The Giantbird and Prince Ryan

Long ago in Russia there was a King named Mark, who had three sons. The King's palace was very huge and was surrounded by a beautiful orchard, and among all the trees in the orchard there stood a beautiful apple-tree which bore golden apples. The King always counted his apples and his soldiers guarded the tree safely. One day the King discovered that few apples were missing so he understood that someone was getting into the orchard and stealing his golden apples. He became very angry, and sent his guards to catch the thief. But though they watched all night they were quite unsuccessful.

The King was so upset at the loss of his golden apples that he stopped taking his food. His sons tried to comfort him, and the eldest told him: "I will go and guard the orchard against the thief tonight, father. And he went off to the orchard. He wandered in the orchard for a while, he saw no one. So he lay down on the ground to take some rest and soon fell asleep. Next morning his father asked him: "Well, do you have any  good news for me? Did you see the thief?". "No, father," his son answered. "I was awake the whole night, I did not even close my eyes. But I saw no one."

The following night the king's second son went to guard the orchard. But he, too, slept all night, and next morning he told his father that he too  saw no sign of a thief, although he had not closed his eyes.

The youngest son of the king, Prince Ryan, had to guard the orchard. And he was so anxious not to miss the thief that he was afraid even to sit down, let alone to lie down. When he felt he was getting drowsy he washed his face with dew, and this made him wide-awake again. About halfway through the night he thought he saw a light in the orchard. It grew brighter and brighter, until all the trees were lit up. Then he saw that the light was coming from a bird, which was sitting on the apple-tree and pecking at the golden apples. So he crept up very quietly to the tree and caught hold of the bird by the tail. But the bird spread its wings and flew away, leaving only one tail feather in Prince Ryan's hand.

Next morning, when he went to inform his father, the king asked him: "Well, Ryan, did you see the thief?" "Dear father," Ryan answered, "I was unable to catch the thief however, I saw the one who is eating our apples. And I have brought you a tail feather in proof. It is the  Giantbird." The King took the feather and looked at it, and no longer felt sorrowful; but he thought a great deal about the Giantbird.

One fine day the king called his three sons and told them: "My dear children, I want you to travel into the world to see whether you can find and bring back the Giantbird." The young men bowed to their father, sat on their horses, and set out on their travels: the eldest in one direction, the second son in another, and Prince Ryan in a third direction.

Prince Ryan rode near and far, high and low, along by-paths until he came to a wide, open field, a green meadow. And there in the field stood a pillar, and on the pillar these words were written: "Whosoever goes from this pillar on the road straight before him will be cold and hungry. "Whosoever goes to the right side will be safe and sound, but his horse will be killed. And whosoever goes to the left side will be killed himself, but his horse will be safe and sound." 
Prince Ryan read the instructions written on the pillar and went to the right, thinking that although his horse might be killed, he himself would remain alive and would in time get another horse. He rode one day, then a second day, then a third. Suddenly an enormous gray wolf came toward him and said: "Ah, so it's you, young lad, Prince Ryan! You saw the instruction's on the pillar that warned you that your horse would be killed if you came this way. Why then have you come here?" 

After saying so the wolf tore prince Ryan's horse into pieces ate it and went away. Prince Ryan mourned on the loss of his horse; he shed bitter tears and then continued on foot. He walked a whole day and was utterly exhausted. He was about to sit down and rest for a while when all at once the gray wolf appeared before him and said: "I am sorry for you, Prince Ryan, because you are tired from walking; I am also sorry that I ate your good horse. Tell me why you have come so far, and where you are going" 

Prince Ryan replied "My father has sent me to travel through the world until I find the Giantbird." "Even if you travel on your horse for several years you can never find the Giantbird for only I know where it lives. Since I ate your horse, now I will serve you faithfully and well. Sit on my back and hold me tight." said the wolf.

Prince Ryan seated himself on the grey wolf, and they flew past the green forests, and the huge lakes. At last they came to a very big palace. There the grey wolf told Ryan: "Listen to me, and remember what I say. Climb over the wall and do not be afraid; all the guards are asleep. In the palace you will see a small window; in the window hangs a golden cage, and in that cage is the Giantbird. Take the bird and hide it under your coat; but remeber not to touch the cage."

