My leg was stiff this morning when I woke up, so I decided it was as good a day as any to get in a hike with Dask in the forest. I enjoy getting away from the village like this, even though walking with this damnable staff and at such a slow pace is not like it used to be. I agree with Magda when she says the only way to get rid of the limp is to walk it out and strengthen the leg again, but I fear the staff may become a permanent part of my daily life. I know people lost much more from that raid than I did, but I cannot help feeling as though part of me is gone. I was never going to be one of the town’s frontline defenders like Dask, but at least I was not stumbling over nothing like one of the elders. We go slowly, but Dask is patient with me. In fact, Dask was more observant than usual. He found me two good samples of the rare Leonotis leonurus, or ‘Griffon’s Tail’, before we headed home. Dask was needed at his father’s forge. It is impressive how much muscle that work will put on your frame. I think he looks less like Leda every day…