Trem, the Nameless Son
There lived an old man and his wife. They had a son. The old man went to the priest to have his son baptized and given a name, but the priest didn’t even want to talk; the old man had no money, so what kind of conversation could there be?And so, the old man’s son remained nameless.
The boy grew up and started going outside to play. He played with the other children, but they didn’t know what to call him. So, they came up with a name for him: Nameless. Everyone else had proper names, but the old man’s son was Nameless!
One day, he came home from playing and asked his mother:
“Why is it, Mom, that everyone has a name, but I don’t?”
His mother told him why he had no name.
“If that’s the case,” said the son, “then I can’t stay in this village. I’ll go out into the world to seek my fortune.” His mother burst into tears:
“Oh, my son, my little falcon, how can you leave us, your old parents?”
“When I find my fortune, I’ll come back to you,” said the son.
His father and mother gathered what little they had to give him for the journey, and off he went, step by step.
He walked and walked until he came to a big, dense forest. He walked through the forest all day, and by evening he saw a little hut. He went inside and found three old men living there. The boy bowed to them:
“Kind sirs, may I stay the night with you?” The old men looked at him and asked:
“Where are you from, lad, and what trouble has brought you here?”
He told them his story. The old men listened, shook their heads, and said:
“If that’s the case, stay with us. And your name shall be Tream-son, which means you’ll be a son to all three of us.”
The boy agreed and began living with the old men. They fed him, gave him drink, and taught him all sorts of things.
He lived like this for about ten years. He grew up big and strong, and he wanted to see the world—after all, it’s not interesting to live in the forest forever. So, he said to the old men:
“My dear fathers, let me go out into the world.”
“Very well,” agreed the old men. “Go.” They gave him a dun horse and said:
“You’ll ride through this forest for three days, and on the fourth, you’ll come to a big mountain. On that mountain lives the Firebird. The first time you charge at it, you won’t catch it. The second time, you won’t catch it either. But the third time, you’ll leap and grab it by the tail and pluck a feather. Put the feather in your pocket, let the horse roam free in the meadows, and go to the royal city. The king there has horses covered in scabs, and no healer can cure them. But you take the Firebird’s feather and clean the horses twice—once at sunset and once before sunrise—and they’ll become so beautiful, it’ll be a joy to look at them. And if any trouble befalls you, go out into an open field and call for your dun horse: he’ll come to you in an instant and serve you faithfully.”
Tream-son thanked the old men and rode off on his dun horse to wander the world. He rode for three days, and on the fourth, he approached a tall, steep mountain. He saw the Firebird flying above it. It shone and burned like the sun, so bright it hurt the eyes. Tream-son charged once—he didn’t catch it. He charged a second time—he didn’t catch it. The third time, he charged and plucked a feather from its tail. He let the dun horse roam free in the meadows and put the Firebird’s feather in his pocket, then went to the king.
They reported to the king that a man had come who claimed he could cure the royal horses.
The king summoned him.
“Are you telling the truth, Tream-son, or are you lying?” asked the king.
“The truth,” replied Tream-son.
“Then go to the stables. If you cure them, I’ll reward you. If not, don’t expect any mercy from me.”
Tream-son went to the stables. There were countless horses there, and they were all so sickly that it was painful to look at them.
Tream-son waited until evening, sent the royal grooms away, and got to work. He cleaned one horse with the Firebird’s feather, then another, then a third—he cleaned half the horses. And in the morning, before sunrise, he cleaned them again.
The next morning, the grooms came and saw that half the horses were a sight to behold! The scabs were gone!
The grooms ran to the king and reported:
“Your Majesty, you won’t recognize your horses now!”
The king couldn’t stay seated on his throne; he went to see the horses himself. And indeed, the cured horses were gleaming! He called Tream-son to him:
“How shall I reward you for this?” Tream-son replied:
“I don’t need anything, just let me stay as a groom, Your Majesty. I’ll cure all your horses.” The king didn’t object:
“Very well. You’ll not only be a groom but also the head groom.”
