The Three Feathers (Part I)

Summary

Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest: "The Three Feathers (Part I)"

Host: Adam Gidwitz
Date: September 18, 2025

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Main Theme

In this episode of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, author and storyteller Adam Gidwitz retells "The Three Feathers," a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, blending the original story with lively dialogue and commentary from a classroom full of enthusiastic kids. The tale explores themes of inheritance, loyalty, and the true measure of worth, all while balancing spooky and silly moments. This is the first part of a two-part story, setting up a series of tests among three royal brothers who vie for their father’s throne.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Setting the Stage: What Makes Grimm Tales "Grimm"?

• [01:53] Adam introduces himself as a lover of the original, weird, and sometimes scary Grimm fairy tales, promising that this version will be more "grim" than the sanitized "kid bedtime" versions.
• The episode’s spookiness is rated as "Grimm": suitable for most, with some sudden scares for sensitive listeners.

2. Introduction to "The Three Feathers"

• [04:23] Adam shares that the story is based on a Brothers Grimm tale, inspired by English folklore and Shakespeare’s King Lear.
• Brief discussion with the kids about familiarity with Shakespeare.
  • Memorable kid moment [04:17]:
    Child: "I know Romeo and Juliet."
    Adam: "Romero and Juliet. You know that one? Okay, so King Lear is a different one..."

3. The King’s Quest for an Heir

• [04:39] The aging king calls his three sons to decide which will inherit the kingdom—not by birth order, but by a series of contests.
• The responsible eldest, the party-loving younger sons, and their initial attitudes are detailed.
• Children’s skepticism [05:11]:
  Child: "Why is the oldest son the good one? Generally, it's the youngest one."
  Adam: "Usually, that's how it goes. Very interesting."

4. The First Contest: Declarations of Love

• [06:12] The king asks each son to prove how much they love him.

  • Youngest: "I love you more than life itself."
  • Middle: "I love you more than that. The moment you die, I will die of heartbreak."
  • Eldest: "I love you as much as meat loves salt."

• Kids’ Reactions [07:54–08:09]:

  • "If he dies and then you die, like you're overreacting a bit... He can't be king. He's dead... bro, what is he even thinking? They're both going to be like and dead for a very, very long time..."
  • "So there is basically no end to being dead. Exactly right."

• The king, offended by the eldest’s pragmatic answer, banishes him to the stables.

5. Meat Loves Salt: What Does It Mean?

• [09:18] Discussion about the meaning behind the phrase "I love you as much as meat loves salt".
  • [09:41] "It connects to, like, the father and the son, because they kind of connect..."
  • Adam: "So, like, the father teaching the son makes the son better. Just like salt makes meat better. That's really interesting..."

6. The Second Contest: The Finest Carpet

• [11:41] King sets a contest: each son must return with the richest, finest carpet, following the direction their feather flies.
  • Youngest: East, buys a cheap carpet at a market.
  • Middle: West, coerces two old sisters, but takes only a doormat.
    • Comic moment: "Oh, I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him walk away. You're looking in the wrong direction, Maude. That's a tree. Put on your glasses." [15:43]
  • Oldest: Feather lands at the castle gates. While gathering leaves, he discovers a hidden trapdoor.

7. Discovery Beneath the Trapdoor

• [16:30–21:02] Oldest son bravely enters the trapdoor, after much debate among the kids whether they would do the same. The suspense is broken with jokes and reassurances from Adam.
  • "Sometimes you gotta take a risk to become king." [21:32]
• Descends into a dark, smelly cave, greeted by a booming voice: "What are you waiting for?" [21:02]

8. Encounter with the Toad Lady

• [23:03–24:03] Polite and brave, the oldest son is welcomed by a huge, green, apron-wearing "giant toad lady."
  • "I want one." (kid comment) [23:48]
• The toad lady offers hospitality—tea and pumpkin bread.

9. Task for the Carpet: Fixing the Door

• [25:12] She will give up her magical carpet only if the oldest son fixes her creaky door, not if he marries her (jokey misdirection).

  • "I'm just kidding. I just need you to fix my creaky door." (Toad Lady) [26:03]
  • "That's so kind of him." (kid, about the son fixing the door) [26:43]

• The eldest does so, receives the beautiful carpet, outshining the others, but the king refuses to declare the winner.

