternoon was exactly what I needed to clear my mind and I believe I have conceived a plan of action. The first thing to do when I arrive at the House will be to find anyone who knows Father or Mother. I will discern whether they are friend or foe and then I will try to gain as much information in the form of gossip as I can about Mother's youth and about their marriage in the early days. That should give me some sort of insight and tell me whether my instinct about Mother's change of personality is correct or not. If it is, I may find more information on the subject simply by asking. If my instinct is wrong, I shall have to think of some other tack. 

I feel less anxious now that I have decided upon at least the start of a plan and so I shall  simply focus on enjoying my final few days at Silent Thunder and spend as much time with Kaede as she has time for before I leave. It may be a long while before I see her again and I do so want her to think of me as a friend...