The Chints have been the sworn enemies of the Narts since ancient times.
The day became memorable for them when Badyn’s wife, Badynoko’s mother, defeated their army, and the only Chint who survived the battle was sent home by her with a mark on his face from the blow of a sword, released as a harbinger of the death of the Chint army. But the fate of the dead did not become a lesson for the Chints. They were ferocious, they loved to devastate foreign countries, exterminate people and set their homes on fire. They gathered an army larger than before and poured into the Nart Country, mercilessly destroying all living things on their way.
Experienced in warfare, Badyn galloped off to gather the sledges together to repel the implacable enemy. And his wife said:
“The time has come for my son to remember the rank there on the day when I defeated their army.” Let Badynoko ride on his horse, let his sword, taken out of its scabbard for the first time, pass right through the army of Chints.
She ordered her son to be taken out of the dungeon. Badynoko, who grew up in darkness, was not used to daylight. His eyes began to hurt. He asked:
- Mother, where have you taken me? What's the name of this place?
“This place is called the world,” answered the mother. - The world is beautiful, and we are its children.
The pain in Badynoko’s eyes subsided. They saw well in the dark, and daylight increased their vigilance. High above him, Badyn's son saw a radiance that seemed wonderful to him. He looked at him without squinting, and felt his chest fill with happiness. He asked, pointing with his finger:
- What is this?
“It’s the sun,” said the mother. “People with pure hearts swear by his name.”
Badynoko’s eyes were so sharp that they saw behind the brilliance of the sun many sparkles. He asked:
- Mother, what are these little lamps burning above the sun?
“I don’t see them,” answered the delighted mother, “but I know their names.” These are the stars. If you see them on a sunny day, then the enemy will not hide from you even on a dark night.
And the mother said in a jubilant voice:
“Your eyes are like a hundred pairs of eyes, your heart is like a hundred hearts.” Go and unleash your blow on the enemy. Attack the enemy during the day, attack the enemy at night. If you win during the day, the sun will illuminate your victory; at night, if you put the enemy to flight, your trail will be covered with starry radiance!
Badynoko sat on his horse, and his mother took the ringing millet in her hands and began to play, so much so that the horse began to dance. The horse danced and the mother sang:
>Badynoko, whose snack is a bull, Badynoko, whose lunch is a deer! The day has come: mount your horse, the Nart country is calling you. Take your dogs on a campaign, take your eagles on a campaign, unleash your blow on your enemies, Nart man, show courage, punish the enemy army, save the Nart region from destruction!
“I will fight with Nart courage, I will return home with dignity, I will return unharmed.” What about father and mother? - Badynoko asked about the old woman and the old man who raised him.
“Don’t worry about them,” said the mother, “I will cherish their old age, their peace.” And you fight, thinking only about defeating the enemy, fight as befits a Nart. Do not tell the Narts whose son you are, where you come from, for among the Nart men, firm and noble, there are also ill-wishers and envious people.
Having said this, the mother handed Badynoko military armor, and while her son was putting it on, the mother sang:
With a swan neck, your bay, Thin, two palms wide, Grown, lean, underground, Fed by the first, early grass! Who can compare with you on earth? You sit in a silver saddle, you are shone with a golden helmet, your quiver is filled with arrows, These arrows are like a dense forest. The sword is glorified for its brilliance and sharpness, - Do not draw it unnecessarily, Draw it - destroy the enemy. Increase your blow a hundredfold, Let the swearing cry thunder a hundredfold, Be strong and brave on the battlefield, If you start a battle, don’t jump back. Turn the army of Chints into dust, capture their leader, let their daredevil go away, let him go safe and sound, let him come to his people as a messenger, bring news of defeat. Our life and honor are in your hands, Badynoko, my vigilant one, fly, Protect us, avert trouble! Have a nice journey, son!
Badynoko said goodbye to his mother and galloped off. In one day he traveled seven days and nights and reached the Chint army. It stood ready for battle. By the time Badynoko reached the last rows to the front, half a day had passed. And in the distance, in a small handful, stood a detachment of sledges. Badynoko shouted to the Chints:
“Get ready, I’m coming to fight you!”
The chints poured out in an endless, stormy stream. But this stream crashed against a rock, and the rock was Badynoko. The sun had not yet painted the world with the evening dawn when Badynoko destroyed the Chint army. He captured the leader of the army and tied him tightly to his horse with his back to the mane. He captured the bravest warrior from among the Chints, marked his face with a sword and released him to his homeland - the harbinger of the death of the Chint army. And Badynoko himself galloped to the top of Kharama Mountain.
The Narts were shocked by the courage and strength of the unknown knight. Their hearts were filled with gratitude, surprise and delight. And some have already begun to envy his fame. They galloped after the knight to Mount Haramu and saw the face of the leader of the Chints, distorted with anger and fear. And Badynsko untied the prisoner, put him facing the direction from where the Chints came, drew his sword and beheaded the leader of the enemy army, saying:
“Let everyone see: this is the end of the Chints’ invasion of the Nart Country!”
Badynoko did not approach the Nart horsemen. He mounted his horse and, without telling them who he was or where he came from, rode off.
When Badynoko arrived home, his mother asked him:
- My son, have you returned with the glory and honor of the Nart knight?
“Where you sent me, I couldn’t find anything I could do,” said Badynoko. “But I did as much as a sled can do.” One Chint survived, and I sent him home - the harbinger of the death of the Chint army.
Then the mother, with a calm heart, took Badynoko to the dungeon. And the old man and the old woman again set about raising him.
On the same day Badyn returned. He told his wife:
- A miracle happened. Before we had time to engage in battle with the countless troops of the Chints, an unknown knight rushed in, as if on wings. He alone, without our help, destroyed the Chint army. But, apparently, he did not think it necessary to approach the sledges and hear words of praise and gratitude. Like lightning, he flew away, and none of us knows who this rider is, where he comes from.
Badynoko’s mother was pleased with this story, but she didn’t say anything to her husband and hid her joy.
And the Narts, not knowing the name of the unknown knight, called him this: Thunderstorm of Chints.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru