Read Online The Red Lily Crown by Elizabeth Loupas - Free Book Online Page B

horse had kicked her.
    â€œI’m ready for your testing,” she said. No
Serenissimo
. No
my lord
. “What do you want me to do first?”
    The prince gestured to the black-draped table. “You will drink the black water,” he said. “All of it, in one breath.”
    She walked to the table—six steps, eight. There was a goblet, carved out of black stone. It looked ancient. It was filled with clear liquid, and at the bottom of the liquid lay several shards of broken black stone, as if another goblet had been smashed and the pieces dropped into the bowl of its mate. Beside the goblet rested an arrangement of two bowls, also black stone, one above the other in a silver frame. Next to the bowls there was a black lacquer pitcher. Behind the table hung a black curtain, embroidered in black and silver thread with symbols she didn’t recognize.
    Chiara stared at the prince defiantly, picked up the goblet and drank the liquid. Magister Ruanno had been right. It tasted like nothing more than plain water. She was thirsty and so drinking the water all at once was easy.
    She tilted the goblet toward the prince so he could see it was empty, then put it down on the black table.
    â€œI have drunk the black water,” she said. “What is your next test?”
    â€œNot so fast. You must now wait for the prescribed time. Please pour the water in the pitcher into the bowl at the top of the water clock.”
    That didn’t make a lot of sense, but seemed simple enough. She picked up the pitcher and poured the water into the upper bowl. At once she saw how the so-called water clock functioned: there was a tiny hole in the bottom of the upper bowl, and the water dripped through into the lower bowl.
    â€œYou will stand without moving,” the prince said, “until all the water has run through.”
    Magister Ruanno hadn’t told her this part. The dripping, trickling sound of the water didn’t make much of an impression at first, but as the minutes passed in the silent room, as she stood there naked with the black water inside her and the two men watching her wordlessly, the sound seemed to grow louder and louder. Her belly began to feel taut and full and her thighs quivered. She squeezed her inner muscles together.
    â€œIf you wish to go behind the curtain for a moment,” the prince said, in a voice full of false gentleness, “you may do so. You will find a clean basin there, fresh towels and more water to wash yourself. Surely you will perform the other tests with more success if you are—comfortable.”
    If Magister Ruanno hadn’t warned her about the purpose of the black water test, she would have gone. Instead she said, “No. I’m perfectly comfortable.”
    The prince nodded. After more endless minutes, the last of the water dripped through the water clock and the sound ceased. The need to relieve herself lessened.
    â€œWhat is your next test?” she said.
    The prince smiled and nodded. “Next,” he said, “is the blood-red ribbon.”
    He rose from his throne and gestured to Magister Ruanno. The two of them stepped down from the dais and made their way around the edge of the room to the red-draped table, their dark robes making soft rustling sounds. A scarlet velvet ribbon lay coiled on the surface of the table; beside the ribbon lay a dagger, very ancient, its handle set with red and reddish-brown cabochon jewels and its blade glinting bronze in the blaze of candlelight.
    But Magister Ruanno had promised her the blood wouldn’t be real.
    â€œCome here,” the prince said. “Stand before the table, and bow your head.”
    She hesitated for a moment—courage, courage, what can they do to you? They want you alive to be their
soror mystica
—then stepped over to the table and did as he commanded.
    Ceremoniously the prince paced around behind her. She felt his fingers pressing against the curve of her skull,