The Three Feathers
The Three Feathers — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
In the frost-bound kingdom of Eldfrost, ruled old King Valdemar, whose sons, the valiant Thorin, the cunning Loki, and the gentle Kai, each yearned for the crown. But the king, nearing his twilight, had a riddle to settle the dispute: "He who brings me the most wondrous treasure shall inherit Eldfrost." As three feathers fluttered from his hand, destiny set the princes on divergent paths, each facing trials that would unveil their true natures, for the throne of Eldfrost was not merely a prize, but a reflection of the heart.
Page 2
Thorin, ever bold, scoffed, "A simple task for a warrior! I shall bring you a dragon's hoard!" He turned east, toward the jagged peaks where legends whispered of ancient beasts and buried gold. Loki, ever sly, grinned. "Let brute force pave the way, brother," he purred, "I prefer finesse." He slipped west, into the whispering forests of intrigue and shadow.
Page 3
Kai watched the feathers dance on the wind. One drifted east, one west, and the third fell directly before him. Despair touched his heart, then he remembered a phrase from Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor: "'You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.' He was right. The feather had chosen his path, but his spirit would guide him. He knelt, picked up the feather, and followed where it led: down, into the earth.
Page 4
The feather led Kai to an unassuming crack in the ice. He squeezed through and found himself in a narrow passage that descended into the earth. The air grew warmer, the scent of damp earth replacing the biting frost. "What lies beneath?" he wondered, his voice echoing in the darkness, "Perhaps true worth is found not above, but below."
Page 5
Deeper still, the passage opened into a cavern where a spring bubbled from the rock. An old woman with eyes as bright as the water sat beside it, her face etched with the wisdom of ages. "Welcome, Kai," she rasped, her voice like the trickle of the spring. "I have been expecting you. I guard the path to the Well of Wishes. But only those who are pure of heart can draw from its power."
Page 6
"To prove your worth, peer into the Mirror of Truth," the old woman instructed, gesturing to a pool of water, still as glass. "It will show you your truest self. Only then will you be ready for the Well of Wishes." Kai hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. What if he saw something he did not like?
Page 7
Kai gazed into the water. At first, he saw his own face, young and earnest. Then, the image flickered, replaced by moments of doubt, moments of envy, moments of fear. A voice echoed in his mind, 'All men are liable to err; and most men are, in many points, by passion or interest, under temptation to it,' remembering what English philosopher John Locke once stated. He closed his eyes, accepting these truths. When he opened them, his reflection was clear, unburdened.
Page 8
The old woman smiled. "You have seen your truth, Kai. Now, approach the Well." The Well of Wishes shimmered with an inner light. "Ask for what your kingdom needs most, not what you desire."
Page 9
Kai closed his eyes and spoke from his heart, "I wish for Eldfrost to have spring, not dragons' gold nor forests of intrigue, but warmth for my people, food for the hungry, and healing for the sick." As he spoke, the well pulsed with light. He knew his brothers could not hope to compare. He emerged from the crack in the ice, the feather now glowing softly in his hand.
Page 10
When Thorin returned with fool's gold and Loki with shadowed secrets, the ice had begun to thaw. Spring kissed the land. King Valdemar knew then that Kai, who sought not glory but his people's well-being, was the true heir. And so, Kai inherited Eldfrost, not for what he gained, but for what he gave.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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