There lived a rich Aldar, and he had no children. As the years passed, the aldar began to grieve: “Who will my lands, my riches remain? To commit suicide is a shameful death. To live on - let melancholy gnaw at my heart.”
And then one day he locked himself in his room, did not go out and did not let anyone in - he decided to starve himself to death.
People turned to him, his wife tried to persuade him not to do this, but Aldar did not listen to anyone, did not touch food and did not even drink water.
The wife became more and more worried about the Aldar, and when she realized that she could not persuade her husband, she sent for his friend, a neighboring Aldar. He appeared immediately, but the aldar did not listen to him either. Then his friend said to him:
“I ask you to give up this idea, otherwise your name will forever be covered in shame.” If you are looking for death, if our bright world does not please you, die with dignity, as a man should: on the battlefield, with a weapon in his hand. You have never upset me and I don’t think you will do this in the future. Take your people, and I’ll take mine, and we’ll go on a military campaign - after all, we have no shortage of enemies. Perhaps you will meet death in battle.
And Aldar listened to his friend. They gathered soldiers and went on a campaign. We drove along the steppe for a long time and did not come across a single stream anywhere. The sun became hotter and hotter, their thirst tormented them more and more, and then the two Aldars decided:
“Let’s go in different directions and look for water.” Whoever finds it, let him fire a gun.
The horsemen scattered across the steppe. Our Aldar drove some distance and suddenly saw: reeds were growing in a ravine, a willow stood nearby, and from under its roots, a clear spring gurgled.
Aldar raised his gun and fired into the air to gather the people. As soon as the shot rang out, a man appeared out of nowhere under the willow tree. He threw a stone into the spring, and the water immediately disappeared.
“What have you done,” cried the Aldar, “after all, I and my people are dying of thirst!”
- How did you get here, you and your people?
The Aldar told his story, and then the man said:
- I am Khalyn Barag. Don't worry anymore, don't seek death. I will help you, but on one condition: within three years you will have three sons; promise to give me one of them.
“If I had children, then take at least all three of them.”
“I don’t need three, but remember our agreement.” Someday I will come to you.
Having said this, Khalyn Barag lifted a stone from the spring, and water gushed out again. Then horsemen began to arrive from all sides, and Khalyn Barag disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared.
The Aldars and their people rested at the spring in the shade of a willow tree and drank water. After this, the childless Aldar said:
- My friend, let's go back, and let our glorious companions go home - I don't want to die anymore. I apologize for the inconvenience caused. Thank you and your people.
And they returned home - what else could they do!
In three years, Aldar had three sons. Time passed, the boys grew up, and Aldar’s heart was filled with hope and confidence, and he was so proud that he did not even allow a bird to fly over him.
How many years have passed, who knows, but one day Khalyn Barag appeared in the village of Aldar and approached the people sitting on the nykhas.
- Good afternoon!
- Welcome, guest!
“Can someone take me to the Aldar’s house?”
Who dares to put his hand into the snake's mouth? The people on the nykhas, both older and younger, looked at each other, but no one dared to lead the guest to the aldar - everyone was afraid for their lives.
Finally one young man said:
“Even if I get fried, I still have to go.” How can it be that in the whole village there is not a person who is not afraid to take a guest where he needs to go!
The young man approached the Aldar’s house and began to call the owner.
- What kind of dog, what kind of donkey dares to scream at my door? Kill him!
The Aldar servants ran out, but the young man managed to tell them:
- Don’t rush, I won’t get away from you, but in the meantime, tell Aldar that a guest has come to him, Khalyn Barag.
Aldar, hearing this name, ordered to invite both the guest and the guide to the house. He generously gave the young man gifts and thanked him:
“Thank you for not being afraid and putting the custom of hospitality above your own life.” You brought me a guest and I appreciate your service.