Prince Ryan climbed over the palace wall and saw the window. And, just as the wolf had said, near the window a golden cage was hanging, and the Giantbird was there in the cage. He took out the bird and put it under his coat. But as he looked at the golden cage he could not help touching it. It was made of precious gold; how could he leave it behind? He completely forgot what the wolf had told him. But as soon as he touched the cage the alarm sounded all through the palace; drums rolled and trumpets blared and the guards woke up, captured Prince Ryan and took him to the King Peter. 

The King was angry on prince Ryan for he tried to steal the Kings bird and cage. he asked the prince: "Who are you, and where do you come from?" "I am Prince Ryan, the son of King Mark," Ryan replied. "Shame on you! The son of a King coming here to steal!" the King exclaimed. "I regret my doings," the prince retorted. "But your bird flew to our orchard and stole the golden apples."

The King cried "If that was the reason you should have come to me and asked me for the Giantbird and I would have given it to you out of respect for your father. But now you shall be punished for your behavior! And in order to earn my forgiveness you will have to enter my service. A certain King named Kusman has a horse with a golden mane. Bring that horse to me, and I will give you the Giantbird and the cage."

Prince Ryan was deeply worried after hearing the task given by the King. He went to tell the grey wolf what had happened. But the wolf said to him: "I told you not to touch the cage. Why did you disobey me?" "I know I did wrong; but forgive me, grey wolf." "It is easy enough to ask forgiveness," the wolf answered. "All right, get on my back again. We will not turn back now."

Once more the grey wolf flew off with Prince Ryan on its back. And at last they came to the Palace where the horse with the golden mane was stabled. Then the wolf told Ryan: "Climb over the wall; do not be afraid, the guards are asleep. Go to the stable and bring out the horse. But be sure not to touch the bridle you will see hanging there."

The prince climbed over the wall into the fortress, and saw that the guards were asleep. He went straight to the stable and found the horse with the golden mane. But his eyes fell on a bridle hanging up; it was of gold and studded with precious stones: the only bridle fit for a horse with a golden mane. And he put out his hand to take it. But at once the alarm was sounded all through the fortress; drums rolled and trumpets blared, the guards woke up, took the prince a prisoner and led him before King Kusman.  "Who are you, and where are you from ?" the King asked Ryan. "I am Prince Ryan."

"How dare you attempt to steal my horse! Even a peasant would not try to do that. But I will forgive you, Prince Ryan, if you agree to enter my service. A certain King named Solomon has a daughter, the beautiful Kate. Carry her off and bring her to me, and then I will give you the golden-maned horse and the golden bridle."

Hearing the verdict Prince Ryan was even more worried than before. Again he went to see the grey wolf. But the wolf said: "I told you not to touch the bridle. You did not obey my orders." "Nevertheless, forgive me, forgive me, grey wolf," the prince pleaded. "It is all very well, saying “forgive”. All right, get on my back."

Once more the grey wolf flew off with Prince Ryan on his back, until they came to King Solomon's fortress. But this time the grey wolf said to the prince: "I am not going to send you but I am going myself. You return back to King Kusman; I will soon catch up."

Prince Ryan obediently started to go back, while the grey wolf sprang over the fortress wall and into the garden. In the garden the beautiful Kate was walking with her maids. The wolf sat behind a bush and watched them, and the moment the princess fell a little way behind her maids the wolf seized her, flung her over his back, and flew away. 

Ryan was on his way to  when the grey wolf caught up with him, bringing the beautiful Kate sitting on its back. The prince was glad to see the wolf, but the wolf said: "Quick, get on my back, in case we are followed." The prince sat on the wolf's back behind the princess, and the wolf rushed away with them, past the green forests and the huge rivers and lakes. At last they arrived at King's Kusman fortress. But the prince seemed very sad, so the wolf asked: "Why are you silent, Prince Ryan? Are you sad?"  "Have I not good reason to be, grey wolf? How can I part with this beautiful princess? How can I exchange her for a horse?" "I promise you that you are will not be parted from her," the wolf promised. "We will hide her somewhere, then I will turn myself into the beautiful Princess Kate, and you can take me to the King."

