Berthold was born to King Solomon and Queen Candace.
The great country of Washgookawilly prospered under the rule of King Solomon.
Washgookawilly, which meant “peace” in the ancient script of the land of
mountains, remained true to its name. There were no fights of any kind,
everyone respected each other and lived happily. Festivals were celebrated with
great fervor. Sometimes the great King himself attended the functions. His
Majesty’s presence brought immense joy to people. They didn’t fear their King,
but loved, respected, and worshiped him.
And when baby Berthold was born, the whole city
celebrated with unalloyed pomp and glory. Everyone was eager to take a look at
the little Prince. The palace looked like a city in itself when people flocked
to see Berthold. But, to everyone’s disappointment, baby Berthold was not shown
to them. The King sent a message to his people: ‘You can’t see Berthold for the
next four years, says the court soothsayer. The little prince will face imminent
death, should anyone, apart from the immediate family, set eyes on him.’
The people, although disappointed, went back,
wishing good luck for the prince. King Solomon, on the other hand, was guilty
of lying. But he had no other go. The King and the Queen nurtured a terrible
secret in their hearts. They also knew that when Berthold grew up to be a King,
he, too, should protect this secret.
It was only when Berthold was four years old did the
citizens of Washgookawilly see him. Berthold had lengthy auburn hair and skin
as smooth as silk. Everyone who saw him could not stop exclaiming: ‘Wow! He is
such a beautiful boy,’ ‘Look at those locks of hair. He is gorgeous,’ ‘I’ve
heard our King has appointed a special hairdresser for him,’ ‘Of course he has.
He is the prince,’ and on and on they went praising. Although Berthold was
playful like most children his age, he kept a watch on his talk and walk – true
attributes of a King.
Berthold’s training started soon after his fourth
birthday. The scholars taught him the basics of music, science, and
mathematics. As he grew older they taught him astronomy, archery, swordfight,
hand-to-hand combat, and fighting with knives and spears. At the age of fifteen
Berthold was an expert in all the above. Everyone was proud of him. Young boys
and girls his age treated him like a King. His father, King Solomon, beamed
with pride.
On Berthold’s eighteenth birthday, the whole city
was decorated with festoons of flowers. Fireworks and music and dance kept
everyone awake throughout the night. Nobody complained. Everyone was in high
spirits. Children danced and sang and clapped. People blessed Berthold all the
good things in the world. The hairdresser who trimmed Berthold’s hair was given
a royal treatment. And this hairdresser would go on to live until the actual story of (King) Berthold began.
A year later, King Mighton of the neighboring
country Gandalokas attacked Washgookawilly. King Solomon led his army from the
front. Prince Berthold supported his father by fighting valiantly. Berthold
always believed his father to be immortal. ‘No can defeat my father,’ he used
to tell his friends when he was a kid. But now, he was compelled to believe in
something cruel: King Solomon died at the hands of King Gandalokas.
Over the next few years, several other Kings tried
to conquer the country of Washgookawilly, but failed miserably at the hands of
the mighty King Berthold.
Now, after conquering many kingdoms, King Berthold
had a strong army of ten-thousand soldiers, eight-thousand horses, and
five-thousand elephants. Just like his father, King Berthold came to be known
as the King with the golden heart. The citizens loved him and worshiped him.
Peace prevailed in the great country of
Washgookawilly. No one dared to attack King Berthold anymore. Everything was
perfect. In spite of all this, King Berthold carried in his heart a secret that
only one man knew: the royal hairdresser. But something terrible would strike
soon, this no one knew. Something that would shake the King’s confidence and
self-esteem…
Why didn’t King Solomon allow his people to see
Berthold until he was four years old? What is the secret that’s troubling King
Berthold? What role does the royal hairdresser play in this story? Read The Story of King Berthold to know the
answers. Answers that will leave you spellbound and smiling.
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