The other grooms grew envious: they had served in the stables for twenty or thirty years, and this young man had just arrived and was already their superior. They began to conspire: what could they do to get rid of the new head groom? They decided to spy on him to see how he cured the horses. Tream-son sent them away before sunset, but they stayed by the gates, peeking through the cracks.
Tream-son took the feather from his pocket, and suddenly the whole stable lit up as if on fire...
The grooms waited until morning and ran to the king.
“So and so, Your Majesty,” they reported. “Tream-son doesn’t cure the horses with his own power: he took some kind of feather from his pocket, and we thought the whole stable would catch fire.”
The king called Tream-son:
“What are you using to cure my horses?” Tream-son had no reason to hide it, so he said:
“I have a feather from the Firebird, and I use it to cure them.”
“Well then,” said the king, “keep using it, as long as you cure them. Just don’t burn down my stable.”
The grooms began to plot again, thinking of how to get rid of Tream-son.
“Let’s go,” said one, “and tell the king this: our new head groom boasted while drunk that he could get the Firebird for you.”
And so they did.
“Wow!” thinks the king. “No one has such a bird: all the kings and rulers will envy me!” So he calls Trem-son to him.
- Is it true that you can get the Firebird for me?
Trem-son shrugs:
- No, I can’t.
- What do you mean, you can’t! - the king gets angry. - You boasted yesterday while drunk that you’d get it! Listen, if you don’t get it, my sword will take your head off your shoulders!
Trem-son, downcast, goes out into the open field and calls for his dun horse:
- My good horse, my dear horse! Wherever you are, come to me.
And in an instant, his dun horse comes running:
- Why did you call me, master?
- I’m in trouble, - answers Trem-son. - Advise me what to do. The king has set me a task I don’t know how to solve: he wants me to get him the Firebird.
The horse says:
- Don’t worry, master: this trouble isn’t so great. Tell the king to give you three cups of sweet, intoxicating drinks and the tablecloth that was used when the king was crowned. And let him harness the best horses to a carriage. When all this is done, get in and ride to that mountain. There grows a large oak tree. The Firebird sleeps in that oak. When you arrive, spread the royal tablecloth under the oak and place the sweet, intoxicating drinks on it. Then hide yourself and wait. As soon as the Firebird wakes, it will fly down to the ground. It will see the drinks and start drinking them. Once it’s drunk, it will flip over. Don’t hesitate: wrap it in the tablecloth and drag it straight to the carriage. And ride away as fast as you can. The Firebird will turn into a snake, then a frog, then a lizard, but don’t let it out of your hands no matter what.
The dun horse explained everything to him, then galloped off to the reserved meadows, to the green grasses.
Trem-son went to the king and told him what he needed for the journey. The king had plenty of drinks. He mixed three cups of sweet, intoxicating wine, gave him the tablecloth, and harnessed the best horses to the carriage. So Trem-son set off. He arrived by evening at the oak, spread the tablecloth, placed the three cups of wine on it, and hid behind a bush.
Everything happened just as the dun horse had said.
Trem-son wrapped the drunken Firebird in the tablecloth, got into the carriage, and raced off at full speed.
On the way, the Firebird sobered up, turned into a snake, then a frog, then a lizard, but it didn’t matter: it thrashed about and then turned back into the Firebird.
Trem-son brought it to the royal palace. He unfolded the tablecloth, and the whole palace shone like the sun.
- Well, - says the king, rubbing his hands, - you’ve pleased me, Trem-son! How shall I reward you for this?
- I don’t need anything, king, - answers Trem-son. - Send me back to the stables.
- Alright, go to the stables.
