The Nart blacksmith Dabech had eighteen sons. The eldest's name was Kanj.
According to Nart custom, young men who reached adulthood were sent on campaigns before getting married. The young Narts were given the best weapons and reliable horses - they were equipped for glory.
So Dabech sent his sons to be tempered in battles, to get used to the labors of war.
Dabech's eldest sons were already experienced warriors when the youngest went on a campaign for the first time. He returned with glory, and the brothers said:
- Well, now it’s time for us all to get married!
They gathered on a hill, sat in a circle, pressed their palms to the ground and swore:
“We, eighteen brothers, born of one mother and one father, raised under one roof, take an oath to marry as soon as we find eighteen sisters.” Let our brides be from the same family!
The brothers put on their armor, jumped on their horses and went to look for brides. The sledges traveled for a long time. We have been where the sun rises and where it sets. There was no place on earth where the hooves of their horses had not stepped, but the sledges of eighteen sister brides were never found.
Saddened and tired, the brothers returned home. Having reached a wide river, they dismounted at the crossing and decided to rest. Many people crowded around the crossing, and from them the Narts heard that an old man and an old woman lived nearby, and with them were seventeen daughters and a first-born son.
One of the brothers said:
“We didn’t find eighteen sisters.” Let's marry these seventeen, without missing a chance, and return home.
- Getting married is not bad! - responded another, - but there are eighteen of us, and only seventeen girls. Which of us will be left without a wife?
A dispute broke out between the brothers. Nobody wanted to remain single.
- Disputes and discord will be of no use! - said the third. “We must cast lots seventeen times, according to the number of girls.” Whoever does not fall by lot is not destined to die.
“No,” objected the fourth, “there is no need to cast lots.” We marry according to seniority, as has long been the custom among the Narts.
- Agree! - exclaimed the smaller one. - That's fair! The younger one marries the younger one, and the older one marries the older one. But our brides were born after their brother, the eldest in their family is a son, and it turns out that Kanzh has no bride.
“Have it your way,” said Kange, with deep resentment towards his younger brother. “If I had been born happy, the eldest would have been a girl.” I have no happiness. I must live alone. And you, without missing an opportunity, get married.
- The argument is over! - the brothers shouted joyfully. On Kange's advice, they married seventeen sisters.
The brothers all returned together, and the married men began to live each with their own family.
And the Narts laughed at Kanzh:
- Where has it been seen that the eldest brother is left without a wife, without a family! Well, isn't this Kange a fool?
Their evil ridicule reached Kange, and, cursing his fate, he went into the mountains, found a cave and decided to live alone until the end of his days.
Kange's mother grieved for him and wanted him to return home. She called the boys who were playing nearby and told them:
- Run to Kanzha's cave and, when you see him, laugh at him, tease him and shame him for living alone. Kanj will not tolerate ridicule, will get angry and return.
The boys ran to the mountains in a crowd. Not far from the Kanzha cave, on a spacious and flat lawn, they wanted to play alchiki. Having played too much, they forgot what Kanzha’s mother was punishing.
Soon the boys quarreled. It seemed to one that the other took the alchik without winning it.
“You’re not playing fair, I won’t play with you!” - shouted the offended one.
And the one who was scolded answered angrily:
“You yourself are playing dishonestly, and you’re also telling lies.” May Kange's fate befall you for this. You will grow up and be left without a wife, without a family, and, like an animal, you will live in a hole.
Kange heard all this while sitting in his cave and watching the game.
- That's how it is! - he exclaimed. “They still haven’t left me alone!” The boys only repeat what they heard from their elders. And as you can see, my name never leaves their tongue! If I don’t find a worthy wife, I won’t live in the world!
And Kange returned home in his heart. In his father's herd, he took a fancy to a young brown horse. Having prepared himself, Kange jumped into the saddle and said:
- I swear not to return home until I find myself a worthy wife!
And Kanj went to look for a bride.
His horse was so small that if the rider had not put his feet into the stirrups, he would have had to walk while riding.
Kange wandered for a long time. There was no place left on earth where the brown hooves would not have set foot, but Kange never found a worthy bride.
Tired, sad, he was already returning home and suddenly saw some dark spot in the distance. The closer Kange came to him, the larger and larger it became, and then a huge woman appeared before Kange. It was the giantess Emigen. She sat with her back to the rider and did not hear him ride up, because she was busy with work. She was sewing up a crack in the ground.
The giantess's needle was a sharpened iron log, and her thread was a thick lasso.
The giantess was apparently tired: throwing away the log, she dozed off. Chilled with fear, Kange watched her. “What should I do?” he thought. “Whether I go forward or back, certain death awaits me! Whatever happens! I’ll sneak up to Emigene and fall to her breast. Then she will no longer be able to destroy me, because I will become her milk son.”
