Free The Wittering Way by Nat Burns

close to the homes, between them,” Saffron said shyly. “Maybe no one will notice us there.”
    We turned to look at Saffron, who in her golden blondeness seemed to radiate a glow in the morning sunlight. She smiled tremulously as her fammie whirled.
    “Good plan, Saff. It might just work,” I said.
    I strode forward and ducked down the side of the nearest cottage, Afton pressing closely to the back of my neck. The rest followed. Moments later, we carefully emerged onto the next parallel lane. We proceeded that way in silence, lane after lane, avoiding Brinc and Luti alike, edging ever closer to the huge citadel building. The white fortress loomed large above us now and I studied it, trying to decide the best way in.
    I saw a doorway set into the back left flank of the building. It was hidden by a large metal bin filled with what looked like rubbish.
    “Do you see that door,” I whispered to RoseIII. “There behind that metal?”
    “I do,” he responded quietly. “What if it’s locked?”
    “Just a chance we will have to take.”
    “There are no guards. Why would they leave the citadel unguarded?”
    “I don’t ken,” I said, searching the area with my eyes. “But you are right, I don’t see anyone.”
    “Do you think they have magic up?” He shifted position slightly so he could peer around the wall of the cottage that hid us.
    The sound penetrated from the left, along the lane leading from the side and toward the main entryway to the citadel. We all turned that way.
    “Dim!” I hissed. “Everyone dim.”
    A strange, metal-plated conveyance rolled toward us on steel-shod wheels. A group of Meab sat atop it, but they were as different from us as night is from day. They wore morning robes but their robes had been woven with metal so that they shimmered with every movement. The females wore their sad fammies as scarves around their necks or else configured by metal constraints into odd, asymmetrical hats. The men wore grim expressions as they pushed buttons on small square machines that they held in their hands.
    “I just adore tournament day,” one female trilled to the other as she tried to right the curls in her long, blonde hair.
    “I think Jasper will be as victorious this year as last,” her companion answered. “Look how dedicated he is.”
    Her gaze incited mine to follow and led to one of the men whose attention was immersed in his machine.
    A new group of Lutis passed by, a small group of them, heavily laden with cloth bags. They didn’t see us as we were still dimmed and one almost trod on Capel, who squeaked and moved aside. One of the men from the carriage looked up and eyed the area where we stood suspiciously. Could he see us? Hear us over the noise of the carriage and passing Lutis? After a long moment of peering, he spoke into the lighted machine that he held in his hand as the carriage ambled away toward the citadel.
    “This doesn’t look good,” I muttered to Yewsy. “I think our presence here has been announced somehow.”
    “Announced?” Yewsy was watching the Lutis amble away.
    “Perhaps we should split,” Talew whispered, shaking his head. “Together we are too noticeable.”
    I nodded. “I think you may be right.”
    Thoughts gamboled inside my head, and I silently asked our foremothers for direction. My hand crept into my bag and rested on my mother’s grimoire. Peace filled me.
    “This is the plan,” I said, quietly and quickly. “Yewsy and I will go into the citadel to find Avapeony and bring her out. RoseIII, you and the others head back to the hedge and wait for us on the other side.
    “But—” Memo began but I raised my hand to silence her.
    “There will be too many of us. If there were more places to hide and we weren’t so exposed, it might be possible for all of us to go in. As it is, we will only draw attention to ourselves. This is the best way.”
    RoseIII shook his head. “No. You need my protection.”
    I nudged him gently. “We are strong