Murdoc the Magician poured ginger extract into the bubbling fluid in the cauldron, and watched as it changed colour from dirty green to dark red. He took a large spoon and put a few drops from the potion into one of the three glasses on the little silver tray. He sprinkled a few small, black seeds into another glass, an empty one, and filled all of the glasses with wine. He put them on a small silver tray and carried it out of his chambers, through the corridors, and up the long, winding stairs up to the princess' bedroom. He knocked on the door. The princess opened it, and her radiant smile died when she saw the old man.
-Murdoc! she said. I was expecting my fiancé.
-He's on his way, your highness, said Murdoc. I was actually looking to see him as well.
-Here I am, Murdoc! said a voice behind them, and the prince walked up the stairs. Now what do you want with us, you scheming old fool?
-Oh, my prince! said the princess, knowing very well that it wasn't wise to offend a man like Murdoc. I must ask you to mind your tongue, although Murdoc HAS been quite against our union!
She stepped aside and let both men enter her chambers.
-Which is why I'm here, your highnesses, said Murdoc, bowing to them both. I have come to make amends for my former harsh words against your marriage. And in order to show my acceptance of your union, and my loyalty to my future king, I have brought this wine, so that we may toast for the future.
-I bet you've poisoned it! said the prince.
-In order to show you that I haven't, I brought a glass for myself as well, said Murdoc.
He held out the tray and offered a glass to the princess, holding the tray to make sure that she would take the glass where the wine was mixed with the magic potion. The princess took her glass, and Murdoc held out the tray to the prince. The prince gave him an angry look, and chose the glass furthest away from himself, instead of the one right next to his hand. Murdoc kept his face neutral, though inside he was laughing with triumph. The prince had thought that he had outsmarted the magician, but that thought had made him chose – the glass with the black seeds in. Left for Murdoc was the glass with pure wine.
-I raise my glass for this marriage, said Murdoc, and held up the glass. I swear loyalty to my future king, and I swear to serve him as faithfully as I have served the princess.
He drank his wine. The prince and the princess drank theirs. There was a few seconds of quiet, before the prince collapsed onto the floor, and the princess fell into a trance. Murdoc chuckled, and gave the obnoxious prince a kick in the behind. He turned to the princess.
-Hear me and obey! he said.
-Yes, master, said the princess, staring into a far away space, her mind gone but her body and voice still in the room.
-Take off your robe – slowly! said Murdoc.
The princess slowly began to untie her bejeweled robe, and let it fall to the floor.
