After an appropriate three weeks of honeymoon, the ronin who would be a Lord set out with the boy, who knew the way to the Salamander's cave. The first part of their journey was pleasant, riding around the beaches of the island to a pass that would lead up to the rocky slopes of Godo, the volcano. As they rounded an arm of the island and emerged from the forests behind the shore, Godo itself came into view. The volcano was tall and terrible, and black smoke roiled steadily from the mouth.

"Oji," said the ronin, "How tall is the Salamander?"

"Twice so high as yourself, sir."

"Hmm," said the ronin.

They did not ride horses on their way to the cave, for the Hamada's horses were dwarfish things, sure of foot but unused to riders. The Hamada used the animals for tilling and carting, but not for riding. They trudged on foot up the slopes of Godo and skirted the entrance to the house of the King of Fire. As they passed it, they shielded their faces from the powerful heat.

"Oji," asked the ronin, "How hot does the Salamander burn?"

"Not so hot as this, sir, but hot enough to burn very badly!"

"Hmm," said the ronin.

They climbed down the far face of Godo. The village, which had been clearly visible as they made their ascent, disappeared from view. Oji became afraid, but the ronin comforted him with a happy song from the mainland. As the ronin was ending his song, a rockslide came down from the peak of Godo, and nearly smashed them to bits.

"Oji!" shouted the ronin as they dodged and rolled to avoid the falling stones, "How quick is the Salamander?"

"Very quick, sir, but I think he should avoid the slopes of Godo! My uncles say the rockslides are most dangerous!"

"Ha!" shouted the ronin, laughing at Oji's joke.

Night came on them as they reached the bottom of the slopes of Godo. As the darkness settled, they had their dinner and prepared to rest near the edge of a cliff. Below their campsite, waves crashed on the rocky shoreline and the pickets of the Lord of the Sea watched them, shouting challenges at the ronin.

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Are you going to fight them?"

"No."

"But they have called you a coward!"

"I braved the doorway of a Fire-king and narrowly escaped the wrath of the lord of Stones. That is bravery enough for one day."

"I did those things too."

"Well, if you have courage to spare, then you fight them. I'm going to sleep, if I can sleep above their racket. " The ronin peeked over the cliff, "Quiet, you!" he shouted, "I wish to sleep!"

The sea-warders grew bored of their taunting by the crow's hour, and allowed Oji and the ronin their sleep. When the morning came, the pair arose and walked the last few miles to the Salamander's cave.

The Salamander