White bulls, like white lambs, were slaughtered by the Aldar in honor of the guest; Khalyn Barag sat at a feast in the Aldar’s house for a whole week, and when the week had passed, he said:
“You treated me wonderfully, Aldar, it couldn’t be better.” But I will not hide the purpose of my coming. I did not come to you to feast and have fun. You remember what we agreed on near the spring, under the willow tree? Now fulfill your promise, give me what is due.
“I haven’t forgotten my words.” I have three sons, and I will not spare all three for you.
- No, Aldar, give me what you promised - I don’t ask you for more, but live happily with the rest.
Meanwhile, the Aldar's sons were practicing in the playground. Aldar sent for the elder. The eldest son found out why he was called and said:
“Even if this guest decides to take away the whole family, if he starts slaughtering you all, I won’t take a step with him!”
The Aldar called his second son - and this one repeated the words of the eldest.
Finally they called the youngest son.
“Do what you want with me, I am at your will,” said the younger one. “God gave me to you, you have the right to dispose of me, and I’m ready for anything.” I only ask for one thing: equip me for the journey as a horseman should be equipped.
How could Aldar not fulfill his son’s request! They equipped him as expected, and he sparkled like the heavenly Uacilla: himself, his horse, and his weapon.
Before setting off with Khalyn Barag, the youngest son of Aldar approached the brothers and told them:
- Oh, my elders! I'm leaving without knowing where or why. Anything can happen: either I return alive to my parents’ house, or I disappear somewhere. And if you want to find out whether I am alive or not, let the elder brother take an awl in a year and plunge it into his palm. If the ichor comes out, it means I’m alive; if there is blood, it means he is dead.
Khalyn Barag said goodbye to the Aldar and his family and set off on the road, and the young man with him. They rode for a long time, or not for long - who knows, but the young man said:
- Khalyn Barag, I know that you are planning to eat me, and this is what I ask: eat me here so that my bones are not far from my home.
“Don’t rush, young man, there’s still time, but you won’t get away from me anyway.”
They drove on and eventually reached a mountain. At the foot of the mountain there was a dark cave. The riders got off their horses and went inside.
“This is my home, young man,” said Khalyn Barag. - Sit down, rest, and I’ll leave for now.
With these words, he left the cave, and the young man was left alone. He looked around and saw: in the middle of the cave there was a large cauldron standing on a stand, and in the corners there were piles of human skulls. Suddenly one skull rolled out of the corner, stopped in front of the young man and spoke:
“You have found yourself in a bad place, my brother!” Your road is the road of death. Do you see the skulls? These were all people similar to you, and Khalyn Barag ate them all. Soon your skull will lie among others if you don’t try to escape from here.
- How can I do this? - asked the young man.
“You can be saved if you listen to me.”
- I'll do whatever you say.
- Then listen: Khalyn Barag went hunting. For dinner, he will bring a deer carcass and dry wood from the black forest and instruct you to cut up the carcass, but you do not agree. Having thrown the meat into the cauldron, he will sit in a chair, pick up a two-string fandyr and begin to play, and invite you to dance on the edge of the cauldron. And do not agree to this, otherwise he will push you into the cauldron, and you will be boiled there, and he, having eaten your meat, will throw your skull into a pile of other skulls.
With these words, the skull rolled back into the corner.
It was getting late. Khalyn Barag came, brought a deer carcass on his shoulder, and dragged a whole dry tree with him.
- Young man, take care of this mascara, while I rest.
— Khalyn Barag, I’m still inexperienced and don’t know how to do this. Today, cut the carcass yourself. I'll watch and learn, and next time I won't let you lift a finger.
Khalyn Barag filled the cauldron with water, threw deer meat into it, and lit a fire under the cauldron. The water began to boil, then Khalyn Barag took the fandyr from the wall, played it and said to the young man:
“My guest, dance three circles around the edge of the cauldron, show me your dexterity.”
“I would love to dance on the edge of a boiling cauldron, but I have never done it.” It would be nice if you showed me how to do it, and then I will dance for you every day.
