Once upon a time there were six brothers who lived in the lush green hills of Castorshire. Their father was an old and feeble man who had no estate to offer them. And so he sent them away to seek their own fortunes. One day, the king of Castorshire issued a challenge: anyone who could travel from the Cliffs of Castorshire to the White Rock jutting out of the sea beyond would win the hand of his daughter and one day inherit the kingdom. The brothers caught wind of the royal decree and returned from afar to win the Princess’ hand in marriage.
On the day of the tournament, people gathered from all around atop the Cliffs of Castorshire, anxiously awaiting the tournament. They looked out at The White Rock which was far too tall and narrow for a boat to dock - any that tried would surely be dashed against the jagged rocks beneath. The brothers would need to get creative.
The first brother had spent his time away training to be the best athlete in the land. He could run faster and jump farther than anyone else. He approached the crowd with confidence and addressed the king, “Your Majesty, I will win your daughter’s hand with my might.”
The king was impressed. A man with this much physical prowess could surely rule with an iron fist.
With a running start, the first brother approached the cliff’s edge and leapt into the air. The crowd gasped as they watched him soar. But the island was too far and the brother plummeted to the sea below.
The second brother had spent his time away serving in the king’s Royal Army. He had learned much about combat, weaponry, and loyalty. He approached the crowd sternly and addressed the king, “My Lord, I have served in your Royal Army. I will win your daughter’s hand with the ingenuity of a soldier.”
The king was impressed. A loyal soldier could surely make for a good leader.
The second brother motioned for his men to come forth. They wheeled out a great wooden catapult and positioned it at the edge of the cliff. The brother climbed aboard and gave the signal. His men cut the rope and the catapult flung the brother out over the ocean. His aim was impeccable but unfortunately his training involved aiming and not so much safe landings.
The third brother had spent his time away living in the forest and learning to live with the animals. He approached the crowd peacefully and addressed the king, “O’ just king, I will win your daughter’s hand with the help of my fine feathered friends.”
The king was impressed. A man who could tame the beasts of the forest could surely rally the subjects of this great kingdom.
The third brother held a hundred ropes in his hands each attached to different a bird flapping overhead. He whistled and at his command the birds began to fly into the air carrying him over the edge of the cliff. But the birds became confused and each flapped in a different direction. The brother could not keep his grip and as the ropes slipped from his hands he plummeted into the sea below.
The fourth brother had spent his time away studying at a prestigious academy. There he learned a great many things about machinery and so came up with a plan. He approached the crowd with his nose buried in his books and addressed the king, “My good magistrate, I will win your daughter’s hand with my amazing invention.”
The king was impressed. A man who could build such contraptions could surely understand the machinations of a well oiled monarchy.
The fourth brother pulled back the cover of his invention and revealed a magnificent flying machine. He strapped himself in and powered up the device. It zoomed towards the edge of the cliff and then plummeted out of sight. The crowd gasp and waited with anticipation. With a flourish, the flying machine lifted into the air and soared over the heads of the crowd who cheered in amazement. The brother became caught up in the applause and flew his machine in a loop to further impress. As he stared out at his adoring fans he failed to notice the quickly approaching treeline where his machine was torn to pieces.
The fifth brother had spent his time away finding the beauty in the world and learning to express it in the form of poetry. He approached the crowd flamboyantly and addressed the king, “My liege, fair maiden, ladies and gentlemen; today I intend to leave no dry eyes. Prepare thineselves to be wooed.”
The king groaned. A man who spent his days pontificating and placating would crumble under politics.
The fifth brother strode to the cliff edge and began to speak. His sonnet was long and verbose as he pleaded with the White Rock to inch closer to the land that he might rest his weary limbs upon it. The king grew tired of his frivolous rhetoric and motioned for his guards who verily shoved the fifth brother over the edge of yon cliffs. As he fell, he heard the thunderous applause of his first standing ovation.
The king was disappointed with the contest. “Is there no one that can meet my challenge?” he boomed. “What about you there?”
The king motioned to the sixth and final brother who addressed his king, “My king, I am only here to watch my brothers make fools of themselves. I did not spend time away learning a new trade as they did. I stayed at my ailing father’s side and kept food in his belly. I have no skills to complete your contest.”
“Nonsense!” laughed the king.
“Well,” mused the sixth brother, “I have brewed a fine ale. I was saving it for the victor, as it was surely meant for a king. But you, my Lord, are the true king.”
The sixth brother passed out his special brew to the crowd and everyone quaffed. The king drank the brother’s ale as his listened to his praises. Soon, the king was inebriated and raucously pompous.
“The only one worthy of this kingdom,” the king hiccuped, “is me!”
He stumbled towards the edge of the cliff and belted out across the water, “Listen here, rock. As your king, I command you to stand on me. I mean, I shall stand on you.”
The guards were too drunk to notice as the king stumbled forward and tumbled over the cliff. The princess approached the sixth brother and congratulated him on winning the contest.
“But, Milady,” he replied, “I have done nothing.”
“You have freed these people from the tyranny of a foolish old man. Now what would you ask in return?”
“Only that my father stays well fed until the day he dies.”
The Princess happily obliged and the brother and father lived happily ever after in the lush green hills of Castorshire.
The Cliffs of Castorshire was written by Daniel Weinell and illustrated by Maribel Navarro.
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