So Prince Ryan hid the princess in a forest hut. Then the grey wolf uttered a magic spell and at once became her living image. Prince Ryan took her to King Kusman. The King was delighted and said: "Thank you, Prince Ryan, for getting such a beautiful woman for my wife. Take the golden-maned horse and the bridle." The prince bridled the horse, mounted it, and rode off to the hut where the true Kate was hidden. He seated her behind him on the horse, and they rode away.

King Kusman made all the required arrangements for his wedding, feasted all day and half the night, and, when he came to his chamber at night to see the princesses he was shocked to see a grey wolf in place of his wife. He was terrified and fled, and the wolf slipped away and out of the fortress. When the wolf caught up with Prince Ryan it noticed that he was looking sad again, so it asked: "Why are you so thoughtful, prince?" "I have good reason to be. I am sad to think I have to give up the golden-maned horse in exchange for the Giantbird." "Do not be sad; I will help you," said the wolf. 

When they arrived at King Peter's palace the wolf said: "You go and hide the horse and the princess. Then I will turn myself into the golden-maned horse and you can take me to King Peter." So they hid Kate and the horse in the forest. The grey wolf uttered a magic spell and became a golden-maned horse, and Ryan led the horse to the King. King Peter was delighted to see the golden horse, and gave Ryan the Giantbird and the golden cage as well. The prince carried the cage with the bird into the forest, seated the princess on the golden-maned horse, and rode off on his journey back to his native country.

Meanwhile, King Peter tried to mount the golden horse but suddenly it turned into a grey wolf. The King was so frightened that he fell to the ground, while the grey wolf  escaped and soon overtook Prince Ryan. "Now I must say goodbye; I cannot come any farther," it told the prince. So Ryan dismounted from his horse and bowed very low three times, thanking the grey wolf respectfully. But the wolf said: "Do not bid goodbye forever to me. I shall yet be of service to you." "How can you be of any further service to me?"Ryan thought. "All my wishes have come true."

Prince Ryan mounted the golden horse and rode towards his palace with beautiful Kate and the Giantbird. He arrived in his Kingdom, but as he still had some way to go to reach home he decided to have a rest at midday. So they ate some food, drank water from a spring, and lay down to rest. No sooner had the prince fallen asleep than his brothers happened to ride past, and saw him. They had travelled far and wide in search of the Giantbird, but of course they had not found it. When they saw their brother lying asleep and noticed that he had the Giantbird, the horse with its bridle, and even a beautiful girl, they plotted to kill their brother and take everything for themselves.

The two wicked brothers killed Prince Ryan, seated themselves on the golden-maned horse, put beautiful Kate on another, and threatened her: "You must not say a word to anyone when we get home." Then they rode oft, with the horse, the princess, and the Giantbird, to their father. They left Prince Ryan lying dead, with the crows already gathering above him. But suddenly the grey wolf ran up and caught one crow with its young chick. "Crow, you must fly away and bring back to me some sparkling water and some still water," the wolf told the crow. "If you bring back the two sorts of water I will let your young one go."

The crow agreed, to the grey wolf and flew off, while the wolf watched over the chick. In due time the crow flew back with both the sparkling and the still water. Then the wolf sprinkled Ryan's wounds with the still water, and the wounds healed; it sprinkled him with the sparkling water, and the prince revived. "I have had such a deep sleep," he yawned. "Yes, you were sleeping very soundly," the grey wolf said. "But for me you would never have awakened. Your own brothers killed you and carried off all you had gained. Now get on my back, quick!"

The wolf flew off to catch the two elder brothers, and soon caught up with them. It tore them to pieces and scattered them over the field. Prince Ryan bowed and thanked the grey wolf once more, and said goodbye to it forever. He mounted the golden-maned horse, and rode home with the princess. He had obtained the Giantbird for his father, and beautiful Kate as a wife for himself.

King Mark was delighted to see his son Ryan along with the Giantbird, and asked him to tell of all his adventures. Prince Ryan  told his father how the grey wolf had helped him to win the Giantbird, the horse, and the beautiful Kate, how his brothers had killed him while he was asleep, and how the wolf had restored him to life and then torn them to pieces.

  

The King cried over the loss of his two sons, but he was soon comforted, by the wedding of Prince Ryan and the beautiful Princess Kate, and they lived happily ever after.