This captivating tale of royal intrigue, mythical creatures, and the pursuit of the impossible promises to take you on a journey like no other. We'll follow the Prince's transformation from a gloomy, thoughtful man to a seeker of everlasting life, as he defies his father's wishes and embarks on a quest of self-discovery. The Prince’s tale is one of exploration, encounters with majestic beings, royal rescues, and an audacious wager that could alter his fate forever.
The music in this episode is Crimson Sunsets by Anna Landstrom
This captivating tale of royal intrigue, mythical creatures, and the pursuit of the impossible promises to take you on a journey like no other. We'll follow the Prince's transformation from a gloomy, thoughtful man to a seeker of everlasting life, as he defies his father's wishes and embarks on a quest of self-discovery. The Prince’s tale is one of exploration, encounters with majestic beings, royal rescues, and an audacious wager that could alter his fate forever.
The music in this episode is Crimson Sunsets by Anna Landstrom
Welcome to Dreamful Podcast by Time Stories for Somber. A quick note to Apple Podcast subscribers.
Speaker 2:
I noticed this week that
Speaker 1:
my bonus episodes haven't been publishing to the Apple Podcast app. Even though it's marked as published in my account. I've reuploaded all the episodes in early May and they are now showing up in the app. So sorry you haven't been getting those, but I
Speaker 2:
will be keeping an eye
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on that from here on out, so it shouldn't be a problem in the future. Now I'd like to start with this episode by thanking our newest supporter, Stephen h Banfield. Thank you so much and I hope you have the sweetest of dreams. If you'd like to be just like Stephen and support the show while gaining access, to subscriber only episodes and receiving a shout out. Visit dreamful stories dot com. And on the support page, find a link to become a bus route supporter. Or subscribe via Supercast if you listen on Spotify. It is truly links to supporters that I am able to keep this podcast going. And because of all of you, I'm able to pay for things like music licensing and also pay my wonderful editor Katie who, by the way, just came back from Ukraine. This week and I am so excited that she's home. Now for this episode, I will be reading the prince who has seek immortality from the Crimson Ferry book by Andrew Lake. Sell. Snuggle up your blankets, and have sweet dreams.
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Once upon a time in the very middle of the middle of a large kingdom, There was a town, and in the town, a palace. And in the palace, a king. This king had one son whom his father thought was wiser and clever than any son ever was before. And indeed, his father had spared no pains to make himself. He had been very careful in choosing his tutors and governors. When he was a boy. And when he became a youth, he sent him to travel so that he might see the ways of other people and find that they were often as good as his own. It was now a year since the prince had returned home. For his father felt, but it was time that as such a learn how to rule the kingdom, which would one day be his. But during his long absence, the prince seemed to have changed his character altogether. From being a merry and lighthearted boy, he had grown into a gloomy and thoughtful man. A king nor nothing that could have produced such an alteration. He faxed himself about it for morning till night, till that length. An explanation occurred to him The young man was in love. Now the prince never talked about his feelings. For the matter of that, he scarcely talked at all. And the father knew that if he was to come to the bond with the princess a dismal face. He would have to begin. So one day after dinner, he took his son by the arm and led him into another room. Hung entirely with the pictures of beautiful maidens. Each one, more lovely than the other, My dear boy, he said. You are very sad. Perhaps, after all your wanderings, it is dull for you to be here all alone with me. It would be much better if you would marry, and I have collected here the portraits of the most beautiful women in the world for rank equal to your own. Choose which among them. You would like for a wife. And I will send an embassy to a father. Ask for our hand. Allow your majesty, answer the prince. It is not love or marriage that makes me so gloomy. But the thought, which haunts me day at night, but all men. Even kings must die. Never shall I be happy again till I have found a kingdom. Where death is unknown, and I have determined to give myself no rest until I discovered the land of immortality, The old king heard him with dismay. Things were worse than he thought. He tried to reason with his son and told him that during all these years, he had been looking forward to his return In order to resign his throne and his cares, would press so heavily upon him. But it was in vain that he talked. The Prince would listen to nothing. And the following morning buckled on his sword, and set forth on his journey. He had been traveling for many days and then left his fatherland behind him, went close to the road, he came upon a huge tree, and done its topmost bow. An eagle was sitting. Shaking the branches with all his mind. This seemed so strange and someone like Nico. That the prince stood still with surprise, and the bird saw him and flew to the ground The moment his feet touched the ground. He changed to a king. Why do you look so astonished? He asked. I was wondering why you shook the bow so fiercely, answered the prince. I can them to do this for another eye, nor any of my kindred can die. Till I rooted out this great tree, replied the king of the eagles. But it is now evening, and I need work no more today. Come to my house with me. And be my guest for the night. The prince accepted gratefully the equals invitation. For he was tired and hungry. They were received at the palace by the king's beautiful daughter. Who gave orders that dinner should be laid for them at once while they were eating. The Eagle questioned his guest about his travels. And if he was wandering for pleasure's sake or with any special aim, then the prince told him everything, and how he can never turn back till he had discovered the land of immortality. Dear brother, said Eagle, you have discovered it already. And it rejoices my heart to think that you will stay with us. Have you not just heard me say? That death has no power, either of myself or any of my kindred to let great tree is rooted up. It will take me six hundred years hard work to do that. So marry my daughter and let us all live happily to other hair. After all, six hundred years is an eternity. Dear King replied the young man. Your offer is very tempting. But at the end of six hundred years, we should have to die, so we should be no better off. No. I must go on till I find the country where there is no death at all. Then the princess spoke and tried to persuade the guest to change his mind. But he sorrowfully shook his head at the length, seeing that his resolution was firmly fixed. She took from a cabinet, a little box which contained her picture. And gave it to him saying, as he will not stay with us, prince, except this box. Which will sometimes recall us to your memory. If you are tired of traveling before you come to the land of immortality, open this box and look at my picture. And you will be born along either on Earth or in the air. Quickest thought. Or swift as a whirlwind. The prince thanked her for a gift, which he placed in his tunic, and softly bathed the eagle and his daughter for a while. Never was any present in the world, as useful as that little box. And many times did he bless I thought of the princess. One evening, it had carried him to the top of a high mountain. Where he saw a man with a bald head, busily engaged in digging up spitefuls of earth, and throwing them in a basket. When the basket was full, he took it away and returned with an empty one, which he likewise to killed. The Prince stood and watched him for a little till the bald headed man looked up and said to him, To your brother, what surprised you so much? I was wondering why you're filling the basket, replied the prince. Oh, replied the man. I am condemned to do this for neither eye nor any of my family can die till I have dug away the whole of this mountain. He made it level with the plane, but come. It is almost dark, and I shall work no longer. And he plucked away from a tree close by. And from a rough digger, he was changed into a stately bald headed king. Come home with me. He added. You must be tired and angry. And my daughter will have supper ready for us. The prince accepted gladly. And they went back to the palace, where the bald headed king's daughter, who was still more beautiful than the other princess. Welcome them at the door and led the way into a large hall and to a table covered with silver dishes. Bald they were eating, the Bald had a king, asked the prince how he had happened to wander so far. And the young man told him all about it and how he was seeking the land of immortality. You have found it already. Answer the king. For as I said, neither I nor my family can die till I've leveled this great mountain, and that will take full eight hundred years longer. Stay here with us and marry my daughter. Eight hundred years is surely long enough to live. Oh, certainly, as of the prince, but All the same. I would rather go and seek the land where there is no death at all. So next morning, he paid them farewell. For the princess, expect him to
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stay with all her might.
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And when she found that she could not persuade him, she gave him as remembrance, a gold ring. This ring was still more useful than the box because when one wish oneself at any place. One was there directly without even the trouble flying to it. Through the air. The prince put it on his finger and thanking her heartily went his way. He walked on for some distance and then he recollected the ring and thought he would try if the princess spoken truly as to his powers. I wish I was at the end of the world. He said, shutting his eyes. And when he opened them, he was standing in a street. Full of marble palaces. The men who passed him were tall and strong, and their clothes were magnificent. He stopped some of them and asked in all the twenty seven languages he knew. What was the name of the city? But no one answered him. Then, His heart sank within him. What should he do in this strange place? If nobody could understand anything, he said. Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a man dressed after the fashion of his native country, and he ran up to him and spoke to him in his own tongue. What city is this my friend? He inquired. It is the capital city of the Blue Kingdom. Replied the man, but the king himself is dead, and his daughter is now the ruler. With this news, the prince was satisfied and begged his countrymen to show him the way to the young queen's palace. The man led him through several streets into a large square One side of which was occupied by Splendid Building, as seen borne up on slander pillars of soft green marble, In front was a flight of steps. And on these, the queen was sitting wrapped in a veil of shining so her missed, listening to the complaints of her people and dealing out justice. When the prince came up, She saw directly that he was no ordinary man and telling her chamberlain to dismiss the rest of her petitioners for that day. She signed to the prince to follow her into the palace. Luckily, she even taught his language as a child, so they had no difficulty in talking together. The prince told all his story, and now he was journeying and search of the land of immortality. When he had finished, The princess who had listened attentively rose and taking his arm. Led him to the door of another room. The floor of which was made entirely of needles, stuck so close together that there was not room for a single needle more. Friends, She said, turning to him, you see these needles? Well, no. The neither eye nor any of my family can die till I've worn out these needles and sewing. It will take at least a thousand years for that. Stay here and share my throne. A thousand years is long enough to live. Certainly answered he. Still at the end of the thousand years, I should have to die. No. I must find the land where there is no death. A queen did all she could to persuade him to stay. But as her words proved useless at length, she gave it up, and she said to him, as he will not stay, take this little golden rod as a remembrance of me. It has the power to become anything you wish it to be when you are in need. So the prince thanked her and putting the rod in his pocket went his way. Scarcely had he left the town behind him when he came to a broad river, which no man might pass. For he was standing at the end of the world, and this was the river which flowed around it. Not knowing what to do next. He walked a little distance at the bank. And there, Over his head, a beautiful city was floating in the air. He longed to get to it, But how? Neither the road nor bridge was anywhere to be seen. Yet the city drew him upwards. And he felt that here at last was the country which he sought Suddenly, he remembered the gold rod, which the mist failed queen had given him. With a beating heart, he flung it to the ground. Wishing with all his might. Let it should turn into a bridge. And fearing that after all, This might prove beyond its power, but no. Instead of the rod, There stood a golden ladder leading straight up to the city of the air. He was about to enter the Golden Gates when their spring at him a wondrous beast, who's like he'd never seen. Out sword from the sheath, cried the prince, springing back with a cry. And the sword left from the scabbard and cut off some of the monstrous heads. But others grew again directly. So that the prince pale with terror stood where he was calling for help. And put his sword back in the sheath again. The queen of the city heard the noise, and looked from her window to see what was happening. Summing one of her servant, she bade him, go and rescue the stranger, and bring him to her. The prince, thankfully obeyed her orders, and entered her presence. The moment she looked at him, the queen also felt that he was no ordinary man. And she welcomed him graciously and asked him what had brought him to the city. And answer. The prince told all his story and how he had traveled long and far in search of that. Of immortality. You have found it, such me. For I'm queen over life and over death. Here, you can dwell among the immortality. A thousand years have passed. Since the prince first entered the city, but they'd flown so fast that the time seemed no more than six months. There had been not one instant of the thousand years, but the prince was not happy. Till one night when he drained those father and mother. Then a longing for his home, came upon him with a rush. And in the morning, he told the queen of the immortals, but he must go and see his father and mother once more. The queen stared at him with amazement and cried. Why Prince? Are you out of your senses? It is more than eight hundred years since your father and mother died. They will not even be their dust remaining. I must go all the same, said he. Well, do not be in a hurry continue the queen, understanding that he would not be prevented. Wait till I make some preparations for your journey. So She unlocked her great treasure chest and took out two beautiful flasks. One of gold, and one of silver, which he hung around his neck. Then she showed him a little trap door in one corner of