Dragon Tales from Eastern Europe

Copyright © 2021 Ronesa Aveela

January 2021

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-949397-04-8

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-949397-05-5

Hardback ISBN: 978-1-949397-06-2

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, without the written permission of the publisher: Bendideia Publishing, www.bendideia.com.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover art © Keazim Issinov, used with permission of the artist.

Cover Design by Nelinda, www.nelindaart.com.

Vecna font is used in the book’s title. It is available for commercial use from Pixel Sagas at www.pixelsagas.com.

Here Be Dragons

This book is a collection of fairy tales from Eastern Europe. Not any fairy tales, but ones with and about dragons. In many of the hero tales that have been passed down generation after generation, defeating dragons is only one part of the hero’s quest. So, if you don’t see a dragon right away in any one story, read on. One or more will be lurking within the pages.

We’ve edited many of the stories from the sources we’ve used, replacing words such as thee and thou with you. And, although Poe’s raven may prefer quoth, we thought said would be more familiar to your ears.

Giant snakes were also representations of dragons in some stories. We’ve taken the liberty to change the word snake to dragon within these tales, but the intent is still the same.

In addition, over the years, some stories have gained religious references. We’ve removed the majority of these, not because we are anti-religion (because we’re not), but to make the stories more suitable to a broader audience. Where a religious aspect was part of the story, we retained the references.

Although some events are repetitive from story to story, we didn’t want to choose between including them. Each tale has its own merits, and so in a few instances, you’ll discover similar tales told in different manners.

If you enjoy this book and would like to learn more about dragons, check out our nonfiction book on the subject: A Study of Dragons of Eastern Europe, https://books2read.com/dragons-aveela.

Without further ado, we’ll leave you to enjoy these tales of old.

Vitazko the Victorious

There was once a mother who had an only son. He’ll be a hero, she said, and his name will be Vitazko, the Victorious.

She nursed him for twice seven years. Then, to try his strength, she led him into the forest and told him to pull up a fir tree by its roots.

The boy wasn’t strong enough to do this, so she took him home and nursed him for another seven years. Then, when she had nursed him for three times seven years, she led him into the forest again and ordered him to pull up a beech tree by its roots.

The youth grasped the tree, and, with one mighty pull, uprooted it.

My son, you’re strong enough, the mother said, and worthy of your name Vitazko, for now you will be victorious. Don’t forget the mother who’s nursed you for three times seven years. Since you’re grown, it’s time for you to take care of her.

I will, my mother, Vitazko promised. Please tell me what you want me to do.

First, the mother said, go into the world and find me a splendid dwelling where I may live in peace and plenty.

Taking in his hand the uprooted beech tree as a club and armed only with it, Vitazko set forth. He followed the wind here and there and the other place, and it led him at last to a fine castle. Dragons lived there. Vitazko pounded on the gates, but the dragons refused to let him in. Therefore, the young hero battered down the gates, pursued the dragons from room to room, and slaughtered them all.

When he had thrown the last of them over the wall, he took possession of the castle. He found nine spacious chambers and a tenth one, the door of which was closed.

Vitazko opened the door, and in the room, he found another dragon. This one was a prisoner. Three iron hoops were fastened about his body, and these were chained to the wall.

Oho! Vitazko cried. Another dragon! What are you doing here?

Me? the dragon said. I’m not doing anything, but just sitting here. My brothers imprisoned me. Unchain me, Vitazko! If you do, I’ll reward you richly.

I won’t! Vitazko said. A fine scamp you must be if your own brothers had to chain you up! No! You stay where you are!

With that, Vitazko slammed the door in the dragon’s face and left him. Then he went for his mother and brought her to the castle.

Here, my mother, he said, is the dwelling I’ve won for you.

He took her through the nine spacious chambers and showed her everything. At the tenth door, he said, Don’t open this door. All the castle belongs to you except this room. See to it you never open this door. If you do, you’ll suffer an evil fate.

Then Vitazko took his beech club and went out hunting.

He was hardly gone before his mother sat in front of the tenth door and said to herself over and over, I wonder what’s in that room? Why doesn’t Vitazko want me to open the door?

At last, when she could restrain her curiosity no longer, she opened the door.

Mercy on us! she said when she saw the dragon. Who are you? And what are you doing here?

Me? the dragon said. I’m only a poor harmless dragon. They call me Sharkan. My brothers chained me here. They would have freed me long ago, but Vitazko killed them. Unchain me, dear lady, and I’ll reward you richly.

He begged and cajoled her until she was half minded to do as he asked.

You’re very beautiful, Sharkan said. If only I were free, I’d make you my wife.

But what would Vitazko say to that? the woman asked.

Vitazko? repeated Sharkan. Do you fear your own son? A dutiful son he is, to give you the castle and then forbid you to enter this room! If you were to marry me, we’d soon get rid of this Vitazko, and then live here together in peace and festivity.

