Preparations

Sarah stirred the iron pot with a large wooden spoon. The brew smelled of mushrooms, herbs, and something else. Something bitter.

Davion leaned down and inhaled the steam. He wrinkled his nose. "It smells harsh."

"It is," said Sarah. "I’ve added molasses to soften the blow, but it will still taste foul."

"What’s in it?"

"Two of the ingredients, you’ve already had," said Sarah. "The mushrooms, from the brew you had with the forest folk before, and the flowers you smoked in their pipe. The third ingredient is a vine that grows only around the oldest trees in the forest. It is potent in its own right, and will magnify the potency of the other two."

"So," said Davion, "This will be a bit more intense than that was?"

"Yes. You will leave this world and go somewhere else."

"Where?"

"That depends on you."

Davion looked thoughtful.

"For how long?" asked Quinn.

"The potion lasts around twelve hours," said Sarah. "Take it in the afternoon, and it should wear off an hour or two after midnight."

"Wow!" said Quinn. "The last batch wore off after like five hours."

"This will not."

"What should we expect?" asked Zebulun.

"Expect nothing for the first hour or so," said Sarah. "Eventually, you will begin to feel vibrations. You’ll become far more alert and attentive to the world around you."

She stirred the pot some more, then tasted a sip. "By hour two, you’ll experience serious distortions of reality. You may see visions or hear voices. Living beings will have halos. Sounds will echo upon themselves."

She stopped to look at the three of them. "At some point, you will feel as if you are dying. When that happens, the best thing to do is die. Just lie down and let go. Try to fight it, and you will have a terrible time."

Davion shifted nervously.

"Remember," she said, "It’s not your body that’s dying. It’s your attachment to this world. You’re just shedding your second skin for a time. Your body will be here waiting for you when you return. Kulth-Ing and I will see to that."

"You’re not going out of this world with us?" asked Quinn.

"No," said Sarah. "I’ve been there enough times. My job tonight is to be your guide."