Kange did just that. He crept up to the sleeping Emigene and fell to her chest. Emigena opened her eyes, saw Kange at her chest and cried loudly:
- What a misfortune happened to me, I didn’t notice you earlier! Let my eyes darken for not seeing you in time! Now you have become my milk son and I can no longer kill you! “So she wailed, caressing Kange with her huge hand. - But how did you get here, son? Trust me. I will help you in everything.
“I’m looking for a bride,” Kange answered. “My seventeen brothers are younger than me and have been married for a long time, but I am still single.” I traveled to many countries, but I did not find a worthy bride.
- That’s good! - Veli Kansha exclaimed. “I’m just looking for a groom for my beautiful daughter.” Let's go to her. You will fall in love with her at first sight. Between heaven and earth, Naribgea is the most beautiful and immaculate of all, no man has ever seen her.
Kange bit his fingers in embarrassment. He didn’t want to marry Emigena’s daughter, but he had no choice.
The giantess continued:
- Take an oath that you will marry my daughter. And also swear to get me as much meat as will fit in my small cauldron. What kind of meat it will be - venison, hare or something else - I don’t care.
What should I do? Kange swore to Emigene that he would marry her daughter and that he would fill her cauldron with meat.
The giantess led the groom to the bride.
Whether close or far, they finally reached a high mountain. Kange saw the entrance to the cave, covered with a huge abra-stone. Emigena threw away the stone with one finger and led Kange deeper into the cave. They walked for a long time through intricate passages, in impenetrable darkness. Suddenly a light flashed ahead, and the closer they got to it, it became brighter. When they came very close, Kanzha was deafened by a cry:
- How did the person get here? I can smell it!
The giantess's daughter ran out to meet them and joyfully threw herself on her mother's neck.
“And I brought you a groom,” the old woman muttered affectionately. - Look, what a daredevil! He swore that he would marry you!
Kange was horrified when he saw his betrothed, and Naribgeya froze with happiness, looking at Kange with all her eyes.
“Woe is me!” thought Kange. “How will I show myself to the Narts with this monster? I have no happiness, no!”
The old giantess seated her betrothed son-in-law at the table, and the young giantess roasted a whole bull on a spit. But Kanzhu was given only a small piece; the housewives ate the rest themselves.
Having had enough, the old woman took Kange to a nearby cave and, showing a huge cauldron, said:
“For my beautiful daughter, I demand one thing: fill this small cauldron with whatever meat you want, but only to the top, as you swore.”
Looking at the immense cauldron, Kange thought: “Where will I get so much meat?”
Meanwhile, mother and daughter prepared the beds. Having laid Kange down, they turned down the fire, lay down, and immediately their loud snoring was heard.
Poor Kange didn’t sleep a wink all night, indulging in heavy thoughts. At first light he went into the forest.
Kange hunted for thirty days and thirty nights, killing boars, deer, hares - everything he came across. He strained his hands, constantly pulling the tight bow. And only after firing the last arrow, emptying the quiver, he filled the giantess’s cauldron with fresh meat.
After that, Kange led Naribgeya out of the cave, put her on a brown horse, jumped into the saddle and went home.
Before they had time to drive away, the brown man's back bent and his belly sank to the ground - the bride turned out to be unbearably heavy. Kanj took pity on the horse and went on foot, leading his horse by the bridle.
Whether long or short, the bride and groom reached the Nart lands and saw Kanj, their native village. He stopped his horse and said:
“Listen, Naribgeya, the Narts have this custom: if someone brings himself a bride, women and girls come out to meet her, and together with them she walks to the groom’s house.” I will go to notify the Narts about my marriage and ask them to meet you. Wait for me here.
Arriving home, Kange announced to his father and mother about his marriage. He told the Nart women about this and asked them to meet the bride as is customary.
The news of Kange's marriage instantly spread around the area.
"Kange is getting married! Get ready for Kange's wedding!" - cheerful exclamations were heard everywhere.
Both old and young, men and women, some on foot, some on horseback, went in a festive crowd to meet the bride. Everyone couldn't wait to see her. Along the way they danced and sang, and raced horses. No one remembered such a joyful wedding procession!
But as soon as the sleds saw the giantess, they froze in place.
Giants have long been enemies of people. Therefore, the Narts hated them and relentlessly pursued them. And now they stood silently in front of Kange's bride, heads bowed. The women held their children close to them with fear, repeating:
— Kange brought Emigena’s daughter. Don't show yourself to her, or you'll disappear!
Naribgeya realized that she inspired horror and disgust in the Narts.
“Don’t be afraid of me,” she said, “I am Kange’s bride.” I love him, and you are all my family. For your sake, Narts, I will not spare my life. I will always help you in everything.
The Narts did not believe her. But, observing the custom, they escorted her to the threshold of Kanzhe’s house and dispersed to their homes in inconsolable grief, as if from a funeral.
This is how Kanj got married.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru