"And if I understand it right, the reason you have to get them to do this is because your souls can't enter the afterlife - which means separation. I've done it, all witches do, but it's not fun."

"It is not fun," Petaal confirms, curling around Kas's neck as a small black snake.

"But it doesn't cause long-term trauma if it's done purposefully, and - can one of you ask the alethiometer if the associated pain can be wished gone?"

If I wish on a coin, can I separate from my daemon painlessly? Elspeth asks the alethiometer.

"I wonder if Sarion could ignore it," says Cam. "How bad is it, Amariah?"

"Bad. But I did it on the first try, on foot," Amariah says, "when the only consequence for failing was not being considered an adult witch till I managed. It's not as bad as having someone touch your daemon... I'm trying to think of comparisons you're familiar with but I've got nothing."

"I judgesighted Kas along with all the other Jokers. I could pass a taste of it on, if we assume it's similar for everyone," says Elspeth.

"I don't see any good ways to tell," says Kas.

"I can show Amariah and she can compare," suggests Elspeth, "if nobody involved minds."

"Fine by us," says Petaal.

"Go for it."

"...Similar intensity. Different flavor," murmurs Amariah.

"What do you mean?"

"We both felt about the same amount of bad - well, I assume you were in worse shape at the time, but Elspeth filtered out the parts that weren't about separation in particular - but not the same kind of bad."

"Huh."

"It's probably a fine gauge for total unpleasantness, though, if you want to share it around, Elspeth."

"Hit me."

"I'm probably not as important to the expedition but I'll have a look too."

"Me too," says Jellybean.

"How long does it last?"

"Yeah, that's what I wanna know too."

"It varies how far away you have to get. Usually about a hundred yards."