Once upon a time there lived an elderly king and he had three sons. As befits a good father, the king wanted them to grow up to be real people. He summoned sages from all over the kingdom and ordered the princes to teach all kinds of sciences. But no matter how hard the teachers fought, they left with nothing. The princes turned out to be very stupid. The father began to freak out: such sons wouldn’t care to let a whole kingdom go down the drain!
The old king grieved for a long time, the sad days dragged on for a long time. How suddenly one day there was a terrible roar and the royal palace began to tremble! The king ran out to see what was there - he saw, in the middle of the courtyard in full knightly garb, a handsome knight prancing on a horse. The knight jumped off his horse and went straight to the king. The king received him graciously and asked why he came.
The knight explains without hesitation:
“I heard,” he says, “that you have three sons and all three are stupid beyond measure.” If it is your will, let one of them, even the eldest, go with me. Let's see, maybe it will be of some use.
The king was delighted and immediately agreed, in the hope that his son would learn at least something from such a wonderful knight. There was only one thing that annoyed him
- why didn’t he choose the younger one, he seemed to be quicker. The knight said goodbye to the king, took the king's son by the hand, led him into the yard, and there the winged horse was waiting. Both jumped onto the horse, the knight spurred the winged one and shouted goodbye:
“I’ll bring my son back in a year!” The horse rushed - the whole palace trembled.
So they flew until they got to the knight's castle. That castle sparkles with gold, silver, and precious stones. The knight leads the prince from one chamber to another, shows him everything and at the same time says:
“It’s all yours from now on, you can do whatever you want.” I won’t ask anything from you, play, have fun. Here are some fun toys for you. Don't be bored. But just when the year ends, you prepare such a dinner for me that I can smell it half a mile away. And I’ll go wander around the world, you won’t see me for a whole year. But in a year - wait! You will do what I told you
- You won’t regret it, I’ll reward you generously. Now goodbye, be healthy! The knight said and disappeared. The prince remained in the palace and left the room
walk around the room, sort through precious things, while away the time in games and amusements. A year flew by without him even noticing. The servant reminds him: “Expect the knight home tomorrow! Time is running out!”
The prince is trying hard, cooking dinner.
Suddenly the palace trembled, the knight rushed, jumped off his horse and straight to the prince:
“You, I see, boy, are not a mistake,” he says. “I started sneezing half a mile away from the delicious spirit!”
He took off his armor, sat down at the set table and began to eat a delicious dinner. When all the gold and silver dishes were empty, the knight stood up and said:
- Well, my son, you have worked hard, take from my goods whatever you want. I’ll take you to your father now, and I’ll give you some gifts along the way!
The prince began to fill bags with gold and silver, whatever was more expensive was enough. Here a horse trampled in the yard, the knight called the prince:
- Go, sit down. Don’t worry about the bags, I’ll transport them to my father’s palace myself!
They mounted a horse and flew off. They fly to a beautiful lawn. The horse stopped. The knight and the prince dismounted, the knight orders:
- Get on your knees, put your ear to the ground! The prince listened.
- What do you see, what do you hear? - the knight asks him.
The prince happily answers:
“I’ve seen everything that’s going on in this world; And I saw my father and brothers, they are rummaging through my things, in those that I collected from you!
- Welcome! You will become a rynar-All-View, you will see everything that happens in this world! Receive this gift from me as a keepsake! Now let's go to my father.
The horse took off into the clouds and flew until it landed in front of the royal palace. Their father and brothers received them with joy. The knight's father thanks him and invites him to stay.
“There’s no time,” answered the knight, “but if you wish, you can let your middle son go with me.”
The king readily agreed. The knight took his middle son by the hand, put him on a winged horse behind him, and they flew to the knight's castle. The knight took the prince through all the chambers, showed him everything, and ordered him to play and have fun to his heart’s content for a whole year. But at the end of the year he ordered such a dinner to be prepared so that the delicious smell would hit your nose a mile away! If he fulfills the master's order, he will receive a generous reward.
The knight shook hands with the prince in farewell, mounted his horse and flew away.
The middle brother, like the eldest, did not bother himself with anything, he just walked from chamber to chamber, sorted through rare things and spent his time in games and amusements. At the end of the year I came to my senses and let’s cook dinner. The dinner was a great success; you could smell the tempting spirit.