The stablemen began to plot again, thinking of how to get rid of Trem-son. They thought and thought but couldn’t come up with anything. Then, suddenly, an opportunity arose. An eclipse occurred in the kingdom. For three whole days, the sun didn’t shine, and no one—not the king himself nor his wise men—could figure out why the sun didn’t shine for three days. The stablemen came to the king and said:
- Your royal majesty, Trem-son boasted to us yesterday while drunk: he said, “Even the king and all his wise men couldn’t figure out why the eclipse happened, but I can.”
The king calls Trem-son to him:
- What is this you told the stablemen yesterday while drunk?
- I didn’t say anything, - answers Trem-son, - and I wasn’t drunk. They made it up, the shameless ones!
The king gets angry:
- You said you could find out why the sun didn’t shine for three days in my kingdom!
- How could I possibly know that? Am I friends with the sun or something?
- You’re mocking me! - shouts the king. - Listen, if you don’t find out, my sword will take your head off your shoulders!
Trem-son, downcast, goes out into the open field. He whistles and calls for his dun horse:
- My good horse, my dear horse! Wherever you are, come to me!
And in an instant, the horse comes running, stomping the ground with its hooves.
- What, trouble again? - it asks.
- Trouble, my little horse, oh, trouble!.. The horse listens to him and says:
- Don’t worry, master, this isn’t such a big trouble. Tell the king to make you a ball of three threads: a golden thread, a silver thread, and a silk thread. Take that ball and roll it in front of you: wherever it rolls, follow it. And when the ball rolls straight to the Sun’s mother, there you’ll find out why the eclipse lasted three days.
The king, without much thought, made the ball of three threads, as Trem-son had told him.
Trem-son left the royal capital and rolled the ball in front of him. The ball rolled to the forest. Trem-son sees an otter and a raven fighting by the road. They’re fighting so fiercely that they’re covered in blood. The raven is pecking the otter with its beak, and the otter is biting the raven with its teeth. They spot Trem-son.
- Where are you going, Trem-son, where are you headed? - they ask.
- I’m going to the Sun’s mother.
- Why?
- To find out why there was an eclipse in our kingdom for three days.
- Remember us, Trem-son, while you’re there: how long must we fight? We’re fighting to the death and don’t even know why.
- Alright, I’ll remember.
The ball rolls further. It rolls to the sea. A whale lies on the sea, and people ride on it: they’ve even worn ruts into it from riding.
- Hello, whale-fish! - greeted Trem-son.
- Hello, Trem-son! Where are you going, where are you headed?
- I am going to the mother of the Sun.
- Why?
- To find out why there was a three-day eclipse in our kingdom.
- Please remember me there, Trem-son: how long must I lie here in one place? I can't even turn to the other side.
- Alright, I will remember.
The ball rolled further and entered a dense oak forest. And there, in the forest, stood a hut, all charred and burnt...
The ball rolled straight into the hut, and Trem-son followed it. On the threshold, he was met by an old, gray-haired woman, the mother of the Sun.
- Trem-son, - the old woman asked him, - did you come here of your own free will or by force?
Trem-son bowed to the old woman:
- By force, mother. My king ordered me to find out why there was a three-day eclipse in our kingdom. And if I don't find out, it's the king's sword, and my head off my shoulders...
The old woman talked with the lad, and he told her whom he had met on the way: he told her about the otter and the raven, about the whale.
- Alright, - said the old woman, - I will help you. When my son returns, I will ask him about everything, and you pay attention.
The old woman took a bull's hide, wrapped Trem-son in it, and placed him in a large chest, while she and her son made a bed on top of the chest.
Evening began to fall. And suddenly, the Sun itself rolled into the hut.
- Good evening, mother! - greeted the son.
- Good evening, son. Where do you go, where do you wander all the time? I miss you when you're not here.
- Oh, mother, don't ask! I have a big worry.
The mother gave him a pot of potatoes and a bowl of sour milk for dinner. The son ate and lay down to sleep on the chest.
The mother lay down for a while, then suddenly started, as if waking from a dream.
The son asked:
- What scared you, mother?