- Who will play for me at the fundyr? - asked Khalyn Barag.
“I know how to play a little,” answered the young man.
He took the fandyr, tightened the strings, moved the bow along them and began to play.
Khalyn Barag jumped onto the edge of the cauldron and began to dance in a circle. He walked one circle over the boiling cauldron, and when he made the second, he found himself with his back to the young man. He stood up and pushed Khalyn Barag into the cauldron. Khalyn Barag also tried to get out of the boiling water, but the young man did not let him do this - and Khalyn Barag was boiled in boiling water.
The next morning the skull rolled out of the corner again and said to the young man:
“You got rid of the enemy and thereby saved your life.” As long as happiness is on your side. Now I want to tell you something else. Do you see this door? Behind it is a milk lake, behind the milk lake is a silver lake, and behind the silver lake is a golden lake. Swim with your horse in all three lakes and you will be covered in gold. I wish you a straight path, but if you are ever lucky and find your happiness, don’t forget about us.
The son of Aldar bathed with his horse in the milky, silver and golden lakes, and both he and his horse sparkled with a golden sheen.
He got out of the cave and drove along the road. The road led him to some village. The traveler knocked on the last house, and there lived an old witch. She greeted the guest kindly and offered him a place to stay for the night.
In the morning the whole village began to move. The young man asked the hostess:
- What's going on with you?
“Today the Aldar daughter will choose a husband for herself, and all the people are rushing to the Aldar house: everyone hopes that they will choose him.
The young man walked out the threshold and watched as people flocked to the Aldar’s house. Who knows how all this would have ended if Aldar’s daughter had not seen the young man from the top of the tower: he sparkled with gold, like the heavenly Uacilla.
People gathered in the Aldar's courtyard, sat down at tables, and began to feast.
Here the Aldar’s daughter came out with a glass in her hand, walked through the crowd, looking around, and then returned back to her father and mother and, putting the glass on the table, said:
“Not all the people are here.”
Aldar asked his servants:
-Did you invite everyone?
- Everyone, our Aldar, they didn’t let anyone through. True, some man is visiting the old witch, but we doubted whether it was worth inviting him, and your daughter hardly needs him.
- It's none of your business. Go and bring him here!
The servants went to the witch’s house, invited her guest to a feast and seated her at the table in the lowest place.
Again the Aldar’s daughter came out with a glass in her hand, walked around those gathered and gave the glass to the new guest.
Aldar arranged a rich wedding. White bulls were slaughtered like white lambs, and the tables were laden with food and drinks.
Some of the people did not like the choice of Aldar and his daughter, and they grumbled: “Aldar’s daughter married an unknown tramp, guests of the old witch! She probably didn’t deserve anything better.”
How long did the young couple live after the wedding, but only one day the young man said:
— I haven’t been hunting for a long time. I’ll go and wander through the forest, maybe I’ll get some game.
-Where are you going, do we really need meat? - asked the Aldar.
- And yet I will go. I'm bored sitting around doing nothing, I want to have a little fun.
“Then take my son with you, just remember: go to Black Mountain.” Don't go to White Mountain - you'll get into trouble.
The son and son-in-law of Aldar went to hunt the Black Mountain. We wandered around all day until evening, but didn’t even see a hare.
“Whatever happens, I’ll go to the White Mountain,” said the son-in-law, “I won’t return empty-handed.” Will you come with me?
“I cannot violate my father’s prohibition,” answered the Aldar’s son, “and I wish you good luck.”
That's where they parted.
The young man climbed the White Mountain and suddenly saw a white doe in front of him. He shot an arrow, and the doe began to run, leaving a trail of blood behind her.
“She’s wounded,” the young man thought. “Now I won’t leave her, even if I have to go to the edge of heaven.”