The knight appeared, undressed, sat down at the table, and ate everything. He finished dinner, got up and said to the prince:
“Well, my son, I’m pleased with you.” You deserve my reward. I will give you a good memory for the rest of your life! And then I’ll take him to my father.
They both jumped onto a winged horse and flew for a long, long time, all the way to the sea. On the shore the horse stopped and the knight and the prince dismounted. The knight takes out three ducats and throws them into the sea, and the prince orders the prince to jump after them and bring the ducats back. The prince looks at the knight, is he mocking him, is he joking? No, the knight was not joking. He saw that the prince was hesitating, grabbed the sword from its sheath, twisted it over the prince’s head, his head was about to fly off his shoulders! Should the prince drown in the sea, or die by the sword, isn’t it all the same?
The prince had to throw himself into the sea. As soon as he touched the water, the water parted before him. The wave is raging all around, and where the prince takes a step, there the sea parts. He found three ducats and took them ashore.
“You see,” the knight praises him, “and you were afraid!” From this hour you will become a knight - the ruler of Water. Wherever you fight the enemy, you will pass through the water, and the enemy will die in the water. This is my gift to you as a keepsake! Now let's go to your father.
They arrived at the royal palace, everyone ran towards them, rejoiced, the king did not know how to thank him for his sons.
“It’s not a great merit,” the knight answers modestly, “and if you like, give me, king, a junior for a year to study.”
“Take it, take it,” the king replies, “with great joy I will give you the scoundrel, maybe you will make a man out of him!”
The knight did not delve into why the youngest son did not please his father, but said to himself: “Maybe he will suit me better than those two.”
They and the prince jumped onto the winged horse, before the prince had time to look back, they were already in the courtyard of the knight's castle!
The knight led the prince to the castle, began to take him around the rich chambers, showing off his beauty and wealth.
“And now, my son,” the knight says to the prince, “you don’t have to do anything, just admire this beauty and have fun.” I only command one thing: by the end of the year, prepare such a dinner that I can smell it two miles away. If you fulfill my command, I will reward you - no match for your brothers!
He said, jumped on his horse and disappeared.
The year has flown by like one day, and now it’s coming to an end. The prince rolled up his sleeves and began to cook dinner.
The knight is rattling his armor in the courtyard, and the table is already set for dinner. The knight enters the chambers, while still at the door he praises the prince, “two and a half miles away,” he says, “it smelled like a good dinner!”
The knight sat down at the table and picked up everything to the last crumb! Didn't leave a poppy dewdrop! And after dinner he said to the prince:
- Well, I’ve never eaten such a dinner before! I will reward you for it just what you deserve! Your memory from me will be eternal!
They both jumped onto their horses and flew in the direction from which they had come a year ago.
They flew and flew and stopped on the same lawn where the older brother once stopped.
The winged horse stands sadly, he knew what was about to happen! The knight with difficulty sank to the ground and ordered the prince to dismount. He jumped off, and the knight said to him:
- My son, dear! I have become weak, my strength is leaving me, I am dying and I have no one to whom I could leave my castle, my wealth, and my faithful horse! I give all this to you, own it, be master and master of everything.
The knight turned to the horse, patted him on the back, and ordered the new owner to serve as faithfully as he served him. And he punished the prince:
“With this horse and my sword (I never parted with it day or night) you will become the most glorious knight, you will protect the whole world and everyone will obey you.” But look, if this sword is removed from your belt, you will immediately turn to stone. Remember and be careful!
The knight finished, unfastened his sword and handed it to the prince. As soon as he gave it, he collapsed to the ground and immediately gave up the ghost.
What should I do? - the young knight despaired, - how to bury him if there is no help?
He didn’t want to return home in sadness, he didn’t want to bear the bitter news. He jumped on his horse and rode back to the knight's castle. He brought people and, with their help, buried the old knight in a beautiful meadow under a spreading tree that grew in the middle. Then the young knight sent the people back and ordered the castle to be kept in good order until he returned.
And he flew home to his father. Landed in the courtyard - the palace shook with a roar! The father and older brothers run out. At first my father was afraid
I thought that the old knight had returned alone. He came closer, saw his son, and began to ask where the old knight was, why didn’t he show up? The son told his father everything. The old man was saddened. And brothers too. But then, when they learned that the rich castle had passed to the younger brother, the older brothers became angry. The old king put all three sons in front of him and said:
“And now, my children, show me what you have learned from the knight in a year?” The older ones didn’t want to show it until the younger one returned. Brothers of steel
make excuses, no one wants to be the first to start. The two nod at the younger one.
