The Three Musicians
The Beginning of the Journey
Once upon a time, there were three musicians. They had all learned from the same master, and when he told them he had taught them everything he knew, the three friends decided to go out into the world and try their luck.
— We will stay together. We learned together, so we will play together. — Yes, brother! That's what we'll do. Who knows what the future holds for us.
The three musicians traveled to different countries and managed to live very well. Currently, they were in a village where they had played wonderfully at the fair.
Then, they sat at a table with the villagers and talked, telling them anecdotes from their travels. The villagers, in turn, told them a strange story.
— Not far from here, in the forest, there is a castle. — It is said to be enchanted. Anyone can enter there, and the table is laden with the most exquisite dishes in the world. There's also a room full of the most varied treasures you can take. — But it is said that evil spirits live in the castle. Anyone who enters the castle comes out more dead than alive. — Have any of you been to the castle? — Certainly not! We wouldn't dare do something so dangerous.
The Musicians' Plan
That night, when the three musicians were alone in their room, they talked only about the enchanted castle.
— I want to see that place. — Imagine if everything they told us is true. The most exquisite dishes, the greatest treasure. It would be a shame to have come all this way and not try our luck. Life has been kind to us so far. Perhaps it will be kind to us at the castle too. — So, who will go first? — I say we start with the youngest and so on. — That's a good idea, I like it. So, he'll go first, then me, then you. — Each of us will stay in the castle for one day and one whole night. — Agreed!
The Trumpeter's Adventure
The next morning, the trumpeter said goodbye to his friends and set off cheerfully. He reached the castle at noon. It was large and beautiful. As soon as he touched the gates, they opened, as did the palace doors.
The trumpeter explored the wonderful salons and huge halls until he reached the kitchen. Invisible men and women seemed to be chopping, baking, and cooking, while the aroma of delicious soup, vegetables, and desserts made the trumpeter's mouth water.
An invisible hand led him to a huge dining hall, where all the dishes seen in the kitchen were on the table. The trumpeter sat down to eat. As he was about to take his first bite, a short man with a beard so long it reached the floor entered the hall and sat next to him.
— Greetings, sir! — Bah, bah, bah, bah, bah. — Ah! After you. — Bah, bah, bah, bah, bah.
The two sat down and began to eat in silence. Suddenly, the dwarf dropped his spoon. The trumpeter bent down to pick it up, and the dwarf jumped onto his back, hitting him with his fists, then threw him out of the castle.
— How dare you steal my treasures?
With a bruised face, the poor trumpeter returned to his companions.
— What happened to you? Don't go to the castle! It's dangerous!
The Drummer's Adventure
That evening...
— So, what do we do? — I want to go and see with my own eyes what's happening at the castle. I will go.
The next day, the drummer set off for the castle. The gates opened for him too. The drummer also explored the huge halls and rooms, went to the kitchen, and from there was led to the dining hall. Just as he was about to start eating, the dwarf appeared.
Just as he had done with the trumpeter, the dwarf dropped his spoon, and when the drummer bent down to pick it up, he jumped onto his back and threw him out of the castle. The drummer returned to his companions.
— The place is dangerous. Don't go, friend! — It was the dwarf again, wasn't it? — Yes. Exactly as you said. — In that case, I will go. — Even after what happened to us? — Don't worry. I won't let the dwarf get the better of me.
The Violinist's Adventure and the Castle's Secret
Thus, the next morning, the violinist left for the castle. He saw exactly the same things in the palace and sat down to eat. The dwarf appeared and, as usual, dropped his spoon, so he could jump on the violinist when he bent down to pick it up.
But the violinist was prepared. Just as the dwarf jumped on him, he dodged and immobilized him. In the scuffle, the medallion from the dwarf's neck ended up in the violinist's hand.
The moment the medallion reached his hand, he began to feel very powerful, while the dwarf lost his strength.
— Give me back the medallion! — No. I won't give it to you until you tell me what's going on with the palace. — But if you give me back the medallion, I will teach you everything about my magical powers. And I have plenty. — Then, first teach me about them, then I'll give you back the medallion. — Do we have a deal? — Fine.
Thus, the dwarf led the musician into a strange cellar, through a passage so long it seemed endless. Then, suddenly, the dark passage led them into a valley the violinist had never seen before.
It was clear that this place belonged to another world. The dwarf led the violinist to a river. It flowed with such rapidity that it was impossible to cross by swimming.
But the dwarf struck the water with his magic wand, and it parted in two, leaving room for a path that the two followed to reach the other side. There stood a castle even more beautiful than the one they had come from. The dwarf led the violinist inside.
Every room in the castle was laden with the richest treasures in the world. Then, they reached a wonderful room, where there was a huge bed, sprinkled with gold and precious stones, in which rested the most beautiful maiden in the world.
— Who is she? — She is the princess of the castle. She has been sleeping for 200 years because of a spell. — A spell? — It seems the spell was meant to put the princess to sleep and make the palace servants disappear. So that the one who cast the spell could steal the countless treasures. But the castle was already enchanted, so the princess sleeps, all the treasures remain locked where they are.
Seeing the dwarf's distress at the thought of all the treasures remaining locked where they were, the violinist realized that he had cast the spell on the princess. So he decided to help her.
— How can the spell be broken? — Pardon? — We both know who cast the spell on the princess now, don't we? If you want the medallion, first tell me how to break the spell. — Under the princess's pillow is a chest. The princess's treasure is hidden there. Take the chest, bring it close to the princess's eyes, and touch it with the medallion. It will open, and the princess will regain her treasure. — Very well.