- Oh, son, I dreamed that in some kingdom there was an eclipse of light. Why is that?
- Yes, - said the son, - that is true. And the reason is this. In the ocean-sea lives Nastasya the Beauty. I wanted to burn the ocean-sea and take her as my wife. For three days I burned it, but I couldn't burn it. That's the trouble I have!
The mother lay down again for a while and then started once more.
The son asked:
- What scared you, mother?
- Oh, son, I dreamed that a whale-fish lies in the sea. And people drive carts over it, even making ruts on its sides. And it, poor thing, lies and cannot move. It's hard for it. Why is that, son?
- That's because, - answered the son, - it swallowed ships with people. If it spits them out, then it will be able to turn to the other side.
The mother lay down again for a while and then started once more.
- Mother, why are you so frightened today?
- Oh, son, I saw in a dream: an otter and a raven are fighting, even blood is flowing. Why is that?
- Because, - answered the son, - the otter took the raven as a godfather, and he went to baptize her child but lost it. Then she started beating him, and then they forgot why they were fighting. And the otter's child lives by the lake near three willows. Let the raven find it there and return it to her, then they will stop fighting.
They talked like this and then fell asleep.
In the morning, when the Sun left the house, Trem-son got up, thanked the kind old woman, and went home. On the way, he stopped by the whale-fish and the otter with the raven, and told them what he had heard from the Sun. The whale-fish spat out all the ships with people and immediately turned over to the other side. The raven found the otter's lost child, and they stopped fighting.
Trem-son came to the king.
- Well, Trem-son, did you find out why the Sun did not shine for three days?
- I did, - answered Trem-son. - In the ocean-sea lives Nastasya the Beauty, and the Sun wanted to burn the ocean-sea and take her as its wife. For three days it burned it, but couldn't burn it. That's why it didn't shine at that time.
The king was glad that he finally learned the reason for the eclipse and said:
- How shall I reward you for this, Trem-son?
- Nothing, king, I don't need anything - I just want to remain in your service.
- Alright, remain.
Trem-son went to the stable and started scolding the stable boys for their slander against him. And the stable boys trembled with anger. They gathered and started thinking again how to get rid of Trem-son. One said:
- Let's go, brothers, to the king and tell him that Trem-son boasted that he could retrieve Nastasya the Beauty from the bottom of the ocean-sea...
They went to the king and told him just that.
The king summons Trem-son to him:
- Trem-son, were you drunk yesterday and talking nonsense?
- I said nothing, - replies Trem-son. - And I wasn’t drunk.
- You’re lying! You told the stablemen that you could retrieve Nastasya the Beauty from the bottom of the ocean and bring her to me.
Trem-son began to argue:
- But how is that possible? Even the Sun couldn’t burn her out from there, so what can I do?
- You’ll do it! - shouted the king. - Mark my words: if you don’t retrieve her, my sword will sever your head from your shoulders!
Trem-son left the palace, weeping, and headed straight into the open field. He whistled and called for his trusty steed. The horse came running, its hooves digging into the ground:
- Why have you disturbed me, master?
- Trouble, my dear horse! The cursed king has ordered me to retrieve Nastasya the Beauty from the bottom of the ocean. Advise me, how can I do this?
- That’s no trouble, - replied the horse. - Tell the king to sew a silk tent and gather enticing goods: colorful scarves, ribbons, and bows...
Take all of this and ride to the ocean. When you arrive, set up the tent and lay out the enticing goods inside. Nastasya the Beauty will be sailing in a boat on the sea. The first time she passes by, she won’t say anything, but when she returns, she’ll ask you:
“Merchant, what goods do you trade?” And you tell her: “If you wish, Nastasya the Beauty, sail to the shore, and I’ll show you all my goods.” She’ll sail closer, and then you grab her by her braids, put her in a carriage, and take her to the king’s palace. And now farewell, Trem-son, - said the horse. - If you need anything else, call for me.
