Book 3. Son of the Forest Prince

By Olga Kryuchkova

Lands of Bohemia. End of VII — beginning of VIII centuries.
Prince Czech and his large tribe leave their homes and rush in search of a new homeland. Říp becomes the capital of the new principality called Bohemia. From Říp, Czech rules over his lands and decides the fate of his people, the Czech tribe.
Young Krok and his family decide to leave Říp and settle in the still free lands. They find a suitable place near the stream. Once in the forest, young Krok meets the beautiful Medulina, not suspecting that she is a forest spirit. Love breaks out between Krok and Medulina. Medulina's parents, the forest god Bor and the goddess of childbirth, Didilia, bless their marriage. Three daughters are born in a young family: Kazi, Teta, Libuše. Medulina already knows about the destiny of her daughters. However, she is unable to change their fate, because the fateful threads are woven by the divine sisters of the Sudenitsy themselves.
Over time, Krok becomes the Duke of Budeč. The alien Prince Ladvik appears in the forests with his tribe, who left their native lands under the onslaught of the Saxon tribes. Ladvik is strong, cunning and worships the god Veles. Veles, in every possible way, favors his faithful admirer. Ladvik and his kmets (are warriors close to the ruler) ravage the border lands of the Czechs and Luchane. Krok enters into a military alliance with the Prince of Luchane, Radoslav, in order to confront Prince Ladvik. Together, the allies manage to repulse him. Ladvik suffers a crushing defeat and goes into the thicket of the forest to serve Veles himself in the guise of a bear. However, Veles is not happy that Krok and Radoslav intervened in his plans. Veles wants revenge and finds an ally, a dark god, Chernobog.
Medulina is trying to protect the family from the wrath of Veles and saves her husband from certain death. Bor and Didilia jointly oppose the magic of Veles and Chernobog. Veles and Chernobog retreat for a while. However, Veles, by all means, intends to get even with the Krok’s family and to start using the eldest daughter Kazi. For this Veles attracts Libor, the son of the Forest Prince Ladvik. Libuše and Medulina intend to protect Kazi, but in vain. From the connection between Kazi and Libor, a boy is born, intended to serve Veles. Medulina takes her newborn grandson and leaves the human world with him. Krok is very upset by the disappearance of his wife. Teta and Libuše try to support Kazi in every possible way, and soon she marries the Prince of Luchane, Radoslav. At his sister's wedding, Libuše has visions that foreshadow the death of a young man while hunting...
Prince Czech died. A struggle for power began in the capital of the principality. Branka, the wife of one of Czech's sons, dreams of elevating her husband to the throne of power. To do this, she resorts to the help of the Dark Forces. However, Branka's plans are crumbling. And she enters into a relationship with the magical Demon-snake.
At this time, Libuše had a love affair with Mirek. From time to time, Libuše was visited by visions that foreshadowed trouble. Libuše tried to understand their meaning and protect her relatives, subjects and beloved Mirek from the Dark Forces.
Nevertheless, Chernobog is strong and defeated the Light Gods. As a result, Libuše's father died.
God Veles in the form of a bear appeared before Kazi to take her child. Veles intended to raise a child and make him his faithful servant. Medulina is ready to protect her daughter Kazi and grandson from Veles and, if necessary, from Chernobog.
Libuše parted with her beloved Mirek. She was very upset by their breakup. Fate brought Libuše together with the son of a local Voivode named Přemysl. However, Vlasta, a faithful friend of Libuše, fell in love with Přemysl. And Vlasta does not intend to share Přemysl with Libuše.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Feb 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215800867

Olga Kryuchkova

Olga Kryuchkova began her creative career in 2006. During this time, the author had more than 100 publications and reprints (historical novels, historical adventures, esotericism, art therapy, fantasy). A number of novels were co-written with Elena Kryuchkova.

Book preview

Olga Kryuchkova

Princess Seer. Crown of Power Series

Book 3. Son of the Forest Prince

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 3

Since the time when Prince Ladvik turned into a bear and went into the deep forests, no one saw him again. Milcovci finally left the forests and took over the power of Prince Radoslav. However, Ladvik's son Libor and his mother yearned for their former life. And so, with several old priests, they returned to the abandoned forest city. They began to live there. However, time passed inexorably forward. Libor matured, became a stately young man. The priests left this world, and then the former Forest Princess followed them. The young Prince was left alone. Libor collected his simple belongings. He left the forest city and went without knowing where.

For a long time he wandered through the forest. There seemed to be no end to it. Finally, he reached a picturesque forest lake. And Libor decided that he would settle down here, in a new place. He built himself a small hut of wood, made clothes from skins. He began to hunt and fish. Soon a wolf cub joined him and became Libor's faithful friend. Together they went hunting.

So the summer passed. The golden curly forest was losing its garment every day. The wind tore leaves from the trees, carried them, circling through the air. It threw them, rustling, on the ground. Yellow, red, brown leaves floated on the surface of the lake. A tattered web, torn from the trees, flew in the air, as if looking for a haven. In the morning, the web became more transparent, silvery in the rays of the sun, swaying on empty bird nests.

A rainy, sleepy autumn has come. The forest animals hid in their dens and fell asleep. The wind blew through the forest, swaying the tops of the trees. The sky turned gray. Cloudy clouds closed. And as from a fine sieve began to drizzle autumn lingering rain. The branches of the trees trembled in the wind. Colored leaves swollen from the rain fell to the ground.

Libor, standing on the shore by the lake, sadly watched the late departure of the birds. And then the last flock of birds flew away. Libor heard a swan singing a long song in the reeds.

Late departures of birds are sad. At night, the forest is dark and damp, the stars hid behind low dark clouds. Libor looked forward to winter. And so, frosts came, and Mara came into her own. Bright large stars have finally graced the sky. The shining moon came out into the firmament. The forest brightened and turned white from the snow crunching underfoot.

When the snow, like a white blanket, wrapped the ground, the residents of Budeč, who were richer, gathered in log huts with low ceilings and tightly closed shutters.

A stove of high quality made of brick or stone gave generous warmth. The flames of lighted torches trembled with red reflections on the walls. In the houses of the warriors, the walls were decorated with shields covered with tanned leather, combat bows, quivers, short swords, spears, javelins, stone hammers, slings. Hunters have forest trophies, the heads of a wolf, a deer with antlers, a bear.

In the glimmering light, women spun or weaved on a small single-row loom. The men repaired household utensils, put their weapons in order, or rested after a dangerous hunt.

Hunters spoke eloquently about fights with bison, bears, wolves. The grandmothers frightened the children with tales of shaggy leshy, kikimoras, brodnitsas, fiery serpents, rusalkas1.

When the fire was extinguished, the family went to bed on the polati, covered with animal skins, and prayed to the deities