Year of the Boar. Twelfth Month, Day 22. Postscript.

 I sat with the Deputy Master at Arms this afternoon. He has explained that he and the Master at Arms believe that if Shigeru does attempt a coup, it will be by stealth and not by force. They think that Shigeru is not stupid enough to mobilise the number of troops he would need to overcome the House. It would be noticed; other Houses may send their own troops and Shigeru would then find himself fighting on multiple fronts. It would not make sense. Instead, they think he is likely to try and enter the House as a visitor with a few highly trained and deadly men disguised as his retinue. They will cause chaos from within.

The Master at Arms has the perimeter of the House surrounded to make sure that Shigeru never gets close enough. They have been ordered to use deadly force if necessary. 

The Deputy Master at Arms uses the same strategy here; ensure Shigeru never gets close enough to fulfil his aim. He did point out that they both believe Shigeru will do nothing until winter is over by which time, he may well have forgotten about his deranged plans. He hesitated before adding that he had read the letter Shigeru sent and he would die before letting him touch a thread of my gown.

I suppose I must have looked quite sick at the thought because the Deputy Master at Arms put his hand gently on my forearm and told me that I could trust them and their men. I tried to muster a confident smile and thanked him but I cannot help but feel that we are all missing something... How I wish I had paid attention to strategy classes at school; Seira would be able to sort through all of this in a fraction of a stick and she would know exactly how to respond. Since she is not here, I have no choice but to try and think through it myself. If only I could do that without the unwanted images of Shigeru assailing me. I have not thought about a pipe for a while but how I wish I could have one now...