Everything happened just as the trusty horse had said. Trem-son brought Nastasya the Beauty to the king’s palace. The king was pleased with her.
- Well, Trem-son, - said the king, - now ask me for any reward you wish.
- I need nothing, king; I’ll go back to serving in the stables.
And he left.
The king grew very fond of Nastasya the Beauty. His old wife had died, and now he wanted to marry the young woman. Nastasya said to him:
- If I had known I’d be marrying the king himself, I would have brought all my beauty from the ocean, but now I only have half of it with me.
The king became agitated and summoned Trem-son:
- Retrieve all of Nastasya the Beauty’s beauty from the bottom of the ocean!
Trem-son frowned:
- What are you thinking, king? How can beauty be retrieved?
The king stamped his feet and banged his staff on the floor:
- Silence! Do as you’re told! Or else, my sword will sever your head from your shoulders!
Trem-son left the city and went into the open field. There, he whistled and called for his bay horse:
- My good horse, my dear horse! Wherever you are, come to me!
His bay horse came running:
- Why did you call for me, master?
- The king won’t leave me in peace, - said Trem-son. - He wants me to retrieve Nastasya the Beauty’s beauty. But where can I find it?
The bay horse replied:
- Go to the ocean, and there you’ll see a whale-fish. Tell it to throw up a golden casket from the bottom of the sea. Inside the casket is a duck, and inside the duck is a golden egg. That is her beauty.
- Oh, forget it! - Trem-son frowned and headed to the ocean.
Whether he walked a long time or a short time, he finally came to the whale-fish. It was lying on its side, unaware of any trouble.
- Greetings, whale-fish! - Trem-son bowed.
- Greetings, Trem-son, - replied the whale-fish. - Where are you wandering, what are you seeking?
- Well, - said Trem-son, - I’ve come to you for help. Throw up the golden casket of Nastasya the Beauty from the bottom of the ocean.
- That can be done. But you must stand seven miles from the shore: when I dive to the bottom, I’ll create a great wave.
Trem-son moved seven miles from the shore. The whale dove to the bottom and in an instant flooded the entire shore.
The whale wandered the depths for a long time, and finally brought up the golden casket, handing it to Trem-son.
Trem-son thanked the whale for its help, opened the casket, and the duck - whoosh! - flew out to the sea...
Trem-son nearly cried out of frustration. “If only that raven were here now, it would help me in my trouble!” - thought Trem-son.
And as soon as he thought it, he saw the raven flying. The raven chased the duck, caught it over the sea, and tore it to pieces. A golden egg fell out of the duck and sank to the very bottom of the sea.
Again, Trem-son grew sorrowful. “If only that otter were here, it would help me in my trouble!” - he thought.
And as soon as he thought it, suddenly the otter stood before him.
- What do you want from me, Trem-son?
- Do me a favor, fetch the golden egg from the bottom of the ocean.
The otter dove to the bottom of the ocean. Trem-son waited for her for three days.
On the fourth day, the otter surfaced and handed him the golden egg directly into his hands.
Trem-son took the golden egg, thanked the kind otter, and returned home.
Nastasya the Beauty cracked the golden egg, and though she was already lovely, she became twice as beautiful in an instant!
The king stroked his beard and laughed.
"Well," he said, "now we shall wed!"
"No," replied Nastasya the Beauty, "we are still not a match."
"Why not?" the king asked, alarmed.
"I do not yet have my joy with me."
"Hey, summon Trem-son here!" the king ordered. Trem-son arrived at the palace. Nastasya the Beauty said to him:
"If you, brave lad, managed to win me and my beauty, then fetch my joy as well."
"Where am I to find it?" asked Trem-son.
"Take your groomsmen with you and go to the overseas forest. There you will see a hut. My brother, Wolf Volkovich, lives there. He will make you a self-playing gusli: that is my joy. And take my handkerchief with you: if you feel very sleepy, wipe your eyes with it..."
Trem-son took his groomsmen and set off on the journey.
Whether they walked for a long time or a short time, they finally arrived in the forest where Wolf Volkovich lived.
"Why have you come to me, Trem-son?" asked Wolf Volkovich.
"Be so kind as to make me a self-playing gusli."
"Do you have someone to hold the torch? You see, it's already dark, and I can't make them without light."
"I do."
Trem-son sent one of the groomsmen to hold the torch. The man held it, held it, and then dozed off. Wolf Volkovich swallowed him. He licked his lips and asked for a second worker. Trem-son sent him the second one. That one also held the torch, held it, and then dozed off. Wolf swallowed him too. He asked for a third. And he swallowed the third as well. And so he swallowed them all, one by one.
"Now," he said to Trem-son, "you hold the torch." Trem-son began to hold the torch. He held it, held it, and suddenly felt so sleepy that it was unbearable. He took out Nastasya's handkerchief and began to wipe his eyes. Wolf Volkovich looked at the handkerchief and said:
"Ah, Trem-son, why didn't you tell me earlier? This is the handkerchief of my dear sister Nastasya the Beauty! Well, for her sake, I won't spare even a ready-made gusli!"
He brought out the ready-made self-playing gusli:
"Here, take them to my sister."
Trem-son took the gusli, thanked Wolf Volkovich, and headed back.
As he walked, he quietly played the gusli. On the way, he met a robber with a club in his hands. The robber heard the music from the self-playing gusli, stopped, and began to dance. He danced, and the club danced with him. And they couldn't stop.
"Give me these gusli," the robber begged Trem-son, "I like them so much!"
"And what will you give me for them?"
"I'll give you my club."
"And what will I do with it?"
"It's a club that can defeat any force. Set up twenty regiments of soldiers, and my club will crush them to dust."
Trem-son gave the robber the gusli and took the club for himself. He walked a little further and remembered the gusli.
"Ah," he said, "what have I done? What will I tell Nastasya the Beauty now? Hey, club, run and take the gusli back from the robber."
The club—jump, hop!—caught up with the robber and began to beat him.
"Give Trem-son the self-playing gusli," it shouted, "or I'll kill you!"
The robber threw the gusli and ran away from the trouble as fast as he could. The club picked up the gusli and brought them back to Trem-son.
He continued on his way. He played the gusli, and the club danced along.
He came across a sorcerer. The sorcerer heard the music and also began to dance.
He danced and danced until his black beard was soaked with sweat.
"Give me these gusli," the sorcerer begged Trem-son.
"And what will you give me for them?"
The sorcerer pulled a golden box from his pocket.
"I'll give you this box."
"And what will I do with it?"
The sorcerer opened the casket, and out poured an army! Entire regiments lined up. Trem-son was amazed: what a marvel!
Then the sorcerer shouted to the army:
"Fall in!"
And the army poured back into the casket. Trem-son agreed and gave the sorcerer his gusli, taking the magic casket for himself. He continued on his way with his club and the casket. After some time, Trem-son remembered the gusli again:
"Now I have my own army, but who will play the march for them? Hey, club, run and take back our self-playing gusli!"
The club—jump, hop!—ran off, snatched the gusli from the sorcerer, and returned. They continued on with music. A wealthy merchant came riding by. Hearing the music, he started dancing. He danced, his coachman danced, even the horses danced. The merchant danced until he was exhausted, took off his boots, threw off his shirt, and still kept dancing.
When he had danced his fill, he said:
"Hey, lad, give me your gusli!"
"What will you give me for them?"
The merchant rummaged in his wagon and pulled out a tablecloth:
"Here, take this tablecloth."
"What do I need it for?"
"What do you mean? Just spread it out anywhere and say, 'Roast and boiled, come to me!' and you'll have everything you want."
Trem-son, who was already quite hungry, said:
"Alright, let's see what it can offer."
