The Red Lake Test 3

Mirelah;

"Before you proceed, we will explain the ritual to you, "One of the men in robes says, and I turn my attention to him.

"The silver bowl in your hands contains fire. Gradually, it will begin to heat up and your hands will bear the heat if you do not make it across the lake fast enough. "He says, and I swallow as I stare at the small fire in the bowl.

"This is done to prevent the brides from crafting the blood beneath them. You cannot craft without your hands, and holding that bowl makes sure your hands are occupied. "The man continues, and I look back up at him.

"Seeing as you are not a hemocrafter, and possess… "Another man in a robe begins but stops.

"No powers. "Another says, and I turn to him on hearing the poorly disguised mockery in his tone.

"What my colleagues are trying to say is that this bit of the ritual was done to keep the brides from manipulating the lake. Seeing as you can not craft blood, it would seem irrelevant, but it is part of our culture, and we can not do away with it. "The eldest looking of the four men says, and the room falls silent. 

I stare back down at the bowl in my hands as the heat slowly begins to spread through the bowl, and I look back up at Kealith. 

"Begin. "He says curtly, and I swallow. I walk closer to the edge of the rectangle and stare down at my blurry reflection in the dark, thick, and still blood. I swallow before looking up at Queen Velnara. She takes an obviously deep breath to tell me to do the same, and I obey.

I look back up at Kealith, and for the first time ever, I see an expression I can understand. Expectation. Tension. 

He looks worried I'd fail.

"You better get moving, or that bowl will scald your hands. "King Damarion says, and I shut my eyes. Shaken by the agitation in his voice. I know he expects me to fail, so he wants me to get to it and put an end to the tension in the air. But I won't fail.

Not today.

If I fail this test, I'll simply prove that I am a weakling unworthy of their precious kingdom. I won't give them that satisfaction. If I will be the queen of Blood Crescent, I must prove that I have every right to be.

I begin to ready myself for the first step, and my father's words begin to spill into my mind. Gently… softly. Like an unexpected, reassuring embrace. 

You're a Vaelary's daughter… dragon born, with a core of flames. You are regal and graceful. If anyone… Anyone at all tries to hurt you, or tell you otherwise… put them in their place. You are a dragon's daughter. You will not forget that. 

Holding on to those words, I take a deep breath, and my first step. I move my second leg and stop. I can feel my heart hammering in my chest, but my father's words are like a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I open my eyes, and the first thing I see is Kealith. He has wide eyes, and the edge of his lips is slightly curved upwards. I look over at Queen Velnara, and she is visibly happy. There's a huge grin on her face and a proud twinkle in her eyes.

I can't bring myself to look down at my feet, so I stare up at Kealith. I see an excitement he can barely hide in his eyes, and I almost smile at the sight. Unlike the others, he isn't waiting for me to fail. He wants me to triumph.

The heat in my hand reminds me to keep moving, and I take another step. Then another… and another… The more steps I take, the brighter the light in Kealiths eyes shine, and I can not bring myself to look away. I am halfway across when a voice cuts through the stunned silence in the room.

"Mom, are you behind this!? "

I freeze on hearing Vealor's voice, and my smile drops. 

"What rubbish are you saying!? "Queen Velnara replies with anger in her voice, and I turn to her.

"You know exactly what I'm saying, Mom. Kealith can't help her cause he's under oath, but you aren't. Apart from Kealith, you're the only one in here who likes her enough to make sure she passes the test no matter what! "Vealor responds, and I turn to him in shock.

"Don't listen to him, Mirelahh. Keep your eyes on me, and keep walking. "Kealith's voice demands, and I turn to him as I feel a cold sweat break out on my back.

"Why? So mom wouldn't have to keep the blood solid for much longer? "Vealor retorts and my heart starts ramming in my chest.

"Vealor! "Queen Velnara's voice thunders in undiluted anger, and I jerk.

"Mom, please. I know you're doing something. This weakling can't suddenly possess the strength to pass this test. Just yesterday, she ran away crying cause I said a few truths. And now, her mind is strong enough to turn liquid blood hard? "Vealor spits and I suddenly feel my body sway like the ground beneath me is about to give way.

Instinctively, I look down at my feet, and what once seemed like solid ground begins to melt under me, staining the hem of my white dress, and turning it dark with blood. The ground… The blood is giving way.

"Mirelah, don't let his words get to you. He's trying to get in your head! "Kealith roars, and I look up at him with panic growing inside me.

"Walk, Mirelah! "He scolds, and I swallow as I take the next unsure step. I feel the blood squelch beneath me, and I stare down at the blood in worry. That didn't happen earlier.

"Queen Velnara, are you helping her to… "One of the men in robes says to Queen Velnara, and her voice, loud and venomous fills the room.

"How dare you!? "She demands, and there's silence.

"I don't know, honey. You can't blame them for asking. Solrath's rumoured bastard is about to pass a test built on self-worth and inner strength. It's bound to raise a few brows. I mean, how does a fish learn to fly overnight? "King Damarion's cold voice suddenly says, and I feel my heart stop in my chest.

"Damarion! "Queen Velnara yells in disbelief at his words, and just like that, I feel the blood beneath my feet give way. With a loud splash, I drop into the pool, and I feel blood fill my ears, nose, and mouth as the vicious liquid begins to pull me to its depths.