Year of the Boar, Eleventh Month, Day 9.

 I have made a decision. We leave for the summer house at first light tomorrow. I shall probably come to regret this decision once I am frozen to the bone but as I have told Atsuko, it is not as if I shall miss the chef since I eat next to nothing and I certainly shall not miss the constant clamour of the Diplomats and their nonsensical demands. If I am going to be friendless and alone; I prefer it to be away from prying eyes and with a view of the snow-capped peaks...

I have instructed Atsuko to tell only those upon whose discretion we can rely that we have gone and only so that they can prevent Izumi from getting any further ideas above her station in my absence. Now that I think on it, I doubt anything will prevent her from doing exactly as she pleases should she decide to enact any kind of plan but at least I will know about it before I return to the House rather than arriving back to find myself the victim of a coup I had no idea was being staged... and... so that if Broken Rampart returns, he will know where I am... it is unlikely since he has sent not even the briefest of missives since he left and when I am thinking clearly, I do not blame him; it is not as if I were much of a friend to him but I felt... better... when he was here... and I wish ... I do wish... he would come back... even for a little while so that I could at least tell him I was sorry...

I have agreed to go to the Banquet Hall while Atsuko prepares things for the journey tomorrow; I have been thinking about that piece of octopus since I saw Izumi close her lips around it in the hall last evening and perhaps if I could taste it... savour the saltiness and the texture of its crispy skin, I might actually enjoy eating again... In any case, I should like to hear the musicians; Atsuko tells me there is a group of travelling minstrels in the Hall tonight, among them a renowned biwa player whose reputation for excellence is not exaggerated. I heard her play once, when I was at Shimmering Dawn and I was most envious of her talent; I should enjoy hearing her play again...