"Well, yes. It works that way around my home..."

"You might think so, but some of them, I wasn't sure which direction was north as I made them. This one - I think we were curving as we went, and I didn't realize it, if you compare it to this other one..." He shows the two maps side by side, and one definitely seems ... off. "It's a slog, but, espe...

"Well, they weren't really all anchored down the same way, and then dumping them in here didn't do them any favors." He keeps picking up maps and rotating them, trying to figure them out.

Kyosei blushes slightly. "It's, uh, not a code. I'm just not a good writer at the best of times. Drawing and writing in a moving wagon isn't the best of times." He looks the leaves and papers over. "That looks like them, yes. Good. Now the tricky part - finding the Ki Rin and Scorpion maps that incl...

"And most grateful for it. Any luck with finding anything for the Spider again?"

"Then, till my next visit..."

He rose, preparing to take his

/exit, unless stopped.

"That's the theory I followed, but... it led to this..." He waves his hands at the slowly being organized desks of scrolls, papers, ...was that a tree bark?

"Well, I will leave that to your office. I think that is everything, unless there's something else I need to know, or you want me to pass on?"

"One benefit of all the snow - easier to track any, ah, strays."

"Always knowing which way was North, yes, that would help. But, Charts only help if it's an area someone else has already been. Or at least, someone friendly."

"As happened earlier today. Did anyone gather the workers of the House, to interrogate them? See if the Filth had transferred?"

After a few more beats, his voice raises up again. "You said you rarely get lost. Is that while on the land, the water, or both?"

"Mmm. True enough. Thoughts on how to proceed, other than just to destroy, or try to, the affected ones?"

All humor is gone from the Spirit speaker's face. "True. I will also be carrying the warning to all I can as I travel."

A small smile. "What do you know of what the earth is like under the ground? I assure you, a few bumps is not a problem."

With a shrug, "I am of the Earth. A steady path is preferred."

"With the jade mine I found directions to, seems I know where to head for the next year."

"I have been able to do that, but only to commune with the Earth spirits. Can they do much more?"

"Oh? I didn't realize they do it any other way. How do they do it?"

Kyosei nodded, then rose.

Opening the door, he motioned for the teen to lead the way.

/scene?