10. The Third Contest: The Most Beautiful Ring

• [28:19] The king declares a new contest: who will bring him the most beautiful ring?
  • Youngest: Buys a crude iron ring from the blacksmith.
  • Middle: Bullies a child out of her tin ring.
    • "It's not even gold. The prince wants something like gold from, like, a diamond store or something." (kid) [30:32]
  • Oldest: Returns to the toad lady, who again requests help (this time, fixing her groaning stairs) rather than marriage—more playful misdirection.
    • "Do you want me to make them into rings, too?" (blacksmith, joking) [31:29]
• Toad lady gives the oldest son a stunning golden ring inlaid with emeralds and rubies.

11. Conclusion & Cliffhanger

• The sons return; their rings are presented. Once again, the oldest blatantly wins, but the king defers the verdict.
  • "I'll tell you later." (King) [32:56]
• Adam ends the episode with a teaser for part II.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Adam [03:00, beginning tone]: "The original Grimm fairy tales aren't like that at all. They're weird and sometimes gross and often scary. In other words, they're grim."
• Child [07:54]: "He can't be king. He's dead... bro, what is he even thinking?"
• Adam [09:41]: "So, like, the father teaching the son makes the son better. Just like salt makes meat better."
• Toad Lady [26:03]: "I'm just kidding. I just need you to fix my creaky door."
• Kid [28:58]: "He's got, like, $120. Exactly. Maybe even more."
• Adam [21:32]: "Sometimes you gotta take a risk to become king."
• King [32:56]: "I'll tell you later."
• Adam [32:59]: "The final contest, he announced, will be... to find out next time, because we're out of time for today."

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Important Timestamps

• [04:39] The king introduces the contest to determine his successor
• [06:12] The “how much do you love me” test
• [09:04] The eldest gives the "meat loves salt" answer
• [12:14] Three feathers are cast for the carpet contest
• [16:30–21:02] Discovery and descent into the trapdoor and cave
• [24:03] First meeting with the toad lady
• [26:03] The "fix my door" request
• [28:19] The king announces the ring contest
• [31:09] Repairing the stairs, receiving the golden ring
• [32:56] King defers announcing the winner—setting up the cliffhanger

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Tone & Atmosphere

Adam maintains an engaging and playful tone, frequently interacting with the kids, welcoming their insightful, silly, and sometimes irreverent responses. The children’s interjections add comic relief and maintain a lively energy, making the tale both funny and suspenseful.

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TL;DR:
This episode retells the start of "The Three Feathers," where three royal brothers compete in increasingly ridiculous contests set by their stubborn king—showcasing clever dialogue, cozy spookiness, friendly banter, and a giant toad lady with a penchant for practical favours instead of marriage proposals. Listeners are left keen for part II after a climactic cliffhanger.

Transcript

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[Adam Gidwitz]

The 4Knight A Fantasy Musical podcast suitable for all ages. Brought to you by fool and Scholar Productions. Follow Nathaniel the Boar Knight and the friends he meets along his journey as he's bitten by a wereman and must break the curse before the full moon. Listen to the Boar Knight wherever you get your podcasts or learn [e-mail].

[Child Audience Member]

Pinna.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Hi, my name is Adam Gidwick. I'm an author. I'm also a storyteller. I like telling all kinds of stories, but I especially like telling grim fairy tales. You may think you know grim fairy tales and you may think that they are sweet and boring, but listen, those tales you heard were the cute, happy little kid bedtime versions of the Grimm tales. The original Grimm fairy tales aren't like that at all. They're weird and sometimes gross and often scary. In other words, they're grim. And I'm about to walk into a classroom and tell one of the original grim grim tales to a bunch of kids. Do you want to join me? Do you want to hear a grim fairy tale? Let me help you decide. On a scale of grim, Grimmer and Grimmest, this episode is grim. Nothing too bad happens, but there might be some sudden scares, so get ready. If I get to a part of the story and you start to feel scared or uncomfortable, this is what you could do. You could turn down the volume and count to five. Then turn the volume back up. If it still seems like a part, you don't want to hear. Just turn the volume down and count to five again. You know how much weird and gross and scary you're ready for? You know what you need? Okay, I'm at the classroom door now. There are kids inside waiting to hear a grim fairy tale. So are you coming in? Grim Grimmer Grimace. I am so excited to tell you this story today. It is called the Three Feathers, and it is based on a story by the Brothers Grimm. It's also inspired by an English folk story called Cap o Rushes. And that story, interestingly, was inspired by a play by Shakespeare called King Lear. Has anyone here read King Lear?

