The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga Taliesin Govannon (best free ereader .txt) 📖

                “And what is Durban famous for, drug wise?” she asked next.

                Jack’s face lit up. “The Durban Poison strain?”

                “Poison?” Katsu said, concerned.

                “It’s just a pot name.” Jack assured her. “But it’s a legendary strain. Pure Sativa… good for mental alertness. Real wakey-weed.”

                “Come with me.” Gaia led Jack to the edge of the bubble, to a patch of impossibly tall, yet instantly recognizable plants.

                “Woah!” He said, his eyes wide.

                Gaia picked two massive, fourteen-inch buds from the plant and handed them to Jack. "These should last you an hour."

                Jack’s eyes were wide. “These are awesome.” he exclaimed.  He looked up. “How am I gonna dry and cure them for smoking?”

                Gaia snapped her fingers and the cannabis flowers dried and cured in a second, leaving Jack with a quarter pound of smokable flower.

                “Anybody got any wraps?” he said, smiling.

                “Hold that thought." Gaia said and disappeared into the forest.

                                                                                                *                *                *

                Later that evening, the four of us were sitting around a blazing fire. We sat at the edge of the shelter, an additional shadow bubble floating above us to obscure the firelight. Jack took a hit from a massive joint and passed it to me.

                “This is working out quite well!” he said, eyeing the smoldering doobie.

                I glanced at the book that has provided the paper for the weed to be rolled in. “Where did you find a bible?” I asked Gaia.

                “There’s a missionary base came in a nearby village.” she said, taking the joint from me and taking a hit. “They have a warehouse of bibles.”

                “And they’re useful for a change.” Katsu said, taking the joint from her.

                “A million and a half touring musicians and performers all know about the rolling capability of bible pages.” Jack said. “It seems that the tales are true.”

                “So what’s the plan for tomorrow?” I asked.

                “The equipment will be airdropped tomorrow." Gaia replied.  "Then we'll start placing the cameras. The first candidate for surveillance isn't far from here."

                “I’m going to look around with my, I don’t know what to call it… second sight?” I said.  “Maybe I can detect the remnants of any magick used, wild or otherwise.”

                “Well, I’m going to go to bed.” Katsu said, rising.  She undid a clasp on her robe and the entire thing fell off to the ground, leaving her naked. As she walked away, she looked back at Jack. “Coming, my love?”

                Jack quickly handed me the joint. "Good night everyone." he said and hurried to catch up with his lover.

                Gaia snapped her fingers and a hammock, big enough for two, appeared in the shadowy recesses of the shelter. She snapped her fingers again, and a sheet dropped in front of the hammock, giving the couple some privacy.

                “It’s soundproof, too.” Gaia told me softly.

                “Thank the Gods.” I whispered back.

                We passed the joint back and forth until it was a tiny stub. The cannabis smoke, which had just the hint of black licorice flavor on the exhale, had left me relaxed but not foggy.

                Perfect for activity!

                “So are all Twilight Fae poly?” I asked, breaking the silence.

                “Polyamorous?” she asked back. “Well, that depends. We’re really not all that hung up on who’s pleasuring whom, if that’s what you mean.  Like I’ve said before, we can only become pregnant by a conscious decision, so our culture never put any unusual restrictions on sexuality. Giving someone an orgasm in our society is like someone giving someone else a neck rub in yours.”

                “There are plenty of people I wouldn't want to do even that, honestly.” I replied.

                “Exactly!” Gaia said. “So while we’re freer than you might be, we’re not indiscriminate.”

                “You said that it depends“ I continued. “What are some other limitations?”

                “Even though we’re not exclusive sexually, we do form extremely intense emotional bonds.” she replied. “When two Twilight Fae go through the joining ceremony together, they’re bonded on an almost spiritual level. So while they may not sleep together every night, they WILL be there for important times… celebrations, high holy days, and so on.”

                “Have you ever been joined?” I asked.

                She grew quiet for a moment. “Once. Long ago.” she said. I was going to ask her more, but she got up and walked away without another word.

                                                                                                *                *                *

                The next day I wandered through the forest freely. The rest of the gang were off placing the first cameras, so I decided to take a look around.

                The energy was… thick was the only word I could think of to describe it. The life energy was so strong that I could see it during the day in the shadows cast on the forest floor by the tree canopy high above.

                It actually helped me wander. I could look behind me and see a path of energy that I had stirred up by moving through it.

                So getting lost isn’t an issue.

                I saw unfamiliar flowers of every color, shades of green that I thought only existed in computer graphics programs, and undergrowth that swayed gently in the breeze. I heard wild animals making sounds all around me, and even spied a few leopards in the distance.

                This place is pure magick! I thought.

                I saw movement to my right and stopped to take a closer look. I quickly jumped behind a tree, however, when I saw what it was.

                A person! I thought furiously. Gaia said that this area was uninhabited! If any of the local crime gangs around here… or worse… discover us, it could make things WAY more complicated!

                I watched the person approach.  It was a woman, dark-skinned, wearing brightly colored clothes as well as a traditional-looking head-piece.

                Okay, she doesn’t LOOK like a gang member, or a malevolent magician I thought.

                She walked closer. “You can come out now, child… I intend