RIDDLER 2. [bows] I know the answer to that last riddle. It is a woman walking with a jug of water on her head. She is under water. Then the woman crosses a bridge. She is over water. Yet, she does not ever touch water.

PRINCESS. Excellent. Now do you have a riddle for me?

RIDDLER 2. I don’t have one, but any riddle you put before me, I will be able to interpret it.

PRINCESS. You sound very sure of yourself. Here’s one: When we are born, we are given two bottles. One has something sweet inside. One has something bitter inside.

RIDDLER 2. Water and … [thinks] Oh, I don’t know the answer. [RIDDLER 2 walks away, very disgusted.]

KING. [whispers loudly to the QUEEN] The sweet bottle is life. The bitter bottle is death. Even I knew that one. I thought these young men would be better at this.

QUEEN. [raises her eyebrow and smiles] Our daughter is an excellent riddler. She can create them and interpret them with equal skill. She won’t be defeated easily.

END SCENE 2.