WEBVTT 1 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:20.640 Hello, and welcome back to Sleepy Stories. I'm your host, Lucy, 2 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.600 and my friends and I will be reading you a 3 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:31.039 sleepy bedtime story every week to relax you and to 4 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:37.560 help you to drift off into a RESTful sleep. From 5 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:42.000 time to time, we will also read you a relaxing, 6 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:49.079 peaceful meditation that will take you somewhere beautiful and calming. 7 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.280 Once we have read the stories, we will then read 8 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:59.719 them a second time, but this time they will be 9 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:07.599 ready even slower. This will help you to relax even more. 10 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:13.000 Before we begin, I would like you to close your 11 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:21.640 eyes and breathe in and out nice and deeply. Take 12 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:27.359 a few seconds to inhale, and then hold your breath 13 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:35.000 for a few seconds more, and then release and breathe out. 14 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:40.959 Do this a few times if you need to. While 15 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:45.599 you listen to the music and you listen to my voice, 16 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:53.000 give yourself time to let your body relax and your 17 00:01:53.120 --> 00:02:00.560 mind settle. It's important that we allow time for us 18 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:10.800 to feel safe, cozy, and completely at ease. And now 19 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:25.120 it's time for this week's story. 20 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:35.639 Once in a kingdom where roads occasionally changed direction out 21 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:40.400 of boredom, there lived two sisters named Evelyn and Poppy, 22 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:47.960 Evelyn was twenty years old, sensible, organized, and rarely surprised 23 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:53.479 by anything. She carried three maps, two compasses, a notebook, 24 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:59.479 spare shoelaces, and a small tin labeled for emergencies, though 25 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:04.000 she had never never explained what was inside it. Poppy 26 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:14.919 was seventeen, curious, cheerful, and almost always surprised. She collected buttons, feathers, 27 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:20.479 interesting stones, and questions no one could answer. She regularly 28 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:25.680 spoke to statues, greeted passing clouds, and believed that any 29 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:32.639 door painted blue probably led somewhere worth visiting. The sisters 30 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.360 loved one another dearly, but they agreed on almost nothing. 31 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:42.360 One morning, they received a letter sealed with purple wax. 32 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:49.199 It read to the two travelers, come to the Palace 33 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:54.319 of a hundred windows before the final bell of Midsummer. 34 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.159 The King seeks those who understand what is truly valuable. 35 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:05.520 Bring only what you need. Below the message was a 36 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:13.879 tiny golden map. Evelyn immediately packed food, blankets, rope, a lantern, 37 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:19.439 and all three of her maps. Poppy packed one apple, 38 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:23.560 a striped scarf, and a tiny silver spoon she had 39 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:28.920 found beneath a cupboard. Why are you taking that, Evelyn? Asked, 40 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:35.319 in case we meet a very small giant, there is 41 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:40.600 no such thing as a very small giant. That is 42 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:44.360 exactly what a very small giant would want you to think. 43 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:50.800 They set off before breakfast. At the edge of their village. 44 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:57.439 The main road divided into three. A wooden sign pointed 45 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:06.199 left and read the sensible road. Another pointed right, the 46 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:14.839 beautiful road. The middle sign simply said probably not, we 47 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:21.519 take the sensible road. Evelin said. The middle one sounds interesting, 48 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:31.839 said Poppy. It sounds dangerous, it says probably. Before they 49 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:37.360 could decide, all three signs spun around and pointed towards 50 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:45.279 the middle path. Evelin frowned. That is very unhelpful. The 51 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:52.600 sign creaked. A new message appeared, The road has voted, 52 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:59.040 so they followed it. The path soon led to a 53 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:04.199 stone bridge stretching across a deep ravine. At its center 54 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:11.120 stood a carved face with bushy eyebrows. Travelers boomed the 55 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:17.199 bridge answer my riddle, or you may not cross. Evelyn 56 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:23.560 opened her notebook. What has no wings but flies, no mouth, 57 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:27.439 but whispers, and disappears whenever you try to hold it 58 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:36.560 the wind, Evelin said. At once, No a thought, said Poppy, 59 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:42.600 no time. Evelin suggested. 