[Child Audience Member]

No.

[Adam Gidwitz]

I didn't think so.

[Child Audience Member]

I know Romeo and Juliet.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Romero and Juliet. You know that one? Okay, so King Lear is a different one. Anyway, let's just tell the story, shall we?

[Child Audience Member]

Yes. Yes.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Everyone comfortable? And we're ready. Should we do this? Yes, let's do it. Once upon a time, there was a king who had three sons. The king was getting to the end of his life, and so he called his three sons to him and said.

[King]

Soon I will die, and one of you will inherit my kingdom. But which one will it be.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Now, everyone had always assumed that the oldest son would become king after his father died. Because he was the oldest, he was also the most responsible. He studied long hours with the king's advisors and accountants to be sure he understood how the kingdom worked. He went out among the common folk and spoke to them and learned of their struggles and their dreams. And he was always quiet and humble in everything he did.

[Child Audience Member]

Why is the oldest son the good one? Generally, it's the youngest one.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Usually, that's how it goes. Very interesting. When the two younger sons realized that they had a chance to be king instead of their older brother, they were very excited. The king said, you three boys will.

[King]

Undergo a series of contests, and whoever I deem the winner of those contests will inherit my kingdom when I die. Are you ready?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The youngest son said, yes. The middle son said, yes.

[Oldest Son]

And the oldest son said, if you say so, Father.

[King]

I do say so.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Why is the oldest son not as excited as the younger sons, do you think?

[Child Audience Member]

I think that he wasn't excited because he thought that he already was gonna be king, but now he needed to compete.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah, totally. I totally agree. The king announced, for the first test.

[King]

You'Ll tell me how much you love me.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Does that sound like a nice test? Like if your dad was like, tell me how much you love me now? The two youngest sons never spent much time with their father. They were always Going to parties at neighboring castles. Pass the bubbly, will you, brother? And taking long trips to foreign lands. I never knew Tumbingen was so lovely in the fall, while the oldest son learned the ways of kingship patiently at his father's side.

[King]

So in years, with good crops, we take more of the people's grain as.

[Oldest Son]

Taxes so that we can save it and share it with the poor in years with bad crops.

[King]

Exactly.

[Adam Gidwitz]

But when the king demanded protestations of love, the youngest son ran to his father and clutched his hand and declared, I love you more than life itself. When you are gone, I will throw myself from the highest tower. The king smiled and nodded and said, very good. The middle son ran to his father and clutched his other hand and declared, I love you more than that. The moment you die, I will die of heartbreak. The king smiled and nodded and said, also very good. What do you think of this?

[Child Audience Member]

Like, I don't think he loves his dad that much. Because if he loved his dad that much, he wouldn't be going to parties himself. And he wouldn't say, I'm gonna throw myself off a bridge when he doesn't really love his dad so much. He shouldn't be king.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The king smiled. Wait, why do you say that? You said he shouldn't be king. Why?

[Child Audience Member]

Like, if he dies and then you die, like you're overreacting a bit. He can't be king. He's dead. Like, bro, what is he even thinking? They're both going to be like and dead for a very, very long time. And there's basically no end to that.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So there is basically no end to being dead. Exactly right. The king looked expectantly at the oldest son. The oldest son said, father, if my.

[Oldest Son]

Younger brothers die when you die, how will they inherit the kingdom upon your death? How can they be king? They're dead.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Which is exactly what you all said. Exactly what you said.

[King]

But the king said, don't be so logical. Just tell me how much you love me.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son looked at his elderly father, who had taught him so much throughout his life. And even though he knew that the king was being foolish now, he also knew how much he loved him. So he said, I love you, Father.

[Oldest Son]

As much as meat loves salt.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The king squinted at his oldest son. Say that again.

[Oldest Son]

I love you as much as meat loves salt.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The king rose in fury.

[King]

Get out of my sight. If you don't love me more than that, you shall live in the stables with the horses and the cows.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the oldest son was banished from. From the castle.

[Child Audience Member]

Well, would they actually even love each other. Because wouldn't it be eaten right after the salt gets put on the meat?

[Adam Gidwitz]

So maybe meat doesn't like salt. Cause it makes it get eaten.

[Child Audience Member]

I think it's because it's like meat and salt actually taste good together. Salt kind of makes it a little sweeter sometimes.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It definitely improves the flavor of the meat. Right.

[Child Audience Member]

It connects to, like, the father and the son, because they kind of connect when the father was teaching the son, like, king ways and stuff.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So, like, the father teaching the son makes the son better. Just like salt makes meat better. That's really interesting. I hadn't thought of it that way. I love that.

[Child Audience Member]

I think what he said, it should have been how lemons and ice.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Oh, yeah. Like lemonade. Yeah. Okay. That's a better answer. The oldest son spent the night sleeping in the stables with the horses and the cows, shivering from the cold and so hungry he considered eating some of the oats from the horse's trough. But when the sun rose the next morning, a servant came and summoned him to appear before the king. His brothers were already there, and they laughed to see him wearing the same clothes as yesterday, smelling of animals, with bits of hay hanging from his hair while they had clothed themselves in their finest vestments. You look like you slept in a barn. Oh, wait, you did.

[Oldest Son]

You guys are hilarious.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son didn't even know why he had been summoned, but he soon found out. The king arrived, kissed his youngest son, and his middle son scowled at his oldest son, and then said, the contests shall continue. Hey, our oldest brother has already been banished from the castle. He can't possibly win, objected the youngest son. The king assured him he will not.

[King]

Win, but the contests must go on.

[Child Audience Member]

I feel like he's gonna at one point realize that the other kids don't really like him. And then they're gonna realize that his son actually met salt and meat go together, and then that he really loved him.

[Adam Gidwitz]

That's a really interesting prediction. Let's find out. The king led his three sons to the balcony and told them, I want.

[King]

You each to find the richest and finest carpet and bring it to me.

[Adam Gidwitz]

You want a carpet? Said the youngest son. And the middle son added, don't you already have a lot of carpets?

[King]

It's a contest. Who can find the finest carpet?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The king held up three feathers.

[King]

And to be sure there is no quarreling, I will throw these three feathers to the wind, and you must seek your carpet in the direction your feather flies.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The king held up the first feather.

[King]

This is for My youngest son.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And he tossed it into the wind. It flew east for a long ways and disappeared from sight.

[King]

You shall go east.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The king held up the second feather.

[King]

This is for my middle son.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And he tossed it into the wind. It flew west for a long ways and disappeared from sight.

[King]

You shall go west.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The king held up the third feather.

[King]

This is for my oldest son.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And he tossed it into the air. A great gust of wind caught it and spun it around, and it landed about 10 yards from the gate of the castle.

[King]

Ah, you'll look around over there, I.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Guess, said the king, and the two younger brothers laughed. As the brothers descended the castle stairs to begin their search, the oldest brother overheard the younger two whispering to one another. The youngest brother said to the middle brother, look, our oldest brother isn't going to win, so let's just split the kingdom. When our father dies, you and me. That way, no matter who wins, we can't lose.

[Oldest Son]

Smart.

[Adam Gidwitz]

I like it.

[Oldest Son]

Deal?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Deal. So utterly confident in their victory, the youngest brother and the middle brother split up. The youngest brother went east and soon came to a market where a man was selling carpets. He said to the carpet seller, I'll take your finest carpet. But when the man showed him the carpet and told him how much it cost, the youngest brother thought, why should I spend so much on a carpet when my brother and I will split the kingdom anyway? So he said to the carpet seller, got anything left? Little cheaper. And he got a very average carpet and headed back to the castle. Meanwhile, the middle brother had gone west, and he didn't find any markets or carpet sellers. So he just walked into somebody's house and said, I am the prince. Give me your nicest carpet or I'll have to have you hanged. What does it mean to have somebody hanged?

[Child Audience Member]

Hanging is when you're on a big pole and there's a rope, and they pull the rope up and you choke to death.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Exactly right.