“No,” the younger one answers, “there is a saying: don’t poke your nose in front of the older one, I’d rather do it last.”
Like it or not, the eldest had to start:
“I am the All-Knight, I put my ear to the ground and I hear everything, I see everything, what’s going on where.”
Middle says:
“And I am a knight-tamer of Water, I will pass through the water, the water will part, and I will make my way on dry land.”
And then the younger one exclaimed:
- That's all! And I am a knight for the protection of the world!
The brothers heard it and became even more angry! Ready to tear him to pieces!
All three brothers began to live under their father's roof.
But only the youngest son is dearer to his father than everyone else. The elders could not stand it, they began to ask permission, to go around the world, to seek their happiness. They said goodbye to their father and mother, but harbored a grudge against their brother. And with that they left.
At first, all they talked about was about their younger brother. Everyone was judging and wondering how to ruin his joy and happiness. They walked and walked, their father's subjects greeted them warmly, and, as befits, they showed royal honors, and when the brothers began to approach the border of their father's possessions, they took with them several hefty guys so that they would not be afraid on a foreign land.
Well, everything seemed fine, but it didn’t hurt!
How they got to foreign lands, they imagined that if they were knights, they didn’t care, they began to rob and offend people. They go, and behind them ashes remain, the beggars and orphans cry.
For a long time, for a short time they committed robbery, and a complaint reached the king that he owned these lands. The subjects ask for protection for themselves, and for punishment for the robbers. The king gave the order: prepare the army and capture the robbers!
The brothers heard that the king was sending a large army against them. The middle brother of the eldest leads him to the river and tells him to stand on the bank. And then the royal army arrived. The soldiers think: “What are they doing against our strength, we are now leaving them in the water!”
But when it came to it, everything turned out differently: the brothers and the robbers jumped into the river and crossed it, as if on dry land, the soldiers saw behind them, but the water was deep and everyone drowned.
And the brothers stand on the shore and laugh. Yes, happiness is changeable!
The king sends another army. The brothers began to destroy the village. And the soldiers surrounded her on all sides, captured all the robbers, not a single one escaped. They lead to the king, and the brothers are pushed ahead of everyone.
The king saw them and asked who they were and where they were from. They answer: “Such and such a king, sons, we go looking for happiness.”
“You won’t find happiness this way!” - cried the angry king. “I don’t believe that royal children would do such outrageous things!” Looking at you, it’s immediately obvious that you are robbers and murderers! - Imprison them!
- ordered the king. “And then, when we bring them to trial, we’ll execute them!” That night, after that day, their father had a terrible dream in the morning. Everything that happened to his children in reality was all in his dreams. He jumped to his feet and ran to his youngest son. The younger one was still fast asleep. The king approaches his bed, and he grinds his teeth in his sleep. His father woke him up, began to tell him about his dream, and his son said:
“And I, father, saw the same dream, there is no doubt, everything is true.” So, it’s time for me to get ready to go and rescue the unfortunate brothers!
It’s a pity for the father of his last son to let go of him; he’s worried that something bad will happen to him. But he stands his ground, orders the winged horse to be saddled, and prepares to set off on his own.
A horse's tramp was heard in the yard. The father began to cry and began to say goodbye to his son.
“Father, dear,” his son reassured him, “don’t worry about me.” As long as this sword rings on my belt, no one will lay a finger on me.
He said, jumped on his horse and flew like an arrow from a bow. Without delay, he reached the lands where his brothers were sitting in the tower.
He entered the city and saw a huge crowd of people in the square, the king was sitting in the middle, the brothers were standing on the sides, and the executioner was next to them. “This is bad,” he thought, he spurred his horse and, as if he had fallen from the sky, appeared before the royal eyes. The brothers recognized him immediately and looked more cheerful.
The young knight politely bowed to the king and began to ask for his brothers that the king would forgive them and grant them life.
“If your brothers came to me in a knightly and royal manner, like you, I would have received them differently.” But they beat so many of my people, they committed such robbery that they only deserve death! - answered the king.