He began to chase the wounded doe. A doe and a hunter ran through the forest all night. The hunter gets tired, sits down to rest, and the doe in front lies down on the grass. So the young man chased his prey the entire next day until the evening.
Evening came, and a mound appeared ahead. A doe ran up to the mound, and suddenly a door opened at its foot. The doe disappeared behind the door; the young man, without thinking twice, entered next. He entered and stopped in amazement.
He had never seen such a diva. In front of him is a large hall with mirrored walls and ceilings. There are carved chairs along the walls. The young man sat down in one of the chairs, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a basin, a jug of water and a towel appeared in front of him.
The young man washed himself, wiped his face and hands with a towel - and all the objects immediately disappeared.
The young man sits, waiting for what will happen next.
Then a door opened in one of the mirrored walls and a girl of such unprecedented beauty entered that at the sight of her, Aldara’s son almost fainted.
“Hello, guest,” said the girl. - What sun, what bad weather brought you to us?
“I wounded a doe on the White Mountain, and followed her trail to come here,” answered the young man.
“You hurt her badly.” However, your prey will not go anywhere, but for now I want to treat you.
Then the hostess waved her hand, and a round three-legged table appeared in front of them, laden with food and drinks. They sat down at the table, ate, drank, and when they finished eating, the table cleared itself and disappeared.
“My guest,” said the girl, “now would you like to have fun playing dice?”
“Well, let’s play,” the young man answered.
“Just know that I play with a condition: if you are lucky and win, it means that God destined me for you.” If you lose, then it’s your misfortune that you ended up in this hall of mirrors: I will turn you into stone. You see the round stones in the corner - they, too, were once young men like you.
The son of Aldar looked at the beauty and said:
- Come what may. I will also experience my happiness and play with you.
They started playing, and the young man lost. And the girl took a felt whip, whipped the guest with it and turned him into stone.
- Here you go, Aldar son!
The young man's father-in-law, his family and all his people put on mourning for his son-in-law when he did not return from the White Mountain.
Days passed, months changed, and now a year has passed since the young man left his home. Anxiety took over the family.
The elder brother took an awl, plunged it into his palm - and blood came out of the wound.
“Apparently, our brother died somewhere.” I’ll go in search, maybe I’ll at least find his bones.
The elder brother got ready to go on the road and left home the next day. He drives and sees: in the footsteps of his brother, a strip of bushes has grown. He began to stick to this line. He rode for a long time, or not for long - God knows, but a strip of bushes led him straight to the Khalyn Baraga cave.
The traveler stopped for the night in a cave. Suddenly a skull rolled out of the corner and addressed him:
- Why didn't you do as I said? Your appearance hasn't changed at all.
The elder brother was surprised, but did not show it.
- I'm sorry, I forgot your words. Repeat them to me again.
- There are three lakes behind that door: milk, silver and gold. Take a bath in them together with your horse - and both of you will sparkle with a golden shine.
The eldest son of Aldar did just that: he himself swam in the lakes and bathed the horse, and both shone like gold.
He drove on, and a strip of bushes showed him the way. The elder brother reached the Aldar village. People saw him and ran to Aldar:
- Aldar, Aldar, may the angels protect you! Your son-in-law returns sparkling like gold!
Aldar changed mourning to a holiday, ordered to slaughter white bulls and invite the people to a feast; all day until the evening singing and dancing did not stop in his house.
Then evening came, and Aldar’s daughter began to make the bed. She thought that her husband had arrived: the brothers were so similar that it was difficult to distinguish them from each other.
And the elder brother realized that this was his daughter-in-law. He took his cloak, laid it on the floor and lay down, putting the saddle under his head.
“I’ve been waiting for you for a whole year, I kept my eyes peeled, why don’t you go to your bed, but lie down on the floor?”
“I can’t go to bed tonight, otherwise trouble will happen to both of us.”
The Aldar's daughter cried alone all night, and the elder brother saddled his horse in the morning and set off again.