[Child Audience Member]

Put on your ending on, like, a board. And the board falls down.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah. And then your neck breaks or you choke to death. Yes, it's lovely. Anyway, he said, give me your nicest carpet or I'll have to have you hanged. Now, this house belonged to two very old sisters. They didn't want to be hanged, and they were very excited to meet a prince.

[Child Audience Member]

Oh, hello there, Maude. It's the prince. Oh, hello, Prince Bertha. He's so handsome. Oh, don't I know it.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The two sisters offered the middle son their finest carpet. But it had a very heavy sofa and coffee table standing on it. And the middle son didn't feel like moving them and the old sisters couldn't help. So he just grabbed the little rug by the door that people wiped their feet on and headed back to the castle. As he walked away, the sisters shouted after him, batting their eyelashes a toodle oo.

[Child Audience Member]

Oh, I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him walk away. You're looking in the wrong direction, Maude. That's a tree. Put on your glasses.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Meanwhile, the oldest brother stood with his hands on his hips 10 yards from the front gate of the castle, wondering how he was supposed to find a carpet here.

[Oldest Son]

Maybe I can make a carpet of leaves.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It was autumn and there were many beautiful leaves on the ground, so he started to gather together leaves of many different colors, golds and reds and oranges and browns. And then he noticed something very strange. Under one pile of leaves there seemed to be a trap door leading straight into the ground.

[Oldest Son]

Why is there a trap door leading straight into the ground?

[Adam Gidwitz]

He had studied all the maps of the kingdom and none of them showed this door. What do you think you should do?

[Child Audience Member]

Go inside. Avoid it. I would be more adventurous and see what's in there.

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[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son knocked on the trapdoor. There was no answer. He knocked again. A horrible, cracking, croaking voice called, come in. That didn't give the oldest son a lot of confidence. But he wanted to find the finest carpet. And this is where the feather had landed. So he pulled up on the trapdoor. Sorry. There was a shriek of rusty hinges. The oldest son nearly peed himself. In fact, he looked like some of you also almost nearly peed yourselves. But he didn't. And neither did you. So that's good. He stared down a dark staircase that descended into the earth. A smell of rot and decay wafted up from the darkness. The oldest son shuddered. And then he heard the voice again.

[Child Audience Member]

What are you waiting for?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son swallowed hard. Would you go in?

[Child Audience Member]

No.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Some say yes. We got a yes and we gotta know some no's.

[Child Audience Member]

I'd rather not go in because my life is because my life is worth way better than going in there. If I like, I'll be a little brave if I'm gonna become a king.

[Adam Gidwitz]

All right. Sometimes you gotta take a risk to become. Sometimes you gotta take a risk to become king. He started down the stairs. He heard a horrible groaning sound. It was the stairs groaning under his wings. As the oldest son descended. It got Colder and colder and smelled worse and worse, like the breath of something dead. He shivered. The darkness began to change. It turned to gloom. Then the gloom gave way to gray. Then the gray became a faintly glowing orange. And the oldest son found himself standing in a dark cave lit by a small orange fire. Something moved in the shadows.

[Child Audience Member]

Who are you?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son began to stammer.

[Oldest Son]

I'm the prince.

[Adam Gidwitz]

He wondered what to say next. He thought back to all the learning he had done in his years studying to be king. And he knew exactly what to say. Any guesses?

[Child Audience Member]

I would say, um. I'm your worst nightmare.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Oh, you try to scare him.

[Child Audience Member]

Well, I would bring a stick with me and say, I have a stick, and I'm not afraid to use it.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And they would be terrified because it's a stick. Yes. Did you have something?

[Child Audience Member]

Can I have a carpet, please?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Oh, you think you should be polite?

[Child Audience Member]

Because, like, if you're royal, you kinda have to be polite. Yes.

[Adam Gidwitz]

You know what? You read my mind.

[Oldest Son]

Because he said, thank you for inviting me into your home. It's a pleasure to meet you. May I ask your name, my friend?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The Something in the shadows moved forward into the light. And the oldest son had to stifle a scream.

[Oldest Son]

Ugh.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It was the most hideous thing he had ever seen in his life. It was huge and green with. With spots of brown and black and giant black eyes and a mouth so wide it could easily swallow him in a single gulp. And it was wearing an apron.

