In a Certain Kingdom: Fairy Tales of Old Russia

By Waystone Press

Deathless villains that can't help dying, idiots who are wiser than kings, and everyone's favorite pestle-riding hag ... These are not your tame happily-ever-after fairy tales!
The traditional fairy tales of Russia transport the reader to a fantastical world filled with danger, wonder, and ultimately, consolation. They may be strange, they may be frightening, but Russian fairy tales take you to a place you never want to leave. A magical land of prophecy and adventure that helps you see your own life in vivid colors.
This collection features nine stories, translated and retold by award-winning fantasy novelist Nicholas Kotar. These aren't stuffy academic translations. They are retellings by a storyteller, easy to read and filled with wit and whimsy.
Discover delightfully entertaining tales filled with princes, warrior-queens, talking wolves, and everyone's favorite villain: Baba Yaga herself!
Don't miss In a Certain Kingdom, the first volume in an exciting new series of translations of classic Russian fairy tales and myths.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Waystone Press
• Release date: Feb 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781951536176

Book preview

Author

The Tale of Ivan the Prince and the Grey Wolf

In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, there lived a king named Berendei. He had three sons. The youngest was named Ivan. The king also had an unparalleled treasure–a wondrous garden, in which grew an apple tree with golden apples. 

One night, someone began to sneak into the king’s garden, to steal the golden apples. The king mourned the loss bitterly. He sent warriors to stand guard, but no one could find the thief. And yet, the apples continued to disappear. 

The king stopped eating and drinking. His sons, worried, comforted him. 

Don’t worry dear father. We will stand guard ourselves.

The eldest said, Tonight is my turn. I will catch this thief and bring him to your swift justice.

And so he went. Back and forth he walked for an hour. Two hours. Finally he sat down on the soft grass. Before he knew it, he was asleep. 

In the morning, the king asked him, Well, my eldest! Will you bring me tidings of joy? Did you catch the thief?

No, dear father, he answered. All night I walked back and forth, never closing an eye. I saw no one.

The next night, the middle son did the same. Back and forth he walked for an hour. Two hours. Finally, he sat down on the soft grass. Before he knew it, he was asleep. In the morning, he said he saw no one. 

Then came Ivan’s turn. Ivan walked back and forth, not even daring to sit down, much less lie down, for fear of falling asleep. No sooner did his eyelids droop than he washed his face in the fresh dew from the grass. Half the night passed. Then, it seemed as though he saw a dream–the garden was alight!

Brighter and brighter grew this light. The whole garden shone as in the middle of a sunny day. Then he saw it. A firebird landed on the apple tree and started to peck at the golden apples. Quietly, stealthily, Ivan the Prince crept up to the bird. Jumping up, he reached for it. The firebird flew up faster than he thought possible and away, away beyond the garden wall. All that was left in his hand was a single, brilliant feather from her tail. 

In the morning, Ivan came to his father. 

Well, my dear Vaniusha, did you see the thief?

My dear father, catch him I could not. But I saw who it was. Father, it was a firebird.

The king took the feather, and joy returned to his heart. He ate and drank and made merry again. 

But the feather, brilliant as it was, started to eat away at his thoughts. And so, one fine morning, he called his sons into his presence. 

My dear children, who of you will saddle your fine horse, ride across the wide world, and find me the firebird?

All three sons bowed to their father and rushed to the stables. The eldest rode in one direction, the second in another, and Ivan the Prince chose yet a third. 

Whether a long time or a short time, Ivan the Prince rode and rode. On a hot summer day, he grew tired of his long ride. Getting off his horse, he hobbled it, then he lay down in the shade of an oak and fell asleep. 

Whether a long time or a short time, Ivan slept and slept. When he woke up, there was no sign of the horse. Jumping up, he went to find it. Finally he found it–nothing was left but bones. Ivan the Prince grew sad. But what is a prince to do? He continued on foot. All day he walked, and the next day after that. Tired he was, almost to death. Finally he sat down on a log and started to weep. 

Out of nowhere, a grey wolf appeared before him and started to speak.

Well there, Ivan the Prince, why are you sitting there with your head hung low?

How can I fail to weep, grey wolf? answered the prince. I have lost my fine horse.

Ah, that was me, Ivan, said the wolf. I was hungry, and such is the nature of the wolf. But I feel sorry for you. Tell me, where were you going, and what were you seeking?

My father sent me to ride across the wide world and to find the firebird.

Ha ha! On your horse it would take you more than three years to find it. Only I alone know where she lives. Well, fair’s fair. I ate your horse, and so I will be a mount for you and serve you well. Sit on me and hold on tight.

Ivan the Prince sat astride the grey wolf. The wolf jumped, and entire forests passed below them, lakes and rivers as though brushed aside by the wolf’s tail. Soon they stood at the foot of a tall fortress. 

The grey wolf said, Hear me, Ivan the Prince, and listen well. Climb the wall, fear not! It is a good hour; the guards are all asleep. In the tower, you’ll see a window. In that window hangs a golden cage. In that cage sits the firebird. Take the bird, place her in your coat, but see that you do not touch the cage!

Ivan the Prince climbed the wall, saw the tower. There in the window hung a golden cage, in the cage sat the firebird. He took the bird, put it in his coat, but his eye lingered on the cage. His heart started to beat wildly: Oh, how golden it is, how precious! How can I not take it? And he forgot the wolf’s warning. 

No sooner did he touch the cage than trumpets sounded, drumbeats rolled wildly, the guards woke up, seized Ivan the Prince and led him to King Aphron. 

King Aphron was angry.

Whose son are you? From where? he asked. 

I am King Berendei’s son. Ivan the Prince.

Oh, what a shame! A king’s son turned thief.

And what of your own bird, that stole our golden apples?

And why did you not come to me, ask me with a good conscience? I would have given the firebird to your father, out of respect. Well, what’s done is done. If you do me a good service, I will forgive you. In the kingdom of Sultan Kusman there is a horse with a golden mane. Bring it to me, then I will give you the firebird as a gift.

Ivan the Prince grew