the room. He said, fill the silver flask with this water, which is below the trapdoor. It is enchanted. And whoever you sprinkle with water will become a dead man at once. Even if he lived a thousand years. The Golden Flask, you must fill with the water here. She added, pointing to a well in another corner. His springs from the rock of eternity. You've only to sprinkle a few drops on a body, and it will come to life again. If it had been a thousand years then. The prince thanked the queen for her gifts. And bidding her farewell went on his journey. He soon arrived in the town where the mist filled queen ran to our palace. But the whole city had changed. And he could scarcely find his way through the streets. In the palace itself, All still. And he wandered through the rooms without meeting anyone to stop him. At last, he entered the queens on chamber, and there she lay. With her embroidery still in her hands. Fast asleep. He pulled an address. But she did not wake. Then a dreadful idea came over him. And he ran to the chamber with the needles in the cap. But it was quite empty. The queen had broken last or the work she held in her hand. And with it, the spell was broken too. And she lay dead. Quickest thought. The prince pulled out the golden flask. As Spring got some drops of the water of the queen. In a moment, she moved gently. And raising her head opened her eyes. Oh, my dear friend. I am so glad you wakened me. I must have slept a long while. You would have slept teleternity. Yes, of the prince. If I had not been here to waken you, had these words, The queen remembered about the needles. She knew now that she had been dead and that the prince had restored her to life. She gave him thanks for her heart, for what he had done. And vowed she would repay him if she ever got a chance. The Prince took his leave and set out for the country of the bald headed king. As he drew near the palace, he saw that the whole mountain had been dug away. And that the king was lying dead on the ground. He spayed and bucket beside him. But as soon as the water from the Golden Flask touched him, he yawned and stretched himself, as slowly rose to his feet. Oh, my dear friend, I am so glad to see you, quite he. I must have slept a long while. He would have slept al eternity if I had not been here to waken you. He answered the prince. And the king remembered the mountain and the spell, and vowed to repay the surface if he ever had a chance. Further along the road, which led to his old home, the Prince found a great tree torn out by its roots, and the king of the eagle sitting dead on the ground with his wings outspread as it for flight. A flood that ran through the feathers, as the drops of water fell on them, and the eagle lifted his feet from the ground and said, Oh, how long I must have slept? How can I thank you for having awakened me? My dear good friend. He would have slept till eternity. If I had not been here to waken you, as of the prince, then the king remembered about the tree. And knew that he had been dead and promised if ever he had the chance to repay what the prince had done for him. At last, he reached capital in his father's kingdom. But home reaching the place where the royal palace has stood. Instead of the marble galleries were used to play, their lay, a great sulfur lake. These blue flames starting into the air. How was he to find his father and mother and bring them back to life? If they were lying at the bottom of that horrible water. He turned away suddenly and wandered back into streets, hardly knowing where he was going when a voice behind him cried. Stop Prince. I have caught you at last. It is a thousand years since I first began to seek you. And there beside him stood the old white bearded figure of death swiftly. He drew the ring from his finger, and the king of the eagles, the ball had a king, and the mismailed queen. Nascent who is rescue. In an instant, they have seized upon death. And held him tight till the Prince should have time to reach the land of immortality, but they did not know how quickly could fly. And the Prince had only one foot across the border when he felt the other grass from behind. And the voice of death calling, halt. Now you are mine. The queen of the immortal was watching from her window and cried to death, but he had no power in her kingdom. That he must seek his pray elsewhere. Quite true. Yes, her death. But his foot is in my kingdom, and that belongs to me. At any rate, half of him is mine. Apply the queen, and what good can the other half do you? If a man is no use, either to you or to me, but this once who will allow you to cross in my kingdom, and we will decide by a wager whose he is. And so it was settled. Death stepped across the narrow line that surrounds the land of immortality, and the queen proposed the wager. Which was to decide the princess fate. I will throw him up into the sky she said, right to the back of the Morning Star. And if he falls down into the city, then he is mine. But if he should fall outside the walls, he shall belong to you. In the middle of the city was a great open square. And here, the queen wished the wage urge to take place When all was ready, she put her foot under the foot to the prince and swung him up to the air. Up, up, he went high amongst the stars and no man's eyes could follow him. Has she thrown him up straight? The queen wondered anxiously. For if not, he would fall outside the walls. And she would lose him forever. The moment seemed long while she in-depth her gazing up into the air. Waiting to know whose prize the prince would be. Suddenly, they both cut side of a tiny speck no bigger than a wasp, right up in the blue. Was he coming straight? No. Yes. But as he was nearing the city, alight winds sprang up and swayed him in the direction of the wall. Another second, and he would have fallen half over it. When the queen sprang forward seized him in her arms and flung him into the castle, Then, she commanded her servants to cast death out of the city. Which they did with such hard blows as he never dared. To show his face again in the land of immortality.