It was about a week's journey to the Citadel. Sorafe hunted during the evenings to make sure everyone ate well. They could see the citadel when they were two days out. The main fortress the name was based on was stylized as a gigantic sword with the blade down and the pommel rising into the sky. As they got closer, they saw the rest of the city arranged in two rings around the sword.
"I think we should only send two of us into the city at a time," said Erica "Conserve our shrinking potions for as long as possible. Sorhafe, can you get us as close as possible to the first ring, and set up a hidden encampment?"
Sorhafe nodded, as they continued to approach. "This is as close as we can get without the guards on the walls seeing our encampment. Who do we want to send in?"
"Can we disguise ourselves as adults?" Sadie asked "Then me and Steph don't need to use the shrinking potions, and can avoid any magic that would show we were transformed. Humans wear paint on their face as fashion, right?"
"It's not a bad idea," Erica said, biting her lip "But I don't like sending the two of you in alone. What if you do get caught? Sorafe and I are better at stealth, and have more experience. No offence meant, Sadie, but you were literally born just over a week ago."
"So it seems we have two choices," Steph said "Send in the two of us, and save the potions, or send in our moms with a better chance of sneaking around."