God Perun did not ask the girl to be burned

Prince Owner, lord of the city of Kuyav, decided to sacrifice his daughter Vladina. The girl found out what they were going to do to her and managed to escape. In pursuit of the girl, the prince's squad is equipped. The girl runs, but there is almost no hope of escape. Help comes unexpectedly. People and creatures from the forest, forest and swamp come to the girl's aid. The goal of the girl is the village of Murom, where the father of her deceased mother Radushka lives. However, having found Dobrit's grandfather, the girl realizes that they are still looking for her. Now they are running together, their path lies in the legendary city of Arsu, where the true Slavic gods Arsans live. The fugitives hope and hope only for the help of the gods.
CHAPTER SIX
MERMAIDS AND BAGNILKA
Moving into the unknown, the girl was very careful. The forest was almost over, a river gurgled somewhere nearby, but so far it was not visible. The gloomy forest was left behind. The birds began to sing again, the insects began to fly. Having marked the border between Pushcha and the rest of the world, the first flowers appeared. The sun shone gently and everything breathed peace, until suddenly the princess heard a child's cry. A small child was screaming and screaming so loudly that it seemed to Vladina that now her head would shatter into small pieces.
MERMAIDS AND BAGNILKA
“Daddy, daddy, help me, the mermaids are taking me away!”
Vlada hesitated, she did not want to get involved in a new story. She did not immediately understand where the cry came from, but what was certain was that it was not a human child who was screaming. Otherwise, the heart-rending cry of a child would sound outside, not inside her head. The child was already crying.
- Let me go! Daddy, daddy, I don't want to go to the river, I'll die there.
Parting the bushes, the girl saw a strange picture. Two naked girls, sternly pursing their lips, were dragging a wildly wriggling, pretty girl of about five years old towards the river. The bright sundress of the girl was stained and torn in several places. The girls had already almost dragged the girl to the river bank, but Vladina still could not decide what to do. Finally realizing that her father did not hear her, the baby, through tears, began to desperately call Bereginya, the goddess of the earth, the mother of everything earthly. Hearing who the girl’s call was directed to, one of the mermaids grinned unkindly
- Call, call, and Bereginya will rush to your aid, wait! I forgot, perhaps, that you are only half a man, and the other half is from the undead, because your father is Bagnik, the owner of the swamp. Otherwise, why would we be messing with you now? Look how you scratched me like a wild cat!
And suddenly, at the moment when the mermaids decided that the baby had already given up, the baby rushed out of the hands of the girls and ran to the bushes, where Vladina was watching what was happening. When the panting girl flew into the bushes, the princess had no choice but to take part in the action unfolding before her eyes. The little girl, having stumbled upon the princess, was even more frightened, but, rushing back, she saw the approaching mermaids and clung to Vlad. Taking the frightened baby by the hand, Vladina went out into the open.
The mermaids stopped, dumbfounded, they did not expect such a turn of events. If on this deserted, at this hour, shore, there would be an outside spectator, he would be very surprised to find a strange group that had been standing still and silent for about seven minutes. The group consisted of two scratched girls, whose nakedness was hidden only by matted hair, a small girl sobbing desperately and an older girl, about twelve years old. A very lively conversation was going on between the three representatives of the strange group, and the fourth only sobbed in pauses.
- Give us Bagnilka!
- Not!
"You don't understand what you've gotten yourself into!" The father of this girl, Bagnik, the owner of the swamps, swamped the whole region. In the whole district, only this river remained, but he wants to take it into his own hands. The waterman is the owner of the river, and he talked in a good way with Bagnik and threatened, but nothing works! The greedy Bagnik is completely unbelted! That's why Vodyanoy told us to steal the girl in order to somehow rein in the swamp.
What does he want to do with her?
- Become a mermaid, like us.
“But the little girl told you that she was not allowed to go into the river!” She will die there!
"Nothing will happen to her!" We did not die, but, by the way, too, we were once living girls!
One of the mermaids extended her hand to Bagnilka, the girl grabbed Vladina's hand with all her little strength and whispered
Don't give me to them! Dad says that if I get into clean, running water, I will die immediately!
Do you hear what the baby is saying? Don't you feel sorry for her? You're dragging her to certain death!
