The Wittering Way

by Nat Burns

  “I’m going, too, you know.”

  “I figured as much,” I replied. “I don’t think it will be dangerous. Dot may set her soldiers on us but our magic will prevail. The Diarmin is very powerful. Luckily, it’s on our side.”

  Yewsy, still watching them, muttered her response. “Lucky us.”

  “Good morning,” Avapeony said, entering the room. She paused when she saw Tsisi and Occil squared off on the table. “Looks like we’ve missed all the fun,” she said to Ronat who followed behind.

  “Ronat!” Occil said upon spying her. “Good morning!”

  Its interest allowed Tsisi the upper hand and she quickly bopped it on the back of its head with her wings.

  “Hey!” it exclaimed turning to squint at her.

  “Oh, I am sorry,” Tsisi said sarcastically as she immediately took flight and approached Avapeony. “Do you think allowing the beastie to stay is a good idea?”

  Avapeony laughed as Kes twirled Tsisi around in an aerial waltz. “Don’t get me involved in this, Tsisi. I just want to learn my wit and get on with life.”

  “Well,” she said over Kes’s misty form. “This is part of the wit, learning about Diarmin.”

  Ronat fetched more hot water from the hearth, pausing to stroke one of the Fey. “I think we’ve learned all we could ever possibly need to know from our time spent with Occil,” she said playfully.

  Occil’s eyes were originally on Ronat, but I noticed that its gaze had suddenly dropped. One of the hearth Fey, whom we called Jinni, was enjoying Ronat’s attentions, arching her back and closing her eyes in pleasure. Within the blink of an eye, Occil was on the hearth, next to Jinni.

  “Hello,” it said jovially.

  The Fey, notoriously shy as were all its kind, shrieked a high-pitched cry and disappeared behind morning glory vines. The plant, dotted with glorious purple trumpet-shaped flowers, swallowed the translucent creature. Yet, I smiled when I saw Jinni’s huge yellow eyes peer out from between two vines to study Occil.

  “Hey, Tsisi, will you fetch Memo for me? I want her to go with us at noon.”

  Tsisi glared at Occil. “Happily. Oh, this is so exciting. Historic, even. Memo will have to record it for all so we can retell it again and again.” She flew from the cottage and blessed quiet descended.

  I glanced at the hearth and saw that Occil was offering a blueberry to Jinni. Not a bad idea. It was always good to make offerings to the Fey. Jinni took the berry with a shy smile, and I realized anew how sweet Occil could be. When it wanted something.

  Book Twenty-five

  THE MOTHERS AWAITED us when we appeared at the citadel at noon. We had thought to surprise Dot Prosee by our early arrival, but the surprise was on us. All eleven Mothers, Brinc and Witta alike, and even Levi were there to record the event and reinforce the working. I was glad to see them.

  For that moment, we stood as one united force on the wide, expansive lane leading to the citadel. Lutis ceased working all around us, dropping their heavy loads of ore and standing in amazed awe. The lanes were heavy with Meab, who, without machines, were at loose ends with nothing to do. They stared at us in open-mouthed awe. I spied several older Meab running off, no doubt to inform Prosee join that we were there.

  “Well, I think we’re being announced,” I said, nudging Memo.

  “Higen, make sure you get every detail,” Memo told her fammie. “I want to savor this for many eons.”

  “I wonder how the Mothers got here so fast,” Yewsy mused. “It should have taken one more sun at least.”

  “Forest magic,” I whispered. “Branch magic.”

  “Ah, yes, we touched on that once.” She paused and sighed. “We have so much to learn,” she added thoughtfully.

  “Indeed, we do,” I agreed.

  Branch magic was a way of riding wood for extra levitation and speed through the air. Only advanced Mothers could use it, after they had paid proper obeisance to the Morri of the wood and the Jana of the wind.

  The front doors of the citadel opened and Dot Prosee appeared. She strode imperiously toward us, but I noticed how bedraggled she appeared. Her fammie wasn’t even high and healthy, it dangled limply from one hand. Her eyes roamed across the assembled Mothers, and I saw her quake slightly. My sense picked up fear from her but her bravado won out.

  Sadness swamped me. I had hoped she would reconsider her demands.

  “Well, I see you came early. This is commendable. Cleome, you obviously have seen the extreme inappropriateness of your interference. Where is the creature?”

  Olive stepped forward. “Dot, child of Prosee, Mother of Prosee. A decision has been reached, a treaty agreed. It has been exhibited to all of us that the joins of the Brinc clans do not have the best interest of the Meab in their hearts. Your affinity for magic has been ousted by your love of technology and machinery. As you must realize, this is not our way.”

  “Yes, yes,” Dot said, rudely interrupting another Mother. “We need the creature to reinstate the lightning which empowers our machines.”

  Olive recoiled at Dot’s insolence but maintained control and spoke very calmly and firmly. “The Diarmin will reinstate your machines. We have allowed this to happen. There are caveats, however. Since you prefer your technology more than the overall benefit of your kind, we have decided that Brinc clan will no longer be allowed access to Witta lands.”

  A gasp rose from all those watching. I hung my head, almost ashamed for them, that it had come to this.

  “I don’t believe you. You cannot do this. We won’t let you,” Dot said loudly.

  “It is done. Brinc Mothers, please, go home.”

  The five Brinc Mothers stepped forward and joined Dot before the citadel. Ambley was in tears but the other Brinc Mothers remained haughty, filled with righteousness. Or at least bravado.

  “Cleome, ask Occil to begin the veil, please,” Olive said gently, as all the Witta Mothers began slowly moving away from the citadel. And their Mother sisters.

  I waved my hand toward the Diarmin, who lifted its hands and a great energy shook the land. Many of the Luti slaves, realizing what was happening, made a mad clumsy dash through the hedge and out of the Brinc village.

  “A veil...what? What are you talking about? A veil,” Dot spluttered.

  I saw Signe approach behind Dot and new rage rose in my breast.

  “We leave you these things,” Airgialla shouted over the thunderous roar.

  She paused as the first fearful cries of the Brinc masses sounded then continued on as loudly as before. “We leave you this.”

  All the Witta Mothers raised their hands as one and orange light and energy filled the air. Their voices rose above the sound of the knitting veil.

  We find joy in the golden buds of spring

  There’s passion in the greening leaf

  We find joy in the rising day

  There’s passion beneath the growing sun

  Come swelling tides of green

  Come swelling tides of green

  The parched Brinc land shook even more and rivulets of water rose up and flowed across the dusty earth. They led to a low point just past the citadel and high grasses grew rapidly.

  As we watched, thick, verdant plants sprang forth and ran rampant along the wide, bare lanes before us. Vines crept along the walls of the citadel and made their way in through the open windows. Wildly dancing leaves and colorful flowers immediately festooned the cottages along the lanes and long stalks waved gaily as they emerged from Mother Earth, giving birth to huge flowers and leaves.

  Airgialla lowered her arms. “We give you these things as a reminder of what Mother Earth and her magic can bring to you, if properly cared for. If you do not care for these gifts we give you now, there will be no more. This is your last chance to return to be the Meab you were born to be.”

  Spiraling energy continued to rise from the land and began to solidify into an opaque membrane, separating the Witta Meab and the Brinc. The Brinc backed away, most staring in horro
r.

  I felt their horror. And my rage. I, too, backed away even farther.

  “But our machines!” Dot screamed, holding out a darkened slab of metal and baked sand. “We have to have our machines!”

  “Yes,” Olive said, more to herself than to Dot. “You shall have your machines.”

  She nodded at me, and I spoke to Occil. Immediately, the machines lit and sudden sparks rained down upon the heads of the Brinc Meab.

  “Wait!” A voice sounded above the din. It was Signe Ray. He was running toward the veil. “I have to speak to my daughter and to the Widdershin daughters.”

  The rising of the veil slowed somewhat, but I was leery of getting closer to it. The Mothers had been walking away toward the east and the river, but they turned now to see what was afoot. I looked to MayApple and she nodded her head once. I held my hand out to slow Occil.

  “Please! Only a moment, only a moment,” he called out.

  Ronat was bent into a curve of misery, sobbing, but she turned and looked at her father, blinking her tear-blurred eyes. She stood and the three of us moved toward the veil. It had already risen to Signe’s neck, so we stayed back a bit so we could see his face above it.

  “Ronat, child of my join, I favor your decision to stay with the Witta clan, with Widdershin. I send all joy and blessings to you for a long...a long and happy life.”

  He sobbed loudly then turned his attention to my sister and me.

  “Widdershin join, I have visited a great wrong upon you. I was misguided in taking Avapeony to increase Brinc numbers. I will take regret for this action to my death. Your mother...your mother....” He sobbed again. “I ask that you, all of you, will forgive me for what I have done.”

  Tears cascaded along his cheeks and his eyes were sorrowful. Unable to help myself, I rushed forward and reached out to him. Our hands touched briefly as the veil rose and forced our fingers apart.

  I fell to the ground and Avapeony held me. We were both crying and our fammies hovered worriedly, offering what comfort they could. Ronat came close and pulled me to my feet. She hugged me close, breath hitching in her throat as she whispered apologies for her father’s actions. She turned to Avapeony then and they moved away, both sobbing yet trying to calm themselves, finding comfort in one another.

  I stood alone, but felt a great energy break away as my rage and hatred left me. That new emptiness within me was immediately filled with powerful earthrise and my feet lifted from the ground.

  Book Twenty-six

  “I KNOW A secret.”

  The voice that whispered against my ear wasn’t Afton so, assuming I imagined it, I turned over and drifted back to sleep.

  “Don’t you want to know what it is?”

  I opened one eye and saw Tsisi reclining on my pillow next to me. She was hugging Afton tightly and her big green eyes, just visible over his form, were bright with suppressed glee. I had to smile.

  “Good morning, little Jana. What is your secret? You’ve already told me about Occil and Jinni. I can’t imagine what else there could be,” I responded, yawning and stretching my arms.

  “Well, actually, there is a great deal going on all around us, but it’s not really my place to spread gossip. Broc, you remember Broc? Well, he says that gossip is a waste of time because what will come out will come out. Wind Mother Aurea says that we should give all our gossip to the Fey, that hearth Fey are the real keepers of secrets. And you know why? I will tell you. It’s because they see so much. I mean the hearth is the center of every home, is it not? Umm hmm, so imagine what the Fey see sun after sun, moon after moon.”

  Afton reached out a tendril to connect with me but Tsisi grabbed it and began to twist it around her tiny blue arm.

  “Are you excited about the joining? I am. Though what Jinni sees in that horrid creature I can’t even imagine. Still, the pageantry of it all. I think adding Ronat to your join is a wonderful idea, however.”

  She sighed deeply before continuing. “I had my doubts, you know, Ronat being Signe’s join and what happened with him and her brothers, but I do think that she brings Ava so much happiness.”

  I watched as the silly Jana wrapped herself in Afton, like donning a shawl. “This feels really good,” she said. “It’s warm, like a coverlet. Do you ever wear him? I think I would all the time, I do. I don’t feel cold the way most of you do, being a wind sprite, but I must say he’s very cozy.”

  “Tsisi. Let Afton go, please,” I said, fixing her with a steely glare. Not an easy task as I was still mostly asleep. She backed off, and I reached out to connect with Afton. Of course, I found him highly miffed at being played with in such a way. “Where’s Yews, Afton?”

  “With Jinni,” he responded, shaking himself out and lifting off the bed. The Jana was right behind him though, wings fluttering loudly in the still morning air.

  I rose, mostly because Afton was pulling me, but my head was still foggy from yesterday’s lessons about creating sigil magic, a very difficult, precise technique. I still missed my mother and her casual, fun teaching methods each day, but MayApple was a fine instructor, and I was learning a great deal from our daily lessons.

  I washed and dressed then stepped into the common room. It was almost unrecognizable as our humble home. Occil had offered its Fey every comfort known to Meab or Elemental but Jinni was having none of it, preferring her own little home nested in amongst the morning glory and ivy. Fey spoke to Meab in a sort of sign language, as basic as pleasure or pain, joy or sadness but obviously Jinni spoke to Occil at length and the creature was in a state of perpetual bliss. And, of course, it had to share this bliss with us every chance it got. That included providing us with everything—linens, furniture, flowers, food—that Jinni had turned down, in the off chance that she might enjoy some of it at some time.