“Your losses will be reimbursed threefold, just give my brothers life!” - says the knight.
“No,” the king shouts in anger, “you cannot force me, but for your insolence, I will order them to be executed immediately!”
The young knight heard this speech, turned his horse and waved his sword. The soldiers' heads flew here, one after another, and no one dared to go against him.
- Enough, enough! - cried the frightened king.
He released the brothers, and kindly invited the young knight to his palace for a rich feast and fun. The older brothers forgot about fear and had a lot of fun.
The fun ended and the brothers, saying goodbye to the king, left the city. The youngest began to ask the elders if they wanted to obey him in everything and accept his advice? Do they want to continue together under his protection and seek happiness? The brothers, having been in trouble, became wiser. They threw themselves on their knees, vowing to honor him as their own father and to follow his good advice forever.
- So be it! - answered the younger brother. - Come with me!
They gathered and all went together to glorious cities and kingdoms. They go, they don’t offend anyone, and they are greeted with honor everywhere. The brothers do good to people, and especially the younger one tries, wherever he goes, to leave a good memory everywhere, with glorious and heroic deeds.
They traveled around a lot of lands and finally came to the royal capital. They look and are amazed! The whole city is covered in black. We got to the inn, they asked the owner why the whole city was in mourning? The owner replies that a dragon with three heads has settled not far from the city, and every week they give him a young man or a girl to eat. And this morning it was the turn of the royal daughter, whom everyone loves for her beauty and kindness. That's why there is mourning everywhere.
“If that’s the case,” says the young knight, “go to the king and report that he’s doing a great job and he’s undertaking to save the king’s daughter from the man-eating dragon!”
“Don’t boast,” a voice was heard from the crowd, “we didn’t have knights.”
worse than you, they fought with the dragon to get the princess as a wife, but no one returned alive, everyone remained there!
“Go, go,” says the knight, “tell me that another one has been found and would be glad to lay down his head for the princess, but he is not afraid of death, he knows that victory is in his hands!”
Those who were willing were found for a decent reward and told the king this news, and soon returned with the answer that the king and his daughter were glad to welcome the brave knight to their palace. They ask you to come.
The young knight jumped on his horse and flew to the palace. The king and his daughter and the courtiers came out to meet him. Everyone, even the king himself, admired the beauty and stature of the knight, and his dress, which fit him like a glove. The king treated him to good dishes, pleased him as best he could and left him to spend the night.
As soon as the sun rose, they began to put the princess into the carriage, but she fell unconscious from great fear!
The knight rushes ahead on his faithful horse, the king and the people follow him. The carriage stopped near the chapel. The princess entered the chapel, a brave knight was walking nearby, the king and the people were watching from afar, something was going to happen.
And suddenly a terrible roar was heard. Out of nowhere, the dragon flies straight towards the chapel, flames escaping from its mouth. He flies sniffing, doesn’t look at the knight. The dragon looked around, soared up into the clouds, tore the roof off the chapel, and was about to rush inside. Then the knight shouts in a thunderous voice:
- Hey, what do you want here!?
- This is what you need, earthworm! - the dragon roared, - I take what is due to me, and you don’t care about that.
“There’s nothing here that’s yours and there won’t be!” - the knight answers. “And if you want to get it, let’s fight!”
The dragon grabbed the knight and drove him ankle-deep into the ground, but the knight jumped out, took out his sword and cut off one of the dragon’s heads. The dragon became furious and began spitting fire. The princess heals the knight's wounds with medicine. The dragon sees that the knight is not afraid of fire, grabs him and drives him knee-deep into the ground. The knight jumped out, grabbed the sword and took off the dragon’s second head.
Everyone around is rejoicing, many offer their help to the knight, but he refuses. The tired dragon wanted to rest a little, but the knight decided not to wait for him to come to his senses and his strength to return. He grabbed the sword and cut off the third dragon's head, and chopped himself into small pieces!
The king and everyone else came running, they greeted the winner, and the princess, beside herself with joy, came out of the chapel and thanked the savior.