[Child Audience Member]

I want one.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah, it was wearing an apron. Like for cooking? Yeah, exactly. It was, he realized, a giant toad lady. She croaked.

[Child Audience Member]

Hello. I'm glad you came to visit. Come, come. Get out of the cold doorway.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And she beckoned the oldest son to follow her deeper into the gloom. Not wanting to be rude, the oldest son agreed. As he followed her, the light grew brighter, and soon they were in a small home lit by another, brighter fire in a fireplace. There was a sofa and a rug and a table and some chairs and a little kitchen.

[Child Audience Member]

Please, come in.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Sit.

[Child Audience Member]

I just made some tea and a loaf of pumpkin bread. Will you have some?

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the oldest son said, um, sure. So he and the toad lady sat down at the little table and drank tea and ate pumpkin bread. After they'd settled in, the toad lady.

[Child Audience Member]

Asked, so, what are you doing here?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son told her everything. About his father and the tests and the feather that had led him to her. She listened carefully, and then she said.

[Child Audience Member]

Well, I have a very fine carpet here.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And she gestured at the rug beneath her Feet. And indeed, as the oldest son looked more closely, he realized it was one of the finest carpets he had ever seen. It was woven with silver and gold thread. And it seemed to tell the story of an evil sorcerer. Though most of the story was hidden under the sofa.

[Child Audience Member]

I'll give it to you, but you have to do something for me first.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And her giant black eyes twinkled. What do you think she's gonna ask for? Um.

[Child Audience Member]

His kingdom, maybe.

[Adam Gidwitz]

His kingdom? Good guess. The toad lady said.

[Child Audience Member]

I want you to marry me. I knew it. I knew it.

[Adam Gidwitz]

What?

[Child Audience Member]

I knew it.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son gasped. Then the toad lady winked at him.

[Child Audience Member]

I'm just kidding. I just need you to fix my creaky door.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son exhaled and then laughed.

[Oldest Son]

You want me to fix your creaky door?

[Child Audience Member]

Yes. You heard how terribly it shrieks when someone opens it. It's awful.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son had to admit that it did sound awful. But he said he'd have to go get an oil can to oil the hinges. The toad lady replied, all right, go ahead.

[Child Audience Member]

I'll wait.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So the oldest son hurried up out of the Toad Lady's hole and ran to the blacksmith shop, borrowed a can of oil and came back and oiled the hinges.

[Child Audience Member]

That's so kind of him.

[Adam Gidwitz]

He called the Toad lady to come and see. He opened the door for her. And indeed the door barely whispered. Now, when he opened and closed it, the Toad lady was very pleased. So she and the oldest son moved the sofa out of the way and rolled up the rug together. And the oldest brother thanked her very much and took it back to the castle with him. He arrived just when his brothers did. The king instructed them to unfurl their carpets before him. The youngest son went first and rolled out a very average looking carpet. The king said. The middle son rolled out his carpet, which was really more of a doormat. The king said. Finally, the oldest son rolled out his carpet. And they all gasped. I was going to ask you to do that. It was incredible. Shining with golden and silver threads. And now that the oldest son looked at it a little more closely, he saw that it depicted the story of a beautiful maiden and an evil sorcerer. But before the oldest son could see the end of the story, the king rolled the carpet up.

[Oldest Son]

Who won?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Asked the oldest son, certain that it had to have been his magnificent carpet. But the king just grunted.

[King]

I'll tell you later.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Why did he grunt like that?

[Child Audience Member]

Because he didn't want, like, the oldest son to win.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Exactly. But the oldest son totally did. Right? Yeah. Then the king took out three more feathers.

[King]

And announced the next contest will be won by the sun. Who finds me the most beautiful rings.

[Adam Gidwitz]

This is ridiculous. The middle son complained. The youngest son agreed. Why are you making us jump through all of these hoops? You know what that means, jump through hoops?

[Child Audience Member]

Yeah.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Can somebody explain what that means to, like, why you make us jump through these hoops?

[Child Audience Member]

It's like when you have to face a lot of, like, obstacles and do crazy stuff?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Exactly. This is a ridiculous series of contests.

[Child Audience Member]

Since the king is, like, the king of the kingdom, why he has his own money? Why can't he just buy a perfect fancy ring? He's got, like, $120.