He reached the mound, entered the hall of mirrors, washed himself and began to wait. Then the beautiful hostess appeared, and at the sight of her the young man’s head began to spin and his heart began to beat.
The hostess greeted the guest, a table with food and drinks appeared in front of them again, and when they had eaten and drank, the hostess offered to play dice.
The elder brother agreed and lost, and was also turned to stone.
Another year has passed. The middle brother stuck an awl into his palm, and blood came out of the wound.
“My brothers have disappeared somewhere in foreign lands, and our parents will now die of grief.” Either I find out what happened to my brothers, or I disappear myself - there is no other way out.
He said goodbye to his old parents and went to look for his brothers.
He drives and drives, and the bushes mark his way. The middle brother reached the Khalyn Baraga cave; a skull also rolled out towards him.
- Why didn't you do as I said? Your appearance hasn't changed at all.
- I'm sorry, but I have a bad memory. I forgot what we talked about.
“Well, I’ll repeat it one last time: behind this door there are three lakes.” Take a swim in them along with your horse - and you will come out covered in gold. And I ask you again: if luck is on your side, do not forget those who remained in this cave. Remember: I won’t tell you anything more, I’m given the opportunity to speak only three times.
The middle brother swam in three lakes with his horse - and sparkled with a golden shine. He drove further - and in front of him was the same village. Again people ran to Aldar with good news, and again Aldar threw a great feast.
Evening came, and again Aldar’s daughter made a bed for the young man in her room. He realized that she was mistaking him for his younger brother, pulled the sword out of its sheath and placed it between himself and his daughter-in-law.
And again she cried all night, and the young man moved on at dawn. I reached the mound and looked - the strip of bushes had ended.
“Apparently something happened to my brothers here,” he thought. “Well, come what may, don’t go back!”
He got off his horse and entered a hall with mirrored walls. And a basin and a jug also appeared in front of him, and when he washed, the beautiful housewife entered the hall, fed him, gave him a drink, and then invited him to play dice.
They began to play, and the young man won. He jumped up and shouted:
- Now tell me where my brothers are, or you won’t live!
“They haven’t gone anywhere,” answered the beauty. - Here's a felt whip. Slam it on these stones and you will see your brothers.
The young man took the whip, hit the stones, and his two brothers appeared before him, alive and well.
What a joy it was when they met again! After that, the brothers took a whip and began to whip it at a pile of stones in the corner, and the stones turned into a crowd of people.
“Which of you has a home and relatives, go home; those who don’t, come with us,” the brothers told them.
They took the mistress along with her treasures and set off on their way back, and the people they saved followed.
The village is already close. People run to the aldar and shout:
- Aldar, Aldar! An army is coming towards us, and there are so many warriors in it that the earth cannot hold them!
The Aldar and his people were frightened, they wanted to run, but where could you run if the army had already entered the village! Suddenly they see: three horsemen riding ahead, sparkling with gold.
- Aldar! Aldar! We have nothing to fear: this army is led by your son-in-law, and with him two people similar to him.
The aldar was delighted and ordered to prepare a treat for the guests.
Evening has come. The younger brother lay down in his bed, and his wife, the daughter of Aldar, sat in the corner.
- Why don’t you go to bed? - asks the young man.
“I don’t know what to do,” the wife answers. - In two years you appeared twice; the first time he slept on the floor, wrapped in a cloak, and the next time he put a sword between us.
“These were my brothers,” said the young man and told his wife about everything that had happened to him.
The next day the brothers set off further, and with them two women and new companions. They reached the cave and, with the help of a felt whip, revived everyone whom Khalyn Barag had killed in his time - and the entire space around the cave was filled with people.
Then they divided into two parts: those who still had a house went home; the rest followed the three brothers, and they settled them in their village, and they whipped their old parents with a felt whip, and they immediately became younger.
Aldar, to celebrate, called the people to a wedding feast, and for a whole week there was merriment in his house.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru