Kobu Rodjusalarhä-Senisedjarhä sits atop her horse. The day is windy and crisp, well suited for the first moon of spring before the rains begin in earnest. Dry weather means fast travel—rain leaves stranded at home both bird and human. She is in the first third of the column, riding beside Kobu Njejinjonoku-Naräkanä.

While she has two falcon feathers by birth, she is on this mission because of her services and success to Kacätasäla. She is a scribe, and her knowledge of the Great Books is rivalled only by the path mothers. Njejinjonoku, meanwhile, is KobuThonu by marriage—his first feather is a shockingly small top-feather of Woodpecker. It looks rather amusing paired with the stunning flight-feather of falcon. He started small, and then served in the Falcon Guard for twelve more years—serving three Melisākacän ably. The near twenty years difference in age between him and his wife goes unmarked, if not unignored. His hair is greying, but he has two daughters and a son at home. Still, he is a sound, considerate, thoughtful man. Those from the Falcon Guard so often have visions of glory—or of unsatisfactory romances—motivating them. Of course, the same could be said for all the Kacätahamä. She is happy to spend her life with her books and with the thoughtful women who care for the books beside her.

Surrounding them, thirty six bowmen of the Guard, each with a shield-bearer, march. The Guards are mounted, but their shield-bearers walk alongside DäKabāhä and draft horses laiden with gifts follow.

As they near their destination, the terrain grows rougher, preparing for the cataract ahead. Of course, this is a well trod route. Many hoofs and feet have stepped where they step now. Still, their task today is historic.

Let our path lead us to success, she prays as the city of Vaharidjana comes into view.