The knight returned to the city with great honors. There, instead of mourning, flowers and garlands are displayed on houses. Everywhere there is nothing but talk about the knight. People crowd in to get a glimpse of the knight. A feast is being prepared in the palace. The guests sit down at the table. The king and knight are seated at the head of the table, and next to the knight is a princess in a pink dress. Everyone drinks and eats, and the king rises and says:
- Dear guests! There is nothing in the world with which we could thank the brave knight. And I, too, cannot give him what he deserves. I have no son and no one to leave my kingdom to. With all my heart I wish that the knight, if he so desires, sits on my throne, takes my daughter as his wife and happily rules the country. I know he will save the country from any misfortune!
The knight had already thought about this and consulted with his horse on what to do, because our knight wanted to take such a girl as his wife, so that she would not have any flaw. This princess was very cute: her eyes were black like cherries, her cheeks were like two roses blooming, but the knight noticed a wart on her right hand! And he decided that the princess would be suitable as a wife only for his older brother.
He rises and says to the king with a bow:
“I would gladly fulfill your royal will, but I’m still young.” I need to walk around the world in order to earn such honor through good deeds. But I have two older brothers, they walk the paths with me, looking for happiness. If the king doesn’t mind, at least one or the other can find happiness here.
The king readily agreed and ordered the brothers to be called. The elder brother gave his consent and soon a rich wedding took place in the palace.
After the wedding, the knight takes his older brother aside and gives advice on how to continue living in order to achieve happiness. He listened and promised to fulfill everything. And the younger one also reminded the older one that if he heard that the younger one was in danger, he should immediately rush to help.
The middle and youngest began to get ready for the journey, and said goodbye to the king and princess. She saw them off with tears. They jumped on fast horses and set off on their journey.
We reached a foreign country and, without stopping, galloped to the royal capital. From afar they saw high towers and a royal palace. It’s just strange - there are black panels hanging on the towers and on the walls.
- What kind of misfortune? - they ask the innkeeper, - why is the whole city in mourning?
- Oh, we have a great trouble! - the innkeeper answers. - A six-headed dragon has settled near the city, - every week he gives him the city for
eating young people, sometimes a boy, sometimes a girl. Now it’s the turn of the king’s daughter; tomorrow she will be led to the dragon. That's why the city is in mourning.
Here the younger brother tells the innkeeper to run immediately to the king and tell him that a knight has appeared and is undertaking to rescue his daughter from trouble.
Eh, sir,” the innkeeper waved his hand, “you’re not the first, you’re not the last!” Many knights have been here, many of them fought with the monster, but no one returned alive! But if this is your will, I will gladly report to the king!
The king heard it and ordered the knight to come to him as soon as possible. She throws herself on his neck like she hugs her own son and asks him to stay in the palace. The princess also cheered up when the knight promised that not a single hair would fall from her head.
Dawn had just broken when they took the princess to the chapel. A knight walks in front of the chapel. At a distance, people are crowding around, watching how things will end.
Then, with a terrible roar, the dragon flew in, tore the roof off the chapel and threw it to the side.
And the knight shouts to him:
-What do you want there? The dragon turns around and roars:
- I'll take mine!
- No, it’s not yours and it won’t be yours forever! - the knight answers. A great fight broke out between them. The knight draws his sword and with one blow removes three heads from the dragon. The dragon got angry and threw the knight, who went into the ground up to his knees. But he immediately got out and cut off the other three heads of the dragon.
The people rejoice and accompany the knight and princess to the city with songs. We got to the palace, but the king-father doesn’t know how to thank the brave man! He orders the feast to be assembled and guests to be invited from all over the world. They drank and ate, then the king rises from his seat and says:
- Dear guests! I don’t have such treasures to thank the knight for his courage. I am already old, my dearest treasure, my only daughter. I will consider it great happiness if a knight marries my daughter and takes my place on the throne.
The knight bowed respectfully to the king and, using the excuse of youth, inexperience, and a long distance, offered the king, if he did not mind, his brother to be his brother-in-law.
- If not you, then let your brother! One blood, one lineage! - answered the king.
They called the middle brother. And the old king gave him his daughter as a wife and a royal crown to boot.
The wedding ended and our knight got ready to set off again, saying goodbye to the king and princess. Finally, he gave his brother advice on what and how to do. He didn’t disagree, he agreed with everything. The knight jumped onto his fast horse and flew on alone.
He arrived in the third kingdom. The faithful horse stopped and ordered the knight to take the king’s daughter as his wife:
“No,” he says, “there are more beautiful princesses in the whole world; look, don’t look, you won’t find them anywhere!”
They reached the royal capital, and in the capital everything, like in other capitals they visited, was all in mourning. The knight learned that a nine-headed dragon had settled in the neighborhood and was devouring young people, and now it was the turn of the royal daughter.
The knight immediately tells the king to report himself, and he immediately demands him to come to him. The knight told him everything about himself and expressed hope that he would defeat this monster too.
The next morning, before the sun had risen, they took the princess to the chapel. A knight is walking nearby. People are watching from afar.
Suddenly the dragon swoops in with a terrible roar and is about to attack the princess. But then the knight came to him and took off six heads in one fell swoop. The dragon howled and drove the knight waist-deep into the ground. The knight climbs out of the ground, and the dragon pours fire from his mouth. The knight, without thinking twice, cut off the last three heads of the monster. The people shout glory to him, the king hugs him and with great joy does not know how to thank him. After the feast, the king said that he was ready to give him both his daughter and the kingdom! The knight was delighted, he knew that there was no more beautiful princess in the whole world, and said that he agreed.
The king without delay took the crown from his head and put it on the knight's head. The wedding was such that it is impossible to describe!
The older brothers also came to visit the younger one. They rejoiced at his happiness and promised to obey him in everything.
The wedding was celebrated, the guests went home, and the knight and his young wife lived in joy and harmony.
But the happy days did not last long. One old sorcerer harbored a grudge against the princess - he wooed her, but she refused. And so, one day the princess was walking alone in the garden, the sorcerer crept up, grabbed her and dragged her to him.
They are waiting for the princess to return from her walk, but she still doesn’t come and doesn’t come. They call and search, but the princess has disappeared, as if she had never existed.
The knight became sad, wandered to his horse, and complained. And the horse already knows everything and says to the owner:
“Don’t worry, we’ll try to rescue her!”
The knight announced to the old king that he was going to look for the princess and would not return until he found her, even if it cost him his life.
The old king tried to dissuade him, if there was no daughter, at least his son-in-law should stay with him. But the knight did not waste time, got ready for the journey, said goodbye to the old king and the people. The subjects, having heard that the knight was leaving them, cried like children, for they loved and respected him. The knight mounted his winged horse and set off wherever his eyes looked.
He rides, silent and sad. And the horse says to him: “If you listen to my advice, happiness will return to you and you will get your wife back!”
“Ah,” the knight sighed, “that’s all I need, for her sake I’m ready for any test.”
“Well, if that’s the case,” the horse answers, “listen: we’ll go now through a large meadow, in that meadow there is a single pear tree with fragrant fruits.” But don’t even try to touch those fruits, and it’s not a pear at all, but an old witch. As soon as you touch the fruit, you yourself will immediately become a pear. Then we will drive up to a fragrant apple tree, don’t touch the apples either. This is the second witch, she will immediately turn you into an apple. Be patient, don’t eat the fruit from these trees. Finally, we will get to the well, you will want to drink, but don’t even think about drinking from the well, but take your sword and chop the well! This is not a well, but to all witches the witch is the mother of those two. If you fulfill everything, we will happily achieve our goal, if not, you will remain forever in misfortune.
Okay, they move on. We reached the big, big meadow where the pear tree stands. The sweet smell hits the knight's nose. The knight's mouth is watering, but he does not touch the ripe pears. We drove and drove. There is an apple tree in front of them, its aroma is even sweeter. The knight reaches for the apples, can barely restrain himself, and is about to pick an apple of unprecedented beauty! Yes, fortunately, I remembered that the horse was punishing me and rode on.
That’s how I like you,” the horse praised him, “you’ll overcome one more temptation, as I said, and everything will be fine!”
But then trouble came. The knight complained on the way that thirst had killed him, almost to death. As soon as they approached the well, the knight jumped off his horse and went straight to the water, about to drink. The horse saw this, abandoned the knight and rushed away.
The knight saw such a thing, jumped to his feet, shouted, called. The horse returned and began to reprimand him for why he had not cut up the well with a sword at his command.
The knight mounted his horse and sadly continued on his way. I looked back - there was no longer a pear tree, an apple tree, or a well. The witches have become witches again, they are pursuing travelers, whispering in their backs:
“We are great sorceresses, but the knight has a wiser adviser than us!” They whispered and disappeared!
The knight thanked the horse for saving him from trouble and from now on promised to obey him in everything.
They passed a large meadow and came to a green forest, where forest fruits grew and clean water flowed. We ate, drank spring water and hit the road again.
Soon our travelers reached high rocky mountains with deep crevices. They felt terrible, because there was not a single living soul around.
A knight approaches a steep cliff. How huge! He raises his head, and at the very top there is a mighty fortress. “What’s there?” the knight thinks. “Aren’t witches settling in? Come what may! I’ll go there anyway.”
We found the way. We reached the top and were already standing at the gate. They stand there, amazed: there is deathly silence all around, no one meets them, no one is to be seen anywhere. The horse ran straight into the stable, and the knight looked around and went up the stairs. Opens some doors - silence, opens others, still others
- no one. I got to eleven and there was no one anywhere. The knight decided that they had ended up in the witches’ nest, but he opened the twelfth door - he saw a gray-haired old man sitting, greeting the knight with these words:
- I'm glad to see you! Finally the man appeared. Now I can die in peace.
The old man began to ask the knight who, where, and why he had come. He told him everything in order, about his misfortune and why he was wandering around the world.
“You’re looking in vain,” the old man began to whirl, “it’s all in vain!” Your wife is so hidden that you will never find her. I'll give you good advice: stay with me! You will live in peace and the castle will remain for you. I have been waiting a long time for a brave man to leave all my treasures to him!
“No, I don’t like such solitude,” the knight answered him. “I can’t live alone, I’m used to people.” I will achieve what I have in mind, and as long as I have the strength, I will look for my beloved wife. If I find it
- my happiness, if not - come what may! You better get me ready for the journey so that I can quickly get to where it is hidden!
“Well, it’s your choice,” said the old man, “but I can tell you in advance what awaits you in the future: you will go down into the valley, there you will find a lawn, on that lawn there are only creeping reptiles.” The two biggest ones will attack you, the rest will not touch you. Go at them boldly and cut the big ones with your sword, just touch the rest with the tip and see what happens. You pass the lawn and come out to the second valley. You pass through the valley, you see the mountains - drive on, don’t stop! When you reach a high cliff, stop and try to climb inside, your wife lives there. Just know that death awaits you here! Now let's say goodbye, I want to die in your arms, because no one else will get here!
He said and gave up the ghost.
The knight took the motionless body, placed it in the middle of the largest room, lit a candle around it and placed the saber on the side. And he went to his horse. I reported everything to him. The horse listened to his story and again they set off on a long journey. We passed the valley and found ourselves on the lawn that the old man had spoken about. Then two bastards attacked them. The knight cut them with his sword, and rubbed himself and his horse with lard. Before I could finish, the two bastards turned into two princes and cried out:
- Glory to the brave knight, defender of peace! Glory!
The further they rode, the more reptiles attacked them, but as soon as the knight touched them, they turned into people, and the cursed valley came to life. Then two princes with their subjects approach him and swear an oath to serve him faithfully and forever.
And the knight happily passed the second valley and they finally came to the rock where his wife lived in captivity.
The knight looked at the rock and bowed his head! It is impossible to climb this peak. He waited and waited until the evening to see if his sweetheart would show up! But in vain!
Then the horse says to him:
“We’ll spend the night at this rock, I’ll graze all night, and I’ll put my bridle in your hands, if you need me, pull the bridle, I’ll appear right away!” Go to bed and remember everything you see in your dreams! You will dream that you have a fly's wing in your hand. Hold it tightly, and when you wake up, say: “I want to become small, like a fly, let my wings grow!” Turn into a fly and fly to this rock! There you will find a hole, through this hole you will make your way to the doors, through the keyhole you will get into the first and then into the second chambers, but be careful here!
As the horse said, so it happened. The horse began to graze, and the knight went to bed. As soon as I woke up, I remembered my dream, looked at my hand, and there was a wing in it! The knight holds the wing tightly and says:
I want to become the size of a fly, so that my wings grow!
And he immediately became the size of a fly! He flew up, made his way to the doors and entered the chambers through the keyhole, and there the witches were crowding around, apparently and invisibly! He flew over their heads to the other doors and ducked through the keyhole. The witches heard the noise and began to talk among themselves:
“We are great witches, but this knight has an advisor stronger and more cunning than us!” Something made a noise, like a fly flying by, we had never seen or heard anything like it. It’s better for us, sisters, to go home kindly and healthily, no matter what happens!
They packed up and hurried away.
The knight immediately turned from a fly into a man and stood in front of his wife! And she is babysitting his son. I saw my husband and couldn’t believe my eyes. They began to rejoice, hug and kiss, and then the husband’s wife asked how he lived and did, and how he got here.
The knight told her everything about himself.
“This is all good,” says the wife, but now you are in dire danger. Soon the sorcerer will appear and destroy you!
- Well, we'll see who wins! - the knight reassured her. - After all, we are together now! And how to get you out of trouble is my concern!
But it was not an easy task! The knight himself, having turned into a fly, will go down, but the wife with the baby in her arms - how are they? He began to cut steps in the rock, and suddenly he saw a girl sitting, crying bitterly and asking her, an orphan, to take her into the service. The knight asks his wife if she needs a nanny for the child.
“I need it, I need it,” the wife answers, “but don’t even think about taking this girl, because she’s a witch, she’ll destroy you.”
But the knight did not listen to his wife, picked up the girl and carried her upstairs. The wife tells her husband to be careful, as if there is trouble now. But the knight does not heed her words, does his job, hopes to return home as soon as possible.
He had hoped, but everything was different! The knight fell asleep after hard work with a brave sleep. Shoot over the ear, he won't wake up! And the witch saw that everyone was sleeping, crept up to the knight, untied his sword and the knight immediately turned to stone!
Only the witch succeeded in her crime; she rushed away, and then the rest of the witches gathered around her. They rejoice and squeal.
- Finally! - shouts the eldest. “Now we will do whatever we want until the old man returns.” And then we’ll fly further! Sisters - follow me!
“No, wait, wait a little,” says the youngest, “where should I put the sword?” We need to hide it so that it will never fall into the hands of another person!
And the witches decided to throw the magic sword into the sea in order to hide it from human eyes forever. They threw him into the sea right from the cliff.
This is the end of the brave knight. Who will do good now? Stand up for the poor?
Meanwhile, the older brother is worried, every now and then he puts his ear to the ground, wants to know where the younger brother is, what’s wrong with him, is there any trouble?
He put his ear to the ground for the last time and began to sunbathe; he saw and heard that his brother was lying dead on the rock, and his sword had been thrown into the sea. He told his wife and courtiers everything and ordered them to prepare for the journey: “Let’s go to our brother’s aid!”
It’s just dawn, and the elder brother and his army are already cheering their horses. Dear, the elder brother decided to drop by the middle one and invite him with him, because without the middle one they couldn’t overcome the sea! The middle one didn’t take long to ask, he jumped on his horse and they galloped to the younger one’s aid.
Soon they reached the sea, where the sword lay; the sea was red, like the blood from the sword that had shed so much blood. The middle brother rushed into the water, the water parted in front of him, and he began to look for the sword. I searched for a long time, finally found it and brought it ashore.
“Now hurry up to your brother,” said the eldest.
They galloped to the rock, two brothers in front, an army behind them. The brothers are holding advice on how to take revenge on the witches. They rushed into the chambers and began to chop down the hated villains with a magic sword. We finished off the evil spirits and went to the next chambers, and there the young wife was sitting, crying over her petrified husband. The middle brother fastened the sword to his belt, the younger brother woke up and said:
- Oh, how long I slept!
- No, brother, you didn’t sleep, and if it weren’t for us, you would sleep forever! The knight hugged the brothers and began to thank them for not forgetting him. Then
He pulled the bridle and his petrified horse came to life and appeared in front of its owner with a cheerful neigh. The knight jumped on his horse and put his wife and son on it. The brothers climbed onto their horses. Suddenly an old sorcerer flies and roars in a terrible voice:
- How dare you come here? Stop! Take the princess off her horse!
- I’ll show you now! - the knight answers him.
He jumped off his horse, grabbed his sword from his belt and cut off the sorcerer's head in one fell swoop!
And the brothers all went home together. They called guests and threw such a feast that has never happened before and will never happen again. Their own father arrived at the feast, joyful and happy. Kings, princes and knights from all over the world came in large numbers and everyone praised the brave knight. And he swore that he would always rule fairly.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru