The Three Kingdoms - Part Eight

 

As soon as Whirlwind came inside the castle he looked around suspiciously. “I smell someone new.”

The Tsaritsa shook her head. “I do not know why that seems so to you.”

As Whirlwind came forward, Ivan grabbed the club from Whirlwind. 

Whirlwind roared and flew out through the window and up into the sky. Whirlwind flew over mountains wanting to smash Ivan, but Ivan held on. Whirlwind flew over seas and wanted to drown Ivan but Ivan still held on.

Finally, Whirlwind began to get tired. 

He rushed to the cellar where Nastasya Golden Tress has been kept and took the tub of water from the right hand side.

However, as soon as Whirlwind drank the water he became weak. Ivan drank the water from the other tub.

Ivan became a powerful mighty hero after that.

Whirlwind had become weak and Ivan took the sharp sword from Whirlwind and killed Whirlwind with a single blow.

As soon as Ivan did that, voices around him called him. “You have to strike Whirlwind again, or he will come to life.”

But Ivan remembered his mother’s instructions. “A hero’s hand will strike only once.” 

Then Whirlwind fell dead as Ivan burnt the body and scattered Whirlwind’s ashes to the wind.

Ivan’s mother was thrilled. “We must leave this place immediately. But before that we must eat.”

Ivan was confused. “I have not seen anyone else in the castle. Who will serve us here?”

Ivan’s mother nodded mysteriously. “You will see.”

Adapted from Russian Folktales