  Today was a joining celebration and looking around the room, at the bright bunting and white ribbons swaying in the morning breeze, I was a bit overwhelmed. I stumbled across lacy, patchwork coverlets strewn about the floor and made my way to the hearth. Yewsy sat on the stone hearth, Jinni behind her.

  “Hand me the hot water, please?” I asked Yewsy. I glanced behind her and saw the luminous little Fey wearing a lovely gown of embroidered blue silk and white lace.

  “You are very, very beautiful, Jinni,” I said with deep sincerity as I took the kettle from Yewsy.

  She tittered shyly and tucked her tiny chin. Yewsy smiled and I backed over to the worktable, which was laden with numerous crocks and urns of who knew what. I opened one and found sweet grass cakes inside. I helped myself.

  “Should you be doing that?” Yewsy asked taking a seat across from me.

  “I don’t know but they are really good.” I licked my fingers. “Are they for the celebration?”

  “Yes. Have you seen Ronat and Ava? They should be here by now.”

  “No, I haven’t. Occil? Have you seen my sister and Ronat?”

  “How’d you know I was here,” it said, poking its head out from between two cushions that had been set against the far wall.

  “If Jinni’s around, you are, too,” I said.

  It appeared on the table in front of me and shoved a small crock of acorn butter out of the way. “They’ll be here soon. I’m waiting for the call.”

  “What call?” Yewsy asked, frowning. “What are you up to, Diarmin?”

  It was a portrait of innocence. “Me? Nothing. I just do as I’m bid, that’s all.”

  “I know a secret,” Tsisi said, wafting by and waving to us.

  Occil scowled at her. “Don’t you have someplace you need to be, wind moth?”

  I looked at Yewsy and sipped my tea. “I think there’s something going on that we may or may not want to know about.”

  “I agree,” Yewsy replied. “Are you going to ask or should I?”

  “Let us pretend that they don’t exist,” I suggested. “So, what’s all this?” I indicated the piles of linens, furniture and food littering the entire room.

  �
�Well,” Yewsy sighed. “Some of it is Occil’s contribution, but also, join members have been dropping off gifts for the new joins.”

  We fell silent and I studied her face thoughtfully. “What are people giving a Diarmin and a Fey? I’m not sure we’ve ever had such a join before.”

  She laughed and shook her head, rising to neaten the room. “There’s a little bit of everything here, I think. For Ava and Ronat, too. I’d say that they all have more than enough now.”

  I rose and worked alongside her until the common room was presentable for guests. We also made sure that they would have room to move around if any came inside.

  “Are you okay with Ava and Ronat joining?” she asked as we stood back to study our handiwork.

  I turned to her. “It’s good to have the house full again,” I said after a moment of thought.

  “Good. Occil’s gone,” she said, her face expressionless.

  It took me a moment to catch up with the change in conversation. “Have you been studying Jana lessons,” mumbled. “Gone, where?” I knew it hadn’t gone far, as smitten as it was with Jinni.

  Tsisi buzzed by my head and Afton swept her aside playfully. “Dontcha want to know my secret?” she asked, righting herself and grinning at me.

  I wanted to be grumpy, I really did, but how does one stay grumpy when faced with such joy and happiness.

  “Yes, Tsisi. Tell us your secret,” I said wearily, lowering myself to one of the plush chairs that had materialized almost overnight.

  “Well, a few suns ago, I saw Ava and Ronat out walking with Occil. I knew the Diarmin was up to no good so I walked a ways with them. You know, following. Then, right before my eyes they vanished. Just poof! Gone. I was very upset, thinking that creature had done something horrible to my dear, dear friends. I was inconsolable, I was.”

  Her face scrunched up, and I expected her to sob. Instead, she sighed and continued. “I saw the creature walking back by itself but it wouldn’t tell me anything about where it had taken them. I was sure it had dumped them over into that horrible Brinc land but it wouldn’t own up to doing that. So, I searched everywhere for them—”