“OFF WITH HIS HEAD”, the king shouted! “But your majesty” said the Candlestick Maker, “It was an accident, the Baker mixed baking powder in my new batch of wax. Besides, I’ve been left blind by the explosion!” The Candlestick Maker was trying to please the king with a new scent in his latest batch of candles. The resultant wax mix caused an explosion in the king’s candle making lab. The king was not pleased, but eased off on his decree knowing that it wasn’t all the Candlestick Maker’s fault. “TO THE DUNGEON THEN” shouted the king, “AND PUT THE BAKER THERE TOO!” With a sad countenance, the Candlestick Maker and Baker were led to the dungeon, for how long, nobody knew!
The king was steaming mad for what had happened, his lab was a total mess, wax and debris all over the place! Dinner time had arrived and the king sat down for his roasted pig dinner. As the king started biting into his roasted pig, the king shouted out “GET ME THE BUTCHER, NEVER HAVE I TASTED SUCH A TOUGH PIECE OF MEAT!” The Butcher stood before the king, shaking in fear, knowing his demise was at hand. “TAKE HIM TO THE DUNGEON”, cried the king, “LET HIM ROT THERE FOR ALL I CARE!”. Off to the dungeon the Butcher went, his head hung low as he was thrown into the same room as the Baker and Candlestick Maker.
As the night went on, sleep was the furthest from the king, troubled by all that had happened that day in his kingdom. After a restless night, the break of day was a welcome sight to the king. “CALL THE DUNGEON MASTER”, shouts the king, “I MUST RESOLVE WHAT HAD HAPPENED YESTERDAY!” The Dungeon Master stands before the king and the king says, “I have a solution to my troubled spirit of putting my Butcher, Baker, and Candlestick Maker in the dungeon all at once. Get me five caps, two with black feathers and three with white!” “Oh, and get me three blindfolds too! I’ll meet you down in the dungeon” said the king.
Down in the dungeon the king gathers the prisoners together. “I have been troubled locking you all up in the dungeon all at once,” the king said. “I have five caps, two with black feathers and three with white feathers,” the king stated. “I will blindfold all of you and place one of the caps on your head and have the remaining caps removed. I will then remove the blindfolds from each of you one at a time. You cannot speak to one another at all. After your blindfold has been removed, you will give your answer and the blindfold will be replaced on your eyes. Whoever can tell me the color of the feather in your cap will be let go. DO NOT INSULT ME BY GUESSING, FOR BE WARNED,” shouted the king, “If you answer incorrectly, you will immediately be sent to the gallows where you will hang. However, if you do not give an answer, you will spend the remainder of your life in the dungeon.”
The king tells the Butcher to remove his blindfold, the Butcher looks around at the other caps. The king says “What is the color of your feather?” Not wanting to guess and risk his life, the Butcher says “I don’t know!” “Replace your blindfold!” the king says to the Butcher. The king then turns to the Baker, “Remove your blindfold Baker.” The Baker removes his blindfold and looks around at the other caps. “What is your answer Baker,” the king cries. To scared to guess, the Baker answers “I do not know!” and replaces his blindfold.
The king now is perplexed and turns away to leave. As the Candlestick Maker hears the king’s steps walking away he shouts “Wait my lord, what about me?” The king turns to the Candlestick Maker and says “The Dungeon Master has confirmed to me that you are in fact blind from the explosion, so you couldn’t possibly be in a position to answer.” “But I need to tell you something my lord that I am certain about,” said the Candlestick Maker. The king walks back and leans over to the Candlestick Maker, he whispers in the king’s ear. “SET THE CANDLESTICK MAKER FREE,” shouts the king.
What did the Candlestick Maker say to the king?
