When Hinoka saw the glazed look in Setsuna's teal eyes, she began to doubt if her plan would work. It was not due to a lack of confidence in her ability to infiltrate the Nohrian court, although this certainly put her on edge. No, her faith almost wavered in her retainers' ability to keep up a facade. Setsuna would try of course, but trying did not guarantee success. Azama, on the other hand, Hinoka worried he would send her scheduled letters out of order to amuse himself.

It could give her peace of mind to have her retainers in her sight. However, Hinoka didn't dare bring the duo with her; she needed to remain inconspicuous in Norh. Besides, she also needed someone to remain and create the illusion that she was still in Izumo all winter. Mikoto would be angry once she realized that Hinoka had deceived her. Especially since she lied to cover up a risky procedure, but Hinoka knew, when she returned with her long missing sister, Corrin, Mikoto's justifiable anger would be short-lived.

Rescuing Corrin was why Hinoka became a pegasus knight, despite Mikoto's concerns. There was a time when Hinoka considered it odd to think of Mikoto as her mother. At the present, it was nigh impossible to think of her as anything but.

Hinoka pushed the box towards Setsuna, "Can you repeat what I just told you?" she asked.

Setsuna blinked. "Mail each letter once a week." She seemed bored, but comprehensive.

"Yes," Hinoka said as she stood up. She looked Azama in the eye, "And I do not want you tampering with any of the letters before they are mailed."

Azama bowed, "As you wish lady Hinoka."

Hinko placed her hands on her hips. "I am depending on both of you," she said. "Corrin and I will see you in the spring." She was either bringing her sister with her or not returning at all. There was no contingency plan.

Under the pink glow of sunrise, Hinoka attached her pack to the back of her saddle. Thankful her pegasus, Haru, recognized her despite the disguise. It was something she picked up in neutral territory. A light shirt of padded armor called gambeson, a pair of woolen trousers and leather boots that laced in the front which were a bit big. Hinoka wore extra thick socks inside of them and hoped it would suffice until she arrived at Nohr and found something that fit better.

Haru stamped his foot and snorted, pressing his nose against the pouch at Hinoka's hip. "Alright, boy," she said, pushing his head away so she could reach inside. She retrieved a shiny-red apple. "I think you earned something special for breakfast."

Haru quickly gobbled the apple and immediately winnied. Hinoka shook her head. "No more for now." Cautious of his wings, Hinoka mounted Haru and grasped the reins. "We have a lot of ground," she paused. "Well, a lot of sky to cover today." She snapped the reins and Haru first started out in a trot that quickly turned into a gallop. The gate to the monastery was ahead of them. Haru effortlessly leapt over it, but instead of landing, they rose higher.

Hinoka looked down at the trees and gardens, the leaves beginning to turn orange. Izumo was always peaceful and beautiful. It was a shame she could not spend the rest of her "winter retreat" there.

They flew for several hours, taking breaks by ponds and streams. It was close to sundown when she reached the port by the Hoshidan sea. Hinoka secured lodgings at a small inn and was provided with a cold bowl of fish stew for both dinner and breakfast. It would take longer to cross through Nohr via neutral territory, but it was far less risky to fly over the sea instead of the Infinite Chasm.

By noon on the second day, she landed in the Port Town Dia. Haru's wings dropped when his feet reached the cobblestone. Hinoka dismounted and led him towards a water trow shaded by several nearby buildings. As Haru drank, Hinoka looked up at the signs. One of them in cracked golden lettering advertised fishing supplies. It was a bit early to look for an inn. She could cover much more ground and fly the rest of the day. Hinoka focused on Haru's white fur that glistened with sweat. The poor thing deserved a longer rest. Besides, she did not care to spend a night in the forest of the forlorn.

Instead, she replenished her supplies and traded her naginata for a more Nohrian styled lance. As she inspected the weapon, Hinoka knew she would have to be wary of the shorter blade at the end of the staff. The weight was not what she was used to, but if she were to arrive in Nohr with a naginata, she might as well scream from the highest spires of Krakenburg that she is a princess from Hoshido.

Following another night spent at an inn, she was off again at sunrise.

Hinoka was careful to stay in the clouds as often as she could, praying a wyvern knight would not break through the white fog. Despite her pounding heart, Hinoka made it to a forest. She carefully guided the pegasus through the boughs. Hooves softly landed against the mossy earth. The Pegasus snorted and shook her head and stamped. Breathing in, Hinoka ran her fingers through her wind-blown bangs. She looked up at the green leaves that were fading into a red color on the edges.

"Well, Haru," Hinoka whispered. Although there was no one else in sight, she did not dare voice her thoughts any louder. "We made it." After years of dreaming and planning, she was inside Nohr. She recalled the days following Corrin's abduction, how she snuck out of her room with a small bag of food and a change of clothes, thinking she could march over to Nohr and demand that Garon return Corrin to her. The staff, Ryoma, and sometimes her mother always found her of course and brought her back inside.

Trees crashed behind her. Haru tossed back his head and reared up on his hind legs. Hinoka grasped his bridle and tugged it back down. "Easy," she said. "Easy." Haru calmed at her words, but the snapping and crashing continued. Hinoka looked over her shoulder as a green body with chains at its wrist tore through the thicket.

A faceless.

Previously, she only had contact with them fighting alongside her brothers on the border. She managed to take on several at a time. However, back then she had Ryoma and both their set of retainers for backup. Perhaps it was best to run, but if she were to leave the faceless here, it would eventually find other victims.

Teeth clenched, she whirled around to face the charging monster. One hand holding the lance, the other her reins in an equally tight grip. The faceless threw a fist at her.

Hinoka yanked back on the reins and pulled away. The Faceless swung again. They continued the dance of attacks and dodging a few more times. Before the faceless struck her side and threw her from Haru. Her back hit the swampy ground as the faceless loomed over her. Hinoka shoved her spear upward into its chest and quickly rolled away. The faceless crashed face first inches beside her.

Sitting up from the mud, Hinoka wondered how she was going to retrieve her spear from underneath the faceless. She forced herself to stand up as pain shot around her back and side. Hesitantly, she placed her palms against the faceless and pushed until her arms and legs quaked as sweat slid down the back of her neck, but the lance refused to budge.

Haru approached and nuzzled her shoulder. Hinoka exhaled and petted his forehead. She would have to leave the faceless to rot where it fell. She was down a good weapon, but at least it would not leave the forest and find its way into a settlement. Hinoka looked up at the sky. Not a single beam from the moon or twinkle of a star penetrated the canopy. Rumors established the forest of the forlorn as the darkest place in Nohr.

Swallowing, Hinoka turned away from the fallen faceless, hoping the monster would not reanimate and strike. She remounted Haru and flew above the tree line continuing on through the night.