[Adam Gidwitz]

He's got, like, $120. Exactly. Maybe even more. But the king retorted, do you want.

[King]

The kingdom or not?

[Adam Gidwitz]

And he took his sons out to the balcony and threw the feathers to the wind one by one. The youngest son's feather went west. The middle son's feather went east. And the oldest son's feather got caught by a gust of wind and spun around. And it landed right by the gate of the castle, not far from the trap door that had again been covered with leaves. So the youngest son went west. He soon saw the blacksmith's shop where his older brother had borrowed the oil can from. He went in and asked the blacksmith to make him a ring. The blacksmith said, I don't make rings.

[King]

Go to a goldsmith.

[Adam Gidwitz]

I don't want to spend all that money on a golden ring. Just make me something. Snapped the youngest son. So the blacksmith took an iron nail and heated it and hammered it into the shape of a ring, which the youngest son paid him a few pennies for. Then he headed back to the castle. The middle son went east. He hadn't gone very far when he saw a young girl playing with her sister. She was wearing a ring that flashed in the sunshine. He bellowed, I am your prince. Give me that ring. The girl came over and handed it to him. Is this made of silver?

[Child Audience Member]

No, it's a toy ring made of tin.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Eh, good enough, announced the middle son. And he went back to the castle. The girl shouted after him, asking for her ring back.

[Child Audience Member]

Hey. Give me back my ring.

[Adam Gidwitz]

But he ignored her.

[Child Audience Member]

It's not even gold. The prince wants something like gold from, like, a diamond store or something.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah, exactly. The oldest son went to the trapdoor and opened it. It barely whispered. Then he walked down the groaning steps, and he told the toad lady of this new contest. The toad lady looked at him slyly.

[Child Audience Member]

And croaked, I have a Beautiful ring indeed. That no longer fits over my huge, warty knuckles. I'll give it to you if. If you marry me. What? Here we go. I'm joking.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Then she winked.

[Child Audience Member]

Just kidding. I need you to fix my stairs. They groan whenever anyone walks on them.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son went and examined the stairs and realized that they needed new nails. So he went to the blacksmith, returned the oil can, and asked for some nails. The blacksmith said, do you want me.

[King]

To make them into rings, too?

[Adam Gidwitz]

What? No, thank you, said the oldest son. And he paid for the nails, borrowed a hammer, and went back and fixed the Toad Lady's stairs. When he was finished, she presented him a beautiful golden ring inlaid with emeralds and rubies in an alternating pattern. Red, green, red, green, red, green. It was so delicate. The oldest son wondered how it had ever fit on the Toad Lady's hand, though he thought maybe he knew she.

[Child Audience Member]

Probably didn't use to be a toad, since whenever there's a mix of an animal breed and a human breed, they probably weren't always that mixed.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Interesting theory. So the three sons came before the king again, and each presented their rings. The youngest son showed him the bent iron nail. The king said, hmm. The middle son showed him the tin ring he'd stolen from a child. The king said, hmm. And the oldest son showed him the Toad Lady's ring. It was not large or gaudy, but it was as delicate and beautiful a ring as any of them had ever seen. The king and the two younger sons all said, whoa.

[Oldest Son]

Who won?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The oldest son asked, certain that it had to have been his exquisite ring. But the king merely grunted.

[King]

I'll tell you later.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The final contest, he announced, will be to find out next time, because we're out of time for today. For the conclusion to the Three Feathers, tune in to the next episode. I think you're gonna like it. We're gonna be totally silent. Can you, for 30 seconds, be totally silent? 3, 2. Are you laughing right now?

[Child Audience Member]

What are you doing?

[Adam Gidwitz]

All right, Grim Grimmer. Grimmest is a Pinna Original production created, written and narrated by me, Adam Gidwitz Author of A Tale Dark and Grim Produced and edited by Kalyn West Associate Producer Rebecca Cunningham Field recording by Julia Martin Casting, voice direction sound design and mixing by Kalyn West Executive produced by Carly Milori Production support by Devin Shepherd Characters voiced by Jalen Askins, Jonathan Cruz Lee Joel Scott, Kevin Northman, Anne Scobie and Charlotte Wilson Langley Special thanks to all the kids in Staten island and Brooklyn who joined us for our storytelling sessions. You guys are awesome.