The three brothers’ father demands to be taken to the king to reveal the secret

T

heir father had not stepped outside of his hovel for many years. He looked delighted as his sons carried him outside.

“This is the most exciting thing that’s happened to me in a long time.” He smiled as Albanus hoisted him onto the back of the horse. “Ever since I attended that public execution many years ago in the town square, my life’s been boring and predictable.”

Through the streets of Rome they traveled, their father staring around him in fascination. They arrived at the palace, and Albanus spoke to the guard at the gate. The brothers entered, supporting their father through each long, royally decorated hallway.

Decimus did not look pleased to see them when they entered his royal throne room.

“So, you’ve returned with another person. Let me guess, he’s another bogus historian who claims that he knows about the locked tower?”

“Actually, this is our father.”

“And?”

“He says he knows the story behind the locked tower and the grass inside the chest.”

“Then speak.”