Verdant Basin even in the darkness he's grasping for it

His woman was not here! The stupid bitch had probably fled further in to these wilds, and for what? The chance to be free of her commitments? Women! Neizan doubled back along the way he had come, intent on finding the trail of his wife or some other clue.

There was a woman's scent among the ferns here. If nothing else, Neizan figured he could find this woman and maybe have a nice roll in the hay, to take the edge off. Maybe not, but, he thought himself a charmer.

The scent led him deep among the trees, then shifted. There was someone out there — pale-bodied, like someone of the north, and small enough it could've been the woman. He called out: AY! CHIKA!