The merchant spread the tablecloth in the middle of the road, said the magic words, and instantly, the most exquisite dishes and drinks appeared. Trem-son ate his fill and traded the gusli for the tablecloth.
He went on his way but soon remembered the gusli again.
"Eh," he said, "it was more fun with the gusli! Club, go get my gusli back!"
The club—jump, hop!—ran up to the merchant and started beating him:
"Give back the gusli!"
The merchant threw the gusli down, grabbed the coachman's whip, and drove his horses as fast as he could to escape the trouble.
Trem-son continued on. He saw carpenters building a house on a nobleman's estate. Trem-son played the gusli, and suddenly all the carpenters dropped their axes and started dancing. They danced and laughed, having the time of their lives. When they had danced enough, one of the carpenters said to Trem-son:
"You've entertained us well, lad! We work for the master all our lives and never have any fun. Here's a gift from us."
And he gave Trem-son a little axe.
"What do I need it for?" asked Trem-son.
"This axe isn't ordinary," replied the carpenter. "Just command it, and it will build any palace overnight. We hid it from the master, or he would have taken it. Better that a good man uses it."
Trem-son thanked them for the gift and headed to the capital. He reached the river, and on the other side, he could see the royal palace. Trem-son stopped on the riverbank and ordered the axe to build a palace overnight—one no worse than the king's. Then he went to sleep. At dawn, he awoke to see a new palace, even more beautiful than the king's. He opened the casket, and out poured the army. The army stood by the palace, awaiting orders. Meanwhile, Trem-son spread out the tablecloth, ate and drank his fill, fed the army, and began playing the gusli. The army marched to the music: one-two! one-two!
The king woke up, looked out the window, and—oh my! Across the river stood a new palace, and an army was marching to music... Where had all this come from?
He called Nastasya the Beauty:
"Look, my dear, what's happening in our kingdom..."
She looked and said:
"It's the work of Trem-son."
The king sent a servant across the river:
"Call Trem-son to me!"
The servant crossed the river in a boat and delivered the king's order. Trem-son replied:
"Your king isn't so great: if he wants, let him come to me himself."
Though it wasn't proper for the king to visit his stable boy, he had no choice. The king and Nastasya the Beauty boarded the boat and crossed to the new palace.
Trem-son greeted them properly: with a bow and music. He showed them his palace. They walked around, and Nastasya loved everything, but the king was like a dark cloud: he didn't like that a stable boy had such a palace and army... The king began plotting how to get rid of Trem-son and take the palace and army for himself.
They came to the kitchen. Trem-son wanted to treat his guests. But as soon as he took out his magic tablecloth, Nastasya the Beauty grabbed the king's sword and struck Trem-son. His head rolled into the corner. She chopped him into small pieces and ordered the cooks to heat a cauldron of milk. The cooks did so. Nastasya threw the chopped pieces into the boiling milk, then took them out, cooled them, and sprinkled them with living water. Instantly, all the pieces came together! She sprinkled them once more, and Trem-son jumped to his feet. He became a handsome and strong hero, a sight to behold! The king was wide-eyed: he wanted such beauty and strength for himself! He begged Nastasya:
"Make me like that too!"
"Alright," she said, "I will."
She grabbed the sword, chopped the king into pieces, and threw them to the dogs. Then she took Trem-son by the hand and led him into the palace.
Trem-son called guests from all over, invited his fathers—both birth and adoptive—and held a merry wedding.
I was at that wedding, drank mead and wine, but it ran down my beard and didn't reach my mouth. They gave me a tar horse, a wicker saddle, and a pea whip. I rode back on the horse, saw a barn on fire, stopped to put it out, but while I was fighting the fire, my horse melted from the heat, goats ate the saddle, and crows pecked the whip... So I walked the rest of the way and came here to tell you this tale.
More fairy tales
- Why the Badger and the Fox Live in Burrows
- The Goat
- The Scary Twist
- The Kitten, the Rooster, and the Fox
- The Lost Word
