“I’m working on it,” he assures me. We are all quiet for a moment. “There’s a ceremony tomorrow night for solstice. Perhaps, if she participates, the tea will loosen some of the magic and make it more viable.” He glances between us.
“What tea?”
Zadyn shakes his head at Jace. “No. I don’t want her drinkingUrhTea. There are too many side effects, and there’s a chance it might do nothing but make her sick.”
“Hello, sitting right here. What isUrhTea?”
“It’s a very potent plant medicine that can make you hallucinate. Among a few other unpleasant effects,” Zadyn explains to me.
“So, it’s Ayahuasca,” I conclude. Zadyn gives me a yes and no kind of look.
“What’s Ayahuasca?” Jace asks.
“It’s a plant medicine from my world that people use to guide them on spiritual journeys. It usually ends with people crying, puking, and shitting themselves.”
“So it’s not much different at all,” he deduces. “What’s the problem?”
“The difference is that she’s in a vastly different environment, and drinking that tea when you’re off-center can have consequences.”
“Yeah, that, and I’d prefer not to puke or shit myself. What’s this ceremony?” I look between them.
“It’s a long-standing solstice tradition in Aegar meant to honor the Queen of the Gods, Aerill. It’s one of two nights of the entire year when she is able to take physical form to be with her mate. When consumed on this night, theUrhTea creates an excess of magic within an individual. I’m hopeful its properties will trip your magic, maybe even crack the glamour.”
“And that’s it? You just drink the tea?”
“Well, the High Priest leads you in ceremony, but essentially. The goal is to open your mind enough so that Aerill can bless you with her spirit.”
“The purpose is to hallucinate seeing a god queen?”
“The purpose is to offer your body as a sacred vessel for Aerill to inhabit on the longest night of the year.”
“So, there’s a chance I drink this stuff and become possessed by agoddess?” I look between the two of them.
“It’s considered an honor among the fae to serve their mother in such a way,” Jace articulates, vexation edging his tone.
“Why does she need a vessel? Doesn’t she have a body of her own?”
“She has no physical form. She exists in the ether as a spiritthat resides inside the moon,” Zadyn explains. I shake my head in confusion.
“All the noble families take part by selecting one member to participate in the rite. Of all the participants, Aerill only appears to one,” Jace continues. “The king wants Sorscha to represent this year, but she has no real interest. I’m sure she’d be glad to yield her duty to hercousin.” He gives me a disdainful once over.
“We made that shit up,” I whisper to him. “Do you really think I’m going to fool this goddess into thinking I’m royal or something? Won’t it piss her off when she finds out I wasted her time?”
“Ifshe even appears to you—which I highly doubt she will.” Jace sighs. “It’s not illegal for a commoner to participate, it’s just rare. Besides, you’re a Blackblood. That makes you…important. I don’t think Aerill will be disappointed with the option.”
Zadyn shakes his head, clearly disagreeing with this idea. But ultimately, he concedes to me. “It’s your choice.”
I look to Jace. “Is it safe?”
“Nothing is safe.” His expression is open.
“But you think it will help unlock my magic?” I clarify.
He nods. “It’s worth a shot.”
“Okay. I’ll do it,” I relent, tossing up my hands. “But if I do puke or shit, you’re cleaning it.”
He chuckles, rising to his feet. “I’ll run it by the king,” he says and is gone.
