Year of the Boar, Thirteenth Month, Day 9.

 General Yoshida questioned Airi today about the route she took to get here. He does not feel inclined to send his men out on a fool's errand when they should be here, protecting the Lady of the House, he says. Intellectually, I quite understand him but I will have that horse recovered if the entire cohort has to spend the next month looking for it. Losing Airi's pack is not an option. She says she does not mind losing her personal effects but in her position, I would feel their loss most grievously. Airi says they are only things but I know she is uncomfortable about not having her own combs and hair pins. I will get them back for her. Along with those letters. 

I was afraid to ask her who sent them, fearing that I would hear the worst and she would confirm that she is indeed in league with Shigeru... I avoided mentioning them until she related an amusing anecdote about meeting Seira at Silent Thunder. Apparently, Kaede organised some sort of reception for Airi and her troupe at which Seira got herself rather drunk; seven sheets to the wind, as Airi put it. At some point during the evening, Airi had expressed her intention to return to Dying Crane for the winter at which, Seira, displaying an uncharacteristic lack of inhibition, had thrown herself on Airi's neck and begged her to bring me correspondence. She had refused to let go until Airi agreed. When she did, according to Airi, Seira launched into a dreadful rendition of a bawdy poem and did some sort of dance around the room. All while Kaede pretended that nothing was amiss. 

I have no idea what Seira is doing at Silent Thunder. I had not thought that she and Kaede were particular friends but I suppose I will find out when I read the letter. 

There is another letter from Kaede, which apparently arrived at the House after I left and the Diplomats entrusted to Airi; she says Kaede's seal was intact and the Diplomats did not suggest it contained anything of consequence. How would they know if they have not read it... I cannot imagine why Kaede has written to me but I will have to wait until Airi's pack is recovered, to find out.

General Yoshida is not hopeful that his men will find the horse but I told him that I have the utmost confidence that they will. From which I hope he understood that his men had better not return without it. I will no doubt regret that stance if something untoward does happen while they are gone, but in this moment, that pack is the only thing I care about.