Once upon a time there lived a kind man named Chakhukh. He had an only son, his name was Khvartyzh, but his father could not boast about him: for whole days Khvartyzh sat and did nothing.
Chakhukh was very upset, looking at his son, and finally decided to bring him to his senses.
At that time, their region suffered from enemy raids. Chakhuk spread the rumor that his son was an unusually brave guy.
This rumor reached the residents of the neighboring village and their prince. They came to Chakhukh and began to beg him to let his brave son come to their aid.
Chakhuk pretended that it was not easy for him to part with his only son, but after much persuasion he agreed and called Khvartyzh. Khvartyzh came and stood with his head down. The peasants looked at him and strongly doubted his combat agility.
“It doesn’t look like,” they think, “that he was a dashing warrior!”
However, they took him with them.
The next day, the villagers, led by Khvartyzh, went on a hike. They approached the enemy village and decided to wait until the morning.
In the morning, a fox crept up to the sleeping people, stole a dude from Khvartyzh and ran away.
Khvartyzh felt cold, he woke up earlier than everyone else and began to look for his dude.
- Who saw my dude? - he asked everyone.
The warriors thought that Khvartyzh was going to go against the enemies alone and decided:
- How brave he is! We are still sleeping, and he is already getting ready to go into battle!
And so everyone became inspired, became brave, looking at Khvartyzh, rushed at the enemies and took possession of the village. Delighted by the victory, they returned home led by Khvartyzh, presented him with cattle and sent him to his father.
Chakhukh was amazed when his idle son returned unharmed, and even with rich gifts. “He’s probably capable of something,” thought the father.
But when Chakhukh found out why his son was being praised, he was upset and did not accept the gifts. How to accept them when your son got fame for nothing! Is this what a real hero, an Afyrkhatsa, should be like?!
The father decided to test again whether his son was good for anything.
After some time, peasants from another village came to Chakhukh and said:
“If you don’t let your brave Khvartyzh go with us, we’re lost!” Every day a large wolf creeps up to our herd and carries away either a sheep or a ram. Our shepherds cannot cope with him. The Gray Robber is as strong as he is bold.
Chakhukh at first tried to dissuade himself as best he could, and then called his son and ordered him to go with the peasants.
The peasants led Khvartyzh to the edge of the forest, where the wolf was hiding.
- This is where the wolf comes from. “Sit down and lie in wait for him,” they said and left.
Khvartyzh was left alone and did not know what to do. Out of fright, he climbed a large tree and sat down on a branch. In the shade of this tree, to escape the heat, the whole herd gathered at noon.
As soon as the herd settled down to rest, a wolf jumped out from somewhere and attacked the sheep. Khvartyzh, seeing a huge wolf, became so afraid that he fell from the tree. He fell straight onto the wolf's back and, unconscious of fear, grabbed its skin tightly and raised a terrible cry. At this cry, the shepherds who were hiding nearby came running and killed the dumbfounded beast.
Here Khvartyzh assumed a menacing look and exclaimed:
- Ait, what did you do?! That's why I caught the wolf, so that I could take him alive to the prince. Now what will I show him?..
When this was reported to the prince, he praised Khvartyzh. But the father was still dissatisfied when he learned that his son’s courage this time was imaginary.
One day this prince argued with a neighbor over the borders of his possessions and declared war on him. He gathered his advisors to decide how best to fight. He also invited Khvartyzh. While the advisers were conferring, Khvartyzh thought with fear:
“If war breaks out, the prince will appoint me as leader, and I may be killed first...”
When all the advisers had spoken, Khvartyzh stood up and said:
“If a large army comes out from both sides and a battle begins, many people will die. Wouldn't it be better if each prince chose the bravest and strongest from among his people, and let these two fight? The prince whose warrior wins will be considered the winner.”
Everyone recognized these words as wise, agreed with Khvartyzh and began to choose a brave man.
But then the prince said:
- Why should we look for a brave man if such a glorious hero as Khvartyzh can come forward from our side? Let's choose him!
The cowardly Khvartyzh wanted to refuse, but how could he do this if everyone, as one, called his name...
The hostile prince also put forward his brave and strong man. The troops lined up against each other to watch the single combat.
Khvartyzh decided that he was in trouble and closed his eyes so as not to see the enemy. The enemy noticed that Khvartyzh was coming towards him with his eyes closed and suspected some kind of trick. He also closed his eyes and moved towards Khvartyzh. This is how they approached each other...
“One more moment and he will cut off my head!” - Khvartyzh thought, cold with horror, and involuntarily opened his eyes wide. He looks, and the enemy walks towards him with his eyes closed. Then Khvartyzh perked up and realized what he had to do: he swung and with one blow of his saber took off the enemy’s head. The entire army greeted Khvartyzh with joyful cries. They picked him up and carried him to the prince. The prince arranged a feast in honor of the winner and generously presented him with gifts.
But old Chakhukh did not accept the gifts that his son brought.
“The one whom stupid or gullible people consider a hero and a brave man is not a hero and not a brave man,” he said, “but is still the same coward and a slacker!”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru