Once upon a time, there were three kingdoms, each holding claim to one shore of a triangular lake. The waters of the lake were magical -- said to cure ails and halt famine. Naturally, this meant that the three kingdoms were waging war, because that's just how medieval kingdoms roll.
The warfare was fierce. It went on for generations. Eventually, the three kings decided that they would stage one final battle, and the winner would claim the lake. The battle would take place in three days time, when the sun peaked over the horizon.
The first kingdom rallied every knight from every corner of their kingdom, resulting in 100 knights gathering upon the lake shore. They were armed in gleaming swords and pristine armour, each with a mighty steed and five squires, who set to work preparing a pre-battle dinner for the knights.
The second kingdom called to arms every knight they had, and they too gathered on the lake's shore. They had sustained many losses over the years, and so only had a force of 60 knights. They may not have had gleaming swords or armour that shone like sunlight, but they had two squires each and a thirst to prove their worth, once and for all. The squires here, like the first kingdom, began to prepare a feast for the knights.
The third kingdom had been badly beaten by the other two kingdoms. Only one knight remained of their armies, and he was old and feeble, only capable of reaching the lake's shore with the aid of his single squire. There, they rested under a small tree.
On the eve before the battle, the knights of the first and second kingdoms feasted and were merry, for at last their battles would come to an end -- in victory! While they rejoiced, their squires polished their armour and brushed their horses, so all would be perfect on the final day of battle.
The knight and squire of the third kingdom prepared a simple meal of potatoes and stew. The squire climbed the tree and tied a rope upon one of the high branches. When they were certain it was secure they hung a large pot on the other end, in the loop they had fashioned, and cooked the stew for their knight. They conversed until the night was deep.
The night passed, and the sun dawned.
Yet, none of the knights ventured into the battlegrounds. The knights of the first and second kingdoms had drunk too much ale, and lay, sickened, in the sunlight. The knight of the third kingdom was too old to venture out.
Seeing how their knights were too weak, the squires of the kingdoms took to arms. The squires of the first kingdom each had a helmet, or a chest piece, or leggings, or a sword, or a horse, for they had little to share, but believed that their numbers would crush their foes. The squires of the second kingdom split their knight's armour between them, and seeing the squires of the first kingdom, they laughed. The squire of the third kingdom was afraid, but took his knight's armour and sword, and walked into the battlefield.
The battle was fierce, and raged for hours. The three kings watched, the knights all wished, and dust clouded the battlefield. When the dust cleared, the single squire from the third kingdom was the only one who remained. As promised, the other two kingdoms retreated from the lake, and the squire was hailed as a hero.
This just goes to show that the squire of the high pot and noose is equal to the sum of the squires of the other two sides.