60 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:43.720 No. 61 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:51.920 The sisters offered clouds, dreams, smoke, music, and Evelin's patience. 62 00:06:53.720 --> 00:07:00.560 All were wrong. At last, Poppy sat down this silly 63 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:09.560 There could be several answers. The bridge's stone eyebrows rose correct, 64 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:15.839 a section of the bridge lowered. The answer was a 65 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:22.240 riddle with too many possible answers. Evelyn stared at it. 66 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:28.519 That is a dreadful riddle. I have been alone for 67 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:34.839 three hundred years, said the bridge. I amuse myself. As 68 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:39.480 they crossed, Poppy noticed a bright blue feather caught between 69 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:45.720 two stones. She picked it up. You do not need that, 70 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:52.160 Evelyn said. It might belong to a bird. That is 71 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:57.800 usually where feathers come from. Poppy tucked it into her pocket. 72 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:04.279 Beyond the bridge lay a village where everyone sang instead 73 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:09.879 of speaking. A baker leaned from his window and sang, 74 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:15.720 good morning, travelers, Dusty and Red. Would you care for 75 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:21.800 some wandering bread? Before the sisters could answer, two round 76 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:25.480 loaves bounced out of the bakery and hopped down the street. 77 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:34.519 Poppy chased one, Evelyn chased Poppy. The loaf leapt over 78 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:38.480 a fountain, rolled beneath a cart, and hid behind a 79 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:46.919 flower pot. Stop. Evelyn cried. The bread stopped, then it 80 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:51.720 turned around, bounced twice, and knocked her gently on the ankle. 81 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:58.519 The baker hurried over, still singing, you must greet the 82 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:03.000 bread politely, you see, or it assumes you mean robbery. 83 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:09.679 Poppy bowed to the loaf, good morning. May we eat 84 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:16.759 you please? The loaf gave a small, resigned bounce. The 85 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:22.480 baker handed it to her. As they ate, Poppy noticed 86 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:27.519 a brass button on the bakery floor. She slipped it 87 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:34.480 into her pocket. Eveling side. We were told to bring 88 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:40.440 only what we need. We may need a button. We 89 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:48.240 already have, buttons, not this one. They continued into a 90 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:54.720 forest where the trees moved whenever nobody was looking. Evelyn 91 00:09:54.840 --> 00:10:02.039 checked her compass, The needle spun in circles. She checked 92 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:06.559 her map. The ink had rearranged itself to form the 93 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:15.720 words nice. Try this forest is impossible, she muttered. Poppy 94 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:23.759 walked ahead, humming. The path twisted behind her. Soon the 95 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:34.080 sisters found themselves separated. Poppy evening called over here. Poppy 96 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:41.480 sounded nearby, then far away, then somehow above her. Evelyn 97 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:45.399 hurried through the trees, but returned to the same mossy 98 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:53.279 stump three times. At last she stopped. We must walk together. 99 00:10:55.000 --> 00:11:03.360 Poppy emerged from behind a fern. The sisters linked arms. Immediately, 100 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:09.919 the forest became still. A straight path appeared beneath their feet. 101 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:17.919 Evelyn looked at Poppy, Do not wander off again. I 102 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:23.200 didn't wander the forest wandered. At the end of the path, 103 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:29.200 they found a smooth pebble shaped like a heart. Poppy 104 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:36.120 picked it up. Evelyn opened her mouth. Don't, said Poppy. 105 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:43.080 By evening they reached a slow moving hill. It turned 106 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.360 out not to be a hill at all, but an 107 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:50.840 enormous tortoise with a small library strapped to its shell. 108 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:58.000 The tortoise wore half moon spectacles. Do you have any 109 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.639 books about the Palace of one hundred winters, Evelyn asked. 110 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:07.039 The tortoise took so long to answer that Poppy ate 111 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:14.200 her apple while waiting, possibly, he said. At last, he 112 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:18.519 climbed a tiny ladder, leaning against his own shell, and 113 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:24.600 disappeared among the shelves. After several minutes, he returned with 114 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:30.039 a dusty book. The palace gate opens only for those 115 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:37.559 carrying everything they truly needed along the journey. Evelyn smiled, triumphantly. 116 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:46.639 You see food maps, rope lantern. Poppy looked worriedly at 117 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.919 her feather, button, pebble, and spoon. The tortoise peered at 118 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:59.240 them over his spectacles. Need is a peculiar word, he said. 119 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:06.480 Most creatures understand it only afterwards. Before they left, he 120 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:13.200 gave them directions. Follow the path past the upside down waterfall. 121 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:19.200 Turn left at the mountain that compliments you. Compliments us, 122 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:25.360 Evelyn asked. You have excellent posture, said the mountain in 123 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:32.919 the distance. Thank you, Poppy called, And your scarf is delightful, 124 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:42.600 Poppy beamed. Evelyn's compliment came several minutes later. You have 125 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:48.440 packed very efficiently. That is more like it, she said. 126 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:54.759 They passed the upside down waterfall, whose water flowed from 127 00:13:54.799 --> 00:14:00.480 a lake into the clouds. Behind it, they heard skar weaking. 128 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:08.759 A tiny green dragon sat on a rock, shivering. Smoke 129 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:16.639 puffed nervously from its nostrils. Are you lost, Poppy asked, No, 130 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:27.080 said the dragon, I am hiding from what fire? Evelyn stared, 131 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:33.360 But you are a dragon. That does not mean I 132 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:39.399 must enjoy everything expected of dragons. The dragon had been 133 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:43.039 sent to light the Midsummer lantern at the palace. But 134 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:47.240 every time it tried to breathe fire, it frightened itself 135 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:54.240 and sneezed. Poppy wrapped her striped scarf around its shoulders. 136 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:59.360 You needn't make a huge flame, she said, Perhaps begin 137 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:07.879 with a spy. The dragon tried. It produced smoke, then 138 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:13.360 a tiny flame. Then it screamed and hid behind Evelyn. 139 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:22.679 You did it, Evelyn said, I did you did. The 140 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:27.159 dragon tried again, making a flame no larger than a candle. 141 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:35.039 It grinned ingratitude. It gave Poppy a small silver key. 142 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:43.200 Evelyn examined it. What does it open? I don't know, 143 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:48.960 said the dragon. I found it in a pie. They 144 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:55.440 reached a market just before sunset. Unlike ordinary markets, no 145 00:15:55.519 --> 00:16:02.600 one used coins. People traded memories. A woman exchanged the 146 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:08.799 memory of her first snowfall for a silk umbrella. A 147 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:13.120 fisherman traded the memory of an enormous fish for a 148 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:19.519 pair of yellow boots. Surely, giving away memories is a 149 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:27.679 terrible idea, Evelyn said. A merchant overheard her. Only if 150 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:33.960 you trade the important ones, what could we buy, Poppy asked. 151 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:39.159 The merchant showed them a bottle containing a golden light, 152 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:46.600 A memory of laughter very useful in gloomy places. What 153 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:54.320 does it cost one small memory? Poppy offered the memory 154 00:16:54.759 --> 00:17:02.039 of a particularly boring Tuesday. The merchant excepted, do you 155 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:10.960 still remember it? Evelin asked, No, said Poppy. Wonderful night 156 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:16.319 had fallen When they reached the Castle of Cats. Dozens 157 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:20.119 of cats sat on the walls, window sills, and roof. 158 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:26.640 A large white cat wearing a velvet collar approached them. 159 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:32.359 To reach the palace, he said, you must cross our courtyard. 160 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:39.519 That seems simple, said Evelin. It would be, except our 161 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:44.640 queen has lost her favorite toy. Every cat in the 162 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:51.519 castle was searching. They looked beneath cushions, inside flower pots, 163 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:57.599 and behind suits of armor. Poppy noticed a blue tail 164 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:03.400 sticking from beneath the throne. She pulled out a toy 165 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:11.400 bird missing one feather. The feather, she cried. She fitted 166 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:15.920 the blue feather into the toy's wing. The cat queen 167 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:22.759 purred with delight and allowed them to pass. That was fortunate, 168 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:31.720 Evelyn admitted, useful feather, said Poppy. Outside the castle, they 169 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:37.079 met a lonely giant sitting beside the road. He was 170 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:44.039 not very small. In fact, he was enormous He held 171 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:49.440 a bowl of soup and stared sadly at it. My 172 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:55.680 spoon fell down a well, he said. Poppy produced the 173 00:18:55.799 --> 00:19:01.799 tiny silver spoon. It looked absurdly small in the giant's hand, 174 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:06.759 but it grew until it was the perfect size. You 175 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:12.039 did meet a giant, said Evelyn, and I had the 176 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:16.559 correct spoon. I will never hear the end of this. 177 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:22.279 The giant ate happily and lifted the sisters over the 178 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:28.200 final mountain. At dawn, they finally saw the Palace of 179 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:34.640 a hundred windows. It glittered in the distance, tall and silver, 180 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:41.039 with banners flying from every tower. But the palace gate 181 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:49.759 was closed. Hundreds of travelers waited outside. Merchants carried gold, 182 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:59.640 knights carried weapons, Scholars carried books. A herald stood upon 183 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:05.680 the wall. Only those who carry everything they truly needed 184 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:13.519 may enter. One by one, the travelers were refused. A 185 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:19.119 merchant's gold had helped no one, A knight's sword had 186 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:24.519 never left its sheath. A scholar had carried fifty books, 187 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:30.000 but read none of them. Evelyn and Poppy stepped forward. 188 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:39.480 The herald examined Eveland's pack, maps, rope, lantern, food, and blankets. 189 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:43.519 You use some of these he said, but not all 190 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:53.359 the gate remained closed. Evelyn looked crushed. Then the Herald 191 00:20:53.400 --> 00:21:01.400 examined Poppy's pockets a feather, a button, a pebble, a spoon, 192 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:07.720 a key, and a bottle of laughter. They looked useless 193 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:15.319 at first, said Poppy. The Herald smiled, yet each was 194 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:21.920 carried with curiosity rather than greed. A tiny door appeared 195 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:27.400 in the palace wall. It had no handle, only a 196 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:35.279 silver lock. Poppy used the dragon's key. Inside they found 197 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:41.720 a dark passage. Evelyn lit her lantern, but it had 198 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:48.240 run out of oil. Poppy opened the bottle. The memory 199 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:52.839 of laughter floated into the air, filling the corridor with 200 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:58.960 warm golden light. At the end stood an ancient mosaic 201 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:07.720 showing the Kingdom's founders. One small piece was missing. Poppy 202 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:13.400 placed the heart shaped pebble into the empty space. The 203 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:20.200 mosaic slid aside, revealing another door. A royal cloak hung 204 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:23.960 beside it, but one of its brass buttons was missing. 205 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:30.400 Poppy sewed on the button using thread from Evelyn's emergency tin. 206 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:36.400 The cloak rose, as though worn by an invisible person, 207 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:42.240 and opened the final door. Beyond it sat the king. 208 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:49.160 He was not dressed in jewels. He wore simple traveling 209 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:57.519 clothes and muddy boots. You have arrived, he said. Evelin bowed. 210 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:06.319 What is the The king smiled, There is no chest 211 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:13.759 of gold. Poppy did not look disappointed. The true purpose 212 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:19.000 of the journey, he continued, was to discover who could 213 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:25.640 recognize value before being told what was valuable. He turned 214 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:32.200 to Evelyn. You prepared carefully, which saved you from hunger 215 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:39.079 and darkness. Then he turned to Poppy, and you paid 216 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:45.359 attention to what others overlooked. The king offered each sister 217 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:50.000 a place among his royal Travelers, whose work was to 218 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:55.279 journey across the kingdom, solve unusual problems and help those 219 00:23:55.400 --> 00:24:03.359 they met. Evelyn accepted immediately. Poppy asked whether the job 220 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:10.839 included snacks. It did, and so the sisters traveled together 221 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:17.160 for many years. Evelyn continued to carry maps, rope, and 222 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:26.240 emergency shoelaces. Poppy continued to collect things that seemed entirely pointless. 223 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:32.559 They still disagreed about which roads to take. They still 224 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:38.799 argued whenever Poppy spoke to furniture, but they learned that 225 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:44.920 Evelyn's careful plans and Poppy's curious heart were more useful 226 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:51.240 together than either could ever be alone, And whenever someone 227 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:55.640 laughed at the odd little treasures in Poppy's pockets, Evelyn 228 00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:01.200 would shake her head and say, do not ask somehow 229 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:07.960 we will need them, and sooner or later they always did. 230 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:13.319 For the smallest things are not always useless, the strangest 231 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:17.400 roads are not always wrong, and the best traveling companion 232 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:21.799 is often the person who sees the world differently from you. 233 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:42.240 Once in a kingdom where roads occasionally change direction, out 234 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:46.960 of boredom, there lived two sisters named Evelyn and Poppy. 235 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:54.519 Evelyn was twenty years old, sensible, organized, and rarely surprised 236 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:59.960 by anything. She carried three maps, two compasses, a notebook, 237 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:06.079 spare shoelaces, and a small tin labeled for emergencies, though 238 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:14.039 she had never explained what was inside it. Poppy was seventeen, curious, cheerful, 239 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:22.839 and almost always surprised. She collected buttons, feathers, interesting stones, 240 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:28.400 and questions no one could answer. She regularly spoke to statues, 241 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:33.559 greeted passing clouds, and believed that any door painted blue 242 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:40.559 probably led somewhere worth visiting. The sisters loved one another dearly, 243 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:46.319 but they agreed on almost nothing. One morning, they received 244 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:52.759 a letter sealed with purple wax. It read to the 245 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:57.359 two travelers, come to the Palace of a hundred windows 246 00:26:57.960 --> 00:27:03.079 before the final bell of Midsummer. The king seeks those 247 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:08.880 who understand what is truly valuable. Bring only what you need. 248 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:16.200 Below the message was a tiny golden map. Evelyn immediately 249 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:21.920 packed food, blankets, rope, a lantern, and all three of 250 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:28.079 her maps. Poppy packed one apple, a striped scarf, and 251 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:31.400 a tiny silver spoon she had found beneath a cupboard. 252 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:37.960 Why are you taking that, Evelyn asked, in case we 253 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:42.960 meet a very small giant. There is no such thing 254 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:48.160 as a very small giant. That is exactly what a 255 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:52.960 very small giant would want you to think. They set 256 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:57.920 off before breakfast. At the edge of their village, the 257 00:27:57.960 --> 00:28:04.440 main road divided into three. A wooden sign pointed left 258 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:14.240 and read the Sensible Road. Another pointed right, the beautiful road. 259 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:22.240 The middle sign simply said, probably not. We take the 260 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:30.759 sensible road. Evelin said, the middle one sounds interesting, said Poppy. 261 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:39.839 It sounds dangerous, it says probably. Before they could decide, 262 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:44.799 all three signs spun around and pointed towards the middle path. 263 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:54.799 Evelin frowned. That is very unhelpful. The sign creaked. A 264 00:28:54.839 --> 00:29:02.359 new message appeared. The road has voted, so they followed it. 265 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:07.920 The path soon led to a stone bridge stretching across 266 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:12.599 a deep ravine. At its center stood a carved face 267 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:19.920 with bushy eyebrows. Travelers boomed the bridge, answer my riddle, 268 00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:25.240 or you may not cross. Evelyn opened her note book. 269 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:31.000 What has no wings but flies, no mouth but whispers, 270 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:36.160 and disappears whenever you try to hold it the wind, 271 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:44.880 Evelin said at once no a thought, said Poppy, no. 272 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:46.920 Time. 273 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:49.160 Evelin suggested. 274 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.279 No. 275 00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:58.480 The sisters offered clouds, dreams, smoke, music, and Evelin's patience. 276 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:07.119 All were wrong. At last, Poppy sat down, This is silly. 277 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:16.279 There could be several answers. The bridge's stone eyebrows rose correct, 278 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:22.440 a section of the bridge lowered. The answer was a 279 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:28.799 riddle with too many possible answers. Evelyn stared at it. 280 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:35.119 That is a dreadful riddle. I have been alone for 281 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:41.400 three hundred years, said the bridge. I amuse myself. As 282 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:46.079 they crossed, Poppy noticed a bright blue feather caught between 283 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:52.119 two stones. She picked it up. You do not need 284 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:58.480 that Evelyn said it might belong to a bird. That 285 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:03.759 is usually where feathers come from. Poppy tucked it into 286 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:09.359 her pocket. Beyond the bridge lay a village where everyone 287 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:15.480 sang instead of speaking. A baker leaned from his window 288 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:21.759 and sang, good morning, travelers, Dusty and Red, would you 289 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:26.799 care for some wandering bread? Before the sisters could answer, 290 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:31.240 two round loaves bounced out of the bakery and hopped 291 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:39.880 down the street. Poppy chased one, Evelyn chased Poppy. The 292 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:44.039 loaf leapt over a fountain, rolled beneath a cart, and 293 00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:51.720 hid behind a flower pot. Stop. Evelyn cried. The bread stopped, 294 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:57.559 then it turned around, bounced twice, and knocked her gently 295 00:31:57.599 --> 00:32:04.240 on the ankle. The baker hurried over, still singing, you 296 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:08.559 must greet the bread politely, you see, or it assumes 297 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:15.039 you mean robbery. Poppy bowed to the loaf good morning. 298 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:20.039 May we eat you please? The loaf gave a small, 299 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:27.160 resigned bounce. The baker handed it to her. As they ate, 300 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:33.319 Poppy noticed a brass button on the bakery floor. She 301 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:40.559 slipped it into her pocket. Eveling sighed, we were told 302 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:44.920 to bring only what we need. We may need a 303 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:53.880 button we already have buttons, not this one. They continued 304 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:59.240 into a forest where the trees moved whenever nobody was looking. 305 00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:08.079 Evelyn checked her compass, the needle spun in circles. She 306 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:13.000 checked her map. The ink had rearranged itself to form 307 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:20.279 the words nice. Try this forest is impossible, she muttered. 308 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:30.160 Poppy walked ahead, humming. The path twisted behind her. Soon 309 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:38.400 the sisters found themselves separated. Poppy evening called over here. 310 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:45.839 Poppy sounded nearby, then far away, then somehow above her. 311 00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:51.480 Evelyn hurried through the trees, but returned to the same 312 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:59.039 mossy stump three times. At last, she stopped. We must 313 00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:06.519 walk together. Poppy emerged from behind a fern. The sisters 314 00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:14.960 linked arms. Immediately the forest became still. A straight path 315 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:21.519 appeared beneath their feet. Evelyn looked at Poppy. Do not 316 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:28.760 wander off again. I didn't wander The forest wandered. At 317 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:32.000 the end of the path, they found a smooth pebble 318 00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:39.000 shaped like a heart. Poppy picked it up. Evelyn opened 319 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:46.039 her mouth. Don't, said Poppy. By evening they reached a 320 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:50.920 slow moving hill. It turned out not to be a 321 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:55.480 hill at all, but an enormous tortoise with a small 322 00:34:55.599 --> 00:35:02.800 library strapped to its shell. The tortoise wore half moon spectacles. 323 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:05.960 Do you have any books about the Palace of a 324 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:11.519 hundred windows, Evelyn asked. The tortoise took so long to 325 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:18.280 answer that Poppy ate her apple while waiting, possibly, he said. 326 00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:23.719 At last, he climbed a tiny ladder, leaning against his 327 00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:29.719 own shell, and disappeared among the shelves. After several minutes, 328 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:35.679 he returned with a dusty book. The palace gate opens 329 00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:40.639 only for those carrying everything they truly needed along the journey, 330 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:51.760 Evelyn smiled triumphantly. You see food, maps, rope, lantern. Poppy 331 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:58.320 looked worriedly at her feather, button, pebble, and spoon. The 332 00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:03.960 tortoise peered at them over his spectacles. Need is a 333 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:09.760 peculiar word, he said. Most creatures understand it only afterwards. 334 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:17.320 Before they left, he gave them directions. Follow the path 335 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:22.079 past the upside down waterfall. Turn left at the mountain 336 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:30.280 that compliments you. Compliments us, Evelyn asked, You have excellent posture, 337 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:36.000 said the mountain in the distance. Thank you, Poppy called, 338 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:45.280 and your scarf is delightful, Poppy beamed. Evelyn's compliment came 339 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:53.199 several minutes later, you have packed very efficiently. That is 340 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:59.480 more like it, she said. They passed the upside down waterfall, 341 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:04.920 whose water flowed from a lake into the clouds. Behind it, 342 00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:13.079 they heard squeaking. A tiny green dragon sat on a rock, shivering. 343 00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:23.199 Smoke puffed nervously from its nostrils. Are you lost, Poppy asked, No, 344 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:33.639 said the dragon. I am hiding from what fire? Evelyn stared, 345 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:39.920 But you are a dragon. That does not mean I 346 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:46.000 must enjoy everything expected of dragons. The dragon had been 347 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:49.639 sent to light the midsummer lantern at the palace, but 348 00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:53.840 every time it tried to breathe fire, it frightened itself 349 00:37:53.880 --> 00:38:00.320 and sneezed. Poppy wrapped her striped scarf around its shoulders. 350 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:05.960 You needn't make a huge flame, she said, Perhaps begin 351 00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:14.440 with a spark. The dragon tried. It produced smoke, then 352 00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:19.920 a tiny flame. Then it screamed and hid behind Evelyn. 353 00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:29.280 You did it, Evelyn said, I did you did? The 354 00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:34.440 dragon tried again, making a flame no larger than a candle. 355 00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:41.599 It grinned ingratitude. It gave Poppy a small silver key. 356 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:49.760 Evelyn examined it. What does it open? I don't know, 357 00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:55.559 said the dragon. I found it in a pie. They 358 00:38:55.599 --> 00:39:02.039 reached a market just before sunset. Unlike ordinary markets, no 359 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:09.199 one used coins. People traded memories. A woman exchanged the 360 00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:15.400 memory of her first snowfall for a silk umbrella. A 361 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:19.719 fisherman traded the memory of an enormous fish for a 362 00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:26.079 pair of yellow boots. Surely giving away memories is a 363 00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:34.239 terrible idea, Evelyn said. A merchant overheard her. Only if 364 00:39:34.280 --> 00:39:40.039 you trade the important ones. What could we buy, Poppy asked. 365 00:39:41.719 --> 00:39:45.760 The merchant showed them a bottle containing a golden light. 366 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:53.159 A memory of laughter very useful in gloomy places. What 367 00:39:53.360 --> 00:40:00.920 does it cost one small memory? Poppy offered the memory 368 00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:08.639 of a particularly boring Tuesday. The merchant accepted. Do you 369 00:40:08.760 --> 00:40:17.519 still remember it? Evelin asked, No, said Poppy. Wonderful night 370 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:22.880 had fallen. When they reached the Castle of Cats. Dozens 371 00:40:22.920 --> 00:40:28.599 of cats sat on the walls, windowsills, and roof. A 372 00:40:28.719 --> 00:40:34.039 large white cat wearing a velvet collar approached them. To 373 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:38.960 reach the palace, he said, you must cross our courtyard. 374 00:40:40.039 --> 00:40:46.079 That seems simple, said Evelin. It would be, except our 375 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:51.199 queen has lost her favorite toy. Every cat in the 376 00:40:51.320 --> 00:40:58.079 castle was searching. They looked beneath cushions, inside flower pots, 377 00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:04.159 and behind suits of arms. Poppy noticed a blue tail 378 00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:09.960 sticking from beneath the throne. She pulled out a toy 379 00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:17.960 bird missing one feather. The feather, she cried. She fitted 380 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:22.480 the blue feather into the toy's wing. The cat queen 381 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:29.320 purred with delight and allowed them to pass. That was fortunate, 382 00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:38.280 Evelyn admitted. Useful feather, said Poppy. Outside the castle, they 383 00:41:38.360 --> 00:41:43.639 met a lonely giant sitting beside the road. He was 384 00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:50.599 not very small, In fact, he was enormous. He held 385 00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:56.000 a bowl of soup and stared sadly at it. My 386 00:41:56.239 --> 00:42:02.280 spoon fell down a well, he said. Poppy produced the 387 00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:08.360 tiny silver spoon. It looked absurdly small in the giant's hand, 388 00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:13.360 but it grew until it was the perfect size. You 389 00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:18.599 did meet a giant, said Evelyn, and I had the 390 00:42:18.679 --> 00:42:23.119 correct spoon. I will never hear the end of this. 391 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:28.800 The giant ate happily and lifted the sisters over the 392 00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:34.760 final mountain. At dawn, they finally saw the Palace of 393 00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:41.199 a hundred windows. It glittered in the distance, tall and silver, 394 00:42:41.800 --> 00:42:47.599 with banners flying from every tower, But the palace gate 395 00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:56.320 was closed. Hundreds of travelers waited outside. Merchants carried gold, 396 00:42:58.440 --> 00:43:06.239 knights carried weapons, Scholars carried books. A herald stood upon 397 00:43:06.280 --> 00:43:12.239 the wall. Only those who carry everything they truly needed 398 00:43:12.599 --> 00:43:20.079 may enter. One by one, the travelers were refused. A 399 00:43:20.199 --> 00:43:25.679 merchant's gold had helped no one. A knight's sword had 400 00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:31.079 never left its sheath. A scholar had carried fifty books, 401 00:43:31.400 --> 00:43:36.559