THERE ONCE WAS a rich merchant who had three sons.
The eldest wished to see the world, so he set sail with a ship full of treasure. Not long into his journey he came to the land of a king whose daughter was so beautiful, he had locked her away like a treasure. The king had posted a notice:
Come, rich men! Visit my castle for eight days. Find the princess, and you may claim her for your bride. Failure will cost your head.
The merchant’s eldest son rose to the challenge. He declared himself to the king, who welcomed him into his castle. But after eight days, the princess was not to be found, and the eldest son lost his head.
Silent months passed. The rich merchant and his remaining sons began to worry, so the middle son went in search of his brother. He reached the same foreign shore