The woman listened to these cajoling words until she was completely won over. But how, dear Sharkan, can I unchain you?

He told her to go to the cellar and from a certain cask to draw him a goblet of wine. Instantly, he drank the wine. Bang! The first iron hoop burst open. He drank a second goblet, and the second iron hoop fell from him. He drank a third goblet and, at last, he was free.

Then in dismay at what she had done, the woman cried, Ah me, what will Vitazko say when he comes home?

I’ve thought out a plan, Sharkan said. Listen: when he comes home, pretend you’re sick and refuse to eat. He’ll beg you to eat something, but tell him that nothing can tempt you except a piglet from the Earth Sow. He’ll go at once and hunt the Earth Sow, but when he touches one of her piglets, the Sow will tear him to pieces.

Sharkan remained in hiding in the tenth chamber, and presently Vitazko returned from the hunt with a young buck across his shoulders. He found his mother on the bed, moaning and groaning as if in great pain.

What is it, dear mother? he asked. Are you sick?

Yes, my son, I’m sick. Leave me, and let me die alone!

Vitazko, in alarm, rubbed her hands and begged her to eat of the venison he’d brought home.

No, my son, she said, venison doesn’t tempt me. Nothing can ease my waning appetite except a piglet from the Earth Sow.

Then, my mother, you’ll have a piglet from the Earth Sow! Vitazko cried. Immediately, he rushed out in quest of the Earth Sow and her litter.

With his beech tree in his hand, he trekked through the forest, hunting the Earth Sow. He came at last to a tower in which an old wise woman lived. Her name was Nedyelka. Because she was good as well as wise, people called her St. Nedyelka.

Where are you going, Vitazko? she said when she saw the young hero.

I’m hunting for the Earth Sow, he told her. My mother is sick, and nothing will tempt her but a piglet from the Earth Sow’s litter.

Nedyelka looked at the young man kindly.

That, my son, is a difficult task you’ve undertaken. However, I’ll help you, provided you do exactly as I say.

Vitazko promised, and the old woman gave him a long-pointed spit.

Take this, she said. Now go to my stable. There you’ll find my horse, Tatosh. Mount him, and he’ll carry you on the wind to where the Earth Sow lies half buried in her wallow and surrounded by her litter. Reach over and prick one of the piglets with this spit and then sit still without moving. The piglet will squeal, and instantly the Sow will spring up and in a fury. She’ll race madly around the world and back in a moment of time. Sit perfectly still, and she won’t see either you or Tatosh. Then she’ll tell the litter that if one of them squeals again and disturbs her, she’ll tear it to pieces. With that, she’ll settle back in the wallow and go to sleep. Then you can pick up the same piglet on your spit and carry it off. This time, it’ll be afraid to squeal. The Sow won’t be disturbed, and Tatosh will carry you safely away.

Vitazko did exactly as Nedyelka ordered. He mounted Tatosh, and the magic steed carried him swiftly on the wind to where the Earth Sow lay sleeping in her wallow.

With his spit, Vitazko pricked one of the piglets until it squealed in terror. The Earth Sow jumped up, and, in fury, raced madly around the world and back in a moment of time. Tatosh stood where he was, and Vitazko sat on his back without moving. The Earth Sow saw neither of them.

If one of you squeals again and disturbs me, the Earth Sow said to the litter, I’ll wake up and tear you to pieces!

With that, she settled back into the mud and fell asleep.

Vitazko again reached over and picked up the same piglet on the end of his spit. This time, it made no sound. Instantly, Tatosh, the magic steed, rose on the wind and flew straight home to Nedyelka.

How did things go? the old woman asked.

Just as you said they would, Vitazko told her. See, here is the piglet.

Good, my son. Take it home to your mother.

Vitazko returned the spit and led Tatosh back to his stall. Then he threw the piglet over his beech tree, thanked old St. Nedyelka, bade her good day, and, with a happy heart, went home.

At the castle, his mother was laughing and having fun with the dragon. Suddenly, in the distance, they saw Vitazko returning.

Here he comes! the mother cried. Oh dear, what can I do?

Don’t be afraid, Sharkan advised. We’ll send him off on another quest. This time, he’ll surely not come back. Pretend you’re sick again and tell him you’re so weak that even the piglet of the Earth Sow doesn’t tempt your appetite. Tell him nothing will help you except the Water of Life and the Water of Death, and, if he really loves you, he must get you some of both. Then he’ll go off hunting the Water of Life and the Water of Death, and that will be the end of him.

Sharkan hid himself in the tenth chamber, and Vitazko, when he entered the castle, found his mother alone.

It’s no use, my son, she moaned. "I can’t eat the piglet. Nothing will help me now except the Water of Life and the Water of Death. Of course, you don’t love me