The Golden Cockerel

An illustrated tales story from Wonder Tales — free to read, with narration.

The Golden Cockerel — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

The Golden Cockerel — book cover — Wonder Tales
The Golden Cockerel — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

Page 1

In a lighthouse kissed by a painted sea lived a king consumed by fear, a jester burdened by truth, and a golden cockerel promising foresight.
In a lighthouse kissed by a painted sea lived a king consumed by fear, a jester burdened by truth, and a golden cockerel promising foresight. King Arlan, once a warrior, now trembled at shadows. The jester, Motley, saw the rot consuming the kingdom. And perched atop the highest tower, the golden cockerel waited, its gilded eyes watching the horizon for a threat only it could perceive. The kingdom's fate rested on its warning.

In a lighthouse kissed by a painted sea lived a king consumed by fear, a jester burdened by truth, and a golden cockerel promising foresight. King Arlan, once a warrior, now trembled at shadows. The jester, Motley, saw the rot consuming the kingdom. And perched atop the highest tower, the golden cockerel waited, its gilded eyes watching the horizon for a threat only it could perceive. The kingdom's fate rested on its warning.

Page 2

Arlan paced the lighthouse, his heavy boots echoing on the stone floor. "Another ship lost, Motley! They say pirates... but I feel a darker current." Motley…
Arlan paced the lighthouse, his heavy boots echoing on the stone floor. "Another ship lost, Motley! They say pirates... but I feel a darker current." Motley bowed low, bells jingling. "Perhaps, your Majesty, it is only the sea's embrace. The waves take what they will, and give back stories." Arlan stopped, his gaze fixed on the painted sea, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

Arlan paced the lighthouse, his heavy boots echoing on the stone floor. "Another ship lost, Motley! They say pirates... but I feel a darker current." Motley bowed low, bells jingling. "Perhaps, your Majesty, it is only the sea's embrace. The waves take what they will, and give back stories." Arlan stopped, his gaze fixed on the painted sea, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

Page 3

"Stories are for fools, Motley. I need answers, not whispers!" Arlan roared, his voice cracking. Motley approached him, lowering his voice.
"Stories are for fools, Motley. I need answers, not whispers!" Arlan roared, his voice cracking. Motley approached him, lowering his voice. "They say in the old texts, a golden cockerel sees what mortal eyes cannot. But only the pure of heart hear its warning. Perhaps your fear deafens you, Sire."

"Stories are for fools, Motley. I need answers, not whispers!" Arlan roared, his voice cracking. Motley approached him, lowering his voice. "They say in the old texts, a golden cockerel sees what mortal eyes cannot. But only the pure of heart hear its warning. Perhaps your fear deafens you, Sire."

Page 4

Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the lighthouse. "The cockerel!" Arlan cried, stumbling toward the tower stairs. Motley followed, his bells silent now.
Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the lighthouse. "The cockerel!" Arlan cried, stumbling toward the tower stairs. Motley followed, his bells silent now. They climbed the winding steps, the cry growing louder, more frantic. At the top, they found the golden bird, its wings outstretched, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the lighthouse. "The cockerel!" Arlan cried, stumbling toward the tower stairs. Motley followed, his bells silent now. They climbed the winding steps, the cry growing louder, more frantic. At the top, they found the golden bird, its wings outstretched, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

Page 5

"What does it see? Tell me!" Arlan shouted at the cockerel. The bird turned its golden gaze towards the painted sea, then spoke in a voice that was both…
"What does it see? Tell me!" Arlan shouted at the cockerel. The bird turned its golden gaze towards the painted sea, then spoke in a voice that was both metallic and ancient. "A shadow sails from the west. It promises power, it steals what is yours." Arlan gripped his sword tighter, his fear turning into rage. "Power? I will meet this shadow with steel!"

"What does it see? Tell me!" Arlan shouted at the cockerel. The bird turned its golden gaze towards the painted sea, then spoke in a voice that was both metallic and ancient. "A shadow sails from the west. It promises power, it steals what is yours." Arlan gripped his sword tighter, his fear turning into rage. "Power? I will meet this shadow with steel!"

Page 6

The Golden Cockerel — page 6 illustration — Wonder Tales
The Golden Cockerel — page 6 illustration — Wonder Tales

Motley stepped forward.

Page 7

\"Then I shall destroy it!\" Arlan bellowed. But the cockerel only tilted its head. \"The shadow cannot be destroyed by force. It can only be outwitted.
\"Then I shall destroy it!\" Arlan bellowed. But the cockerel only tilted its head. \"The shadow cannot be destroyed by force. It can only be outwitted. Offer it something it desires even more than your throne, something you truly love, and it will pass you by.\" Motley looked up at Arlan, his gaze sharp. \"Sire, don't be rash. Think!\"

\"Then I shall destroy it!\" Arlan bellowed. But the cockerel only tilted its head. \"The shadow cannot be destroyed by force. It can only be outwitted. Offer it something it desires even more than your throne, something you truly love, and it will pass you by.\" Motley looked up at Arlan, his gaze sharp. \"Sire, don't be rash. Think!\"

Page 8

Arlan scoffed. "Love? What do I love more than my kingdom? Nothing!" He turned to the cockerel, a cunning glint in his eye.
Arlan scoffed. "Love? What do I love more than my kingdom? Nothing!" He turned to the cockerel, a cunning glint in his eye. "Tell the shadow I offer my finest ship, laden with gold, to pass by my kingdom." The cockerel remained silent. Motley gasped. "The shadow will see through your lie, sire! As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence'. You cannot deceive fate!"

Arlan scoffed. "Love? What do I love more than my kingdom? Nothing!" He turned to the cockerel, a cunning glint in his eye. "Tell the shadow I offer my finest ship, laden with gold, to pass by my kingdom." The cockerel remained silent. Motley gasped. "The shadow will see through your lie, sire! As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence'. You cannot deceive fate!"

Page 9

As dawn broke, a dark ship emerged from the horizon. Arlan watched from the tower, his heart pounding. The ship sailed past the kingdom, untouched.
As dawn broke, a dark ship emerged from the horizon. Arlan watched from the tower, his heart pounding. The ship sailed past the kingdom, untouched. He had saved his throne! But as the sun fully rose, he saw something else: Motley, rowing a small boat towards the dark ship. He had offered himself, the kingdom's truth, in exchange for its safety. The cockerel cried out, a mournful sound of loss.

As dawn broke, a dark ship emerged from the horizon. Arlan watched from the tower, his heart pounding. The ship sailed past the kingdom, untouched. He had saved his throne! But as the sun fully rose, he saw something else: Motley, rowing a small boat towards the dark ship. He had offered himself, the kingdom's truth, in exchange for its safety. The cockerel cried out, a mournful sound of loss.

Page 10

Arlan descended the tower, his victory hollow. The kingdom was safe, but its heart was gone. The golden cockerel stood silent, its purpose fulfilled.
Arlan descended the tower, his victory hollow. The kingdom was safe, but its heart was gone. The golden cockerel stood silent, its purpose fulfilled. The king had saved his throne, but in doing so, he lost everything that truly mattered. He learned that fear, unchecked, steals more than any shadow ever could.

Arlan descended the tower, his victory hollow. The kingdom was safe, but its heart was gone. The golden cockerel stood silent, its purpose fulfilled. The king had saved his throne, but in doing so, he lost everything that truly mattered. He learned that fear, unchecked, steals more than any shadow ever could.

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  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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