followed Jaellyn back to the table.
“When Celene told me that Jael was soul-sick, I was ashamed not to have seen it sooner,” Mist said, grinning wryly. “And I knew better than any of you the full extent of the old wild blood in her. Unfortunately, like you, I saw what was happening around her instead of watching Jael herself. It hardly excuses me to say that since I left my own clan, I haven’t seen a case of soul-sickness in decades.”
“I still don’t understand what this—this ritual is supposed to do,” Donya muttered.
“There are many possible answers,” Mist told her. “Most of the Hidden Folk would say that the Mother Forest uses the ritual as a gateway to heal the troubled soul. Some potions, such as the one used in the ritual, can temporarily heal soul-sickness by placing body and spirit in balance, and some believe that once that balance is achieved, the dreamer can then learn how to maintain it. Others believe, though, that the dreaming potion simply allows the one taking it to explore the hidden places in their own soul, and that the altars simply provide a safe haven and the proper atmosphere for doing it. There’s no doubt, though, that the altars are conducive to certain magical operations.”
“That’s true,” Celene said, nodding. “The altars are a node that attracts and focuses certain natural energies in the forest. Servings, for example, are much clearer there, and healing magic is more potent and focused.”
“All right, but what about the rest of it?” Donya pressed.
“Well, I agree with Celene that most of the trappings are probably unnecessary,” Mist admitted. “The spirit journey is used as a kind of adulthood ritual in some of the hidden clans. The two days’ fasting simply purifies the blood and makes the potion more effective, just as wine affects us more strongly if we haven’t eaten.”
“I don’t know that I like Jael missing her meals,” Donya said worriedly. “She’s so thin already. And just what’s in this potion?”
“Why, I don’t know,” Mist said, frowning. “I never made it, nor have I ever drunk it.”
“Elaria and I made the potion many times, before we moved to the city,” Argent said, taking Donya’s hand. “The shop has all the necessary ingredients. Dreamweed tincture, of course; a few other herbs and berries, roots and the like that you’ve probably never heard of, in a base of moondrop wine. A few of the ingredients are also dream-producing, like the dreamweed; others are sleep-inducing. The only ingredient of any real concern is dried and powdered snake-eye mushrooms. In large enough quantities the mushrooms are poisonous, even deadly, but only a tiny dose is used for the potion. Elaria and I can make the potion ourselves, to be certain it’s properly prepared and safe.” He turned to Jael. “If you still want to do this, of course.”
Suddenly, with the five of them sitting there looking at her so soberly, Jael was unsure. Then Shadow winked at her, and abruptly Jael wanted to laugh. Other than two days’ food, what did she have to lose? At worst, she’d have an uncomfortable nap at the altars and a few bad dreams. At best, maybe she could sit at a table without finding bits of broken light globes in her food.
“Of course,” Jael said, shrugging. “After all this trouble you’ve all already gone through, I’ve got to try, at least.”
“Then you can begin your fast after breakfast,” Mist told her. “During your fast you may drink water, tea, or vegetable broth, and you may eat raw or plain boiled potherbs, but nothing else. As you’re so thin, I believe honey for your tea should be acceptable.”
Shadow grimaced.
“Fortune favor us, Mist, she’ll be pissing green by the time she’s done,” she said disgustedly. “No wine?”
“It’s only for two days,” Jael said practically. “Besides, wine makes me sick anyway.” She shrugged and glanced over the table. “Since this is my last meal, pass me
“When Celene told me that Jael was soul-sick, I was ashamed not to have seen it sooner,” Mist said, grinning wryly. “And I knew better than any of you the full extent of the old wild blood in her. Unfortunately, like you, I saw what was happening around her instead of watching Jael herself. It hardly excuses me to say that since I left my own clan, I haven’t seen a case of soul-sickness in decades.”
“I still don’t understand what this—this ritual is supposed to do,” Donya muttered.
“There are many possible answers,” Mist told her. “Most of the Hidden Folk would say that the Mother Forest uses the ritual as a gateway to heal the troubled soul. Some potions, such as the one used in the ritual, can temporarily heal soul-sickness by placing body and spirit in balance, and some believe that once that balance is achieved, the dreamer can then learn how to maintain it. Others believe, though, that the dreaming potion simply allows the one taking it to explore the hidden places in their own soul, and that the altars simply provide a safe haven and the proper atmosphere for doing it. There’s no doubt, though, that the altars are conducive to certain magical operations.”
“That’s true,” Celene said, nodding. “The altars are a node that attracts and focuses certain natural energies in the forest. Servings, for example, are much clearer there, and healing magic is more potent and focused.”
“All right, but what about the rest of it?” Donya pressed.
“Well, I agree with Celene that most of the trappings are probably unnecessary,” Mist admitted. “The spirit journey is used as a kind of adulthood ritual in some of the hidden clans. The two days’ fasting simply purifies the blood and makes the potion more effective, just as wine affects us more strongly if we haven’t eaten.”
“I don’t know that I like Jael missing her meals,” Donya said worriedly. “She’s so thin already. And just what’s in this potion?”
“Why, I don’t know,” Mist said, frowning. “I never made it, nor have I ever drunk it.”
“Elaria and I made the potion many times, before we moved to the city,” Argent said, taking Donya’s hand. “The shop has all the necessary ingredients. Dreamweed tincture, of course; a few other herbs and berries, roots and the like that you’ve probably never heard of, in a base of moondrop wine. A few of the ingredients are also dream-producing, like the dreamweed; others are sleep-inducing. The only ingredient of any real concern is dried and powdered snake-eye mushrooms. In large enough quantities the mushrooms are poisonous, even deadly, but only a tiny dose is used for the potion. Elaria and I can make the potion ourselves, to be certain it’s properly prepared and safe.” He turned to Jael. “If you still want to do this, of course.”
Suddenly, with the five of them sitting there looking at her so soberly, Jael was unsure. Then Shadow winked at her, and abruptly Jael wanted to laugh. Other than two days’ food, what did she have to lose? At worst, she’d have an uncomfortable nap at the altars and a few bad dreams. At best, maybe she could sit at a table without finding bits of broken light globes in her food.
“Of course,” Jael said, shrugging. “After all this trouble you’ve all already gone through, I’ve got to try, at least.”
“Then you can begin your fast after breakfast,” Mist told her. “During your fast you may drink water, tea, or vegetable broth, and you may eat raw or plain boiled potherbs, but nothing else. As you’re so thin, I believe honey for your tea should be acceptable.”
Shadow grimaced.
“Fortune favor us, Mist, she’ll be pissing green by the time she’s done,” she said disgustedly. “No wine?”
“It’s only for two days,” Jael said practically. “Besides, wine makes me sick anyway.” She shrugged and glanced over the table. “Since this is my last meal, pass me
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