We feel sorry for ourselves! How can we imagine what the merman will do to us if we do not fulfill his order ... Give us the girl!
“Don’t come near me,” Vlada suddenly shouted, backing away and dragging Bagnilka behind her, “I hear your thoughts!” You want to snatch the baby and run away! But I have a weapon, I can defend myself from you!
— Come to your senses! We know about your hand, the rumor about it reached our river! We know about the pursuit, and about how many people and non-humans burn with wild anger towards you. Do not add to this list our master, the merman! Give the girl back, this is our business and go where you were going!
- Not. I'll take the baby to Bagnik. She is happier than me, her father takes care of her and loves her! And as for your fate... Tell your master that I ordered you not to be punished!
“You take on a lot, princess!” What if he doesn't listen to you?
“And if he doesn’t listen, then I will definitely come back here and punish him!” But I think that the merman will listen to the arguments of reason and will not touch you. Moreover, I will ask Bagnik to leave the waters of your river alone. I think, as a reward for the returned child, he will agree. Go, I'll wait until you're gone, then we'll move on.
Suddenly the sky was engulfed in mist, and this mist had a bad smell. However, this was only the beginning, the fog continued to thicken and thickened so much that Bagnilka and Vlada almost stopped seeing each other.
It's my dad looking for me! - trustingly clinging to the older girlfriend, said Bagnilka
- Well, let's go to your dad, just hold my hand tightly so that we don't lose each other in this fog!
The farther they went from the river, the thinner the fog became. When the swamp appeared, the sky overhead completely cleared. Bagnilka suddenly pulled out her hand and rushed to the swamp
- Dad, dad, don't swear, I've come, I'm here!
The fog thickened again. The government has never seen anything like it. The fog began to resemble sour cream. He blocked the view of the girls, moreover, Vlada suddenly began to choke! The princess had already begun to lose consciousness, when suddenly it was all over. The fog receded, and the princess saw next to her a middle-aged man, to whom Bagnilka, sobbing and wailing, threw herself on his neck. Through tears and kisses, the baby even managed to tell her father about bad mermaids and a good girl, Vladina, who saved her, Bagnilka.
Wiping tears from Bagnilka's pretty face, father asked
Why did you leave without permission? How did you find yourself so far from home and alone, without nannies - kikimor?
- Aunt Kupava promised to sew a sundress for me. Kikimora nannies are very slow, but I wanted to quickly put on a new sundress and now ... I ran away! Dad, don't look at me like that, I immediately cover myself with drops of fog from fear! Well, that means I ran away from the kikimor and went to the settlement. I'm already big, I know the way. Aunt Kupava put a sewn sundress on me, I liked it, and I went straight home in it. No, Aunt Kupava wanted to see me off, but her baby fell ill, and everyone else was in the field and hunting. Aunt Kupava asked me to wait a bit, but I went home alone, and the mermaids caught me at the turn, I started to break free and, behold, the sundress was torn ... -
Bagnilka, looking at the spoiled new thing, burst into bitter tears, but fatigue took its toll and soon the loud cry turned into a sluggish whimper. The girl, feeling safe in her father's arms, soon fell fast asleep, hanging her blond head on her father's shoulder. Calling the frightened kikimors, Bagnik gave the girl to the nannies, and they took her away. The kikimors walked heavily and slowly, and Vladina understood why Bagnilka, quick as mercury, did not want to wait and left for the village alone. Looking after the kikimors, Bagnik said
- Well, the minx fell asleep! Now we can talk. This baby is all I have left good in life. More than a year ago, outsiders stole my wife and mother, Bagnilka, Lyubava. And I couldn't do anything! I am not a rival to people! It is here that I am the king, the ruler of the swamps, and a little further away, who knows me? Who's afraid? So, swamp king! Or just an old man who couldn't protect his wife from dashing people. So now you understand what your act means to me! Ask me whatever you want! I will fulfill your every desire, which is in my power!
- Do not swamp the river, swamp king! Leave her, and her inhabitants, alone!
— Yes, how can I do it? I am Bagnik, I am obliged to swamp any puddle of water that I meet on my way. One of Arsan awarded my great-great-grandmother with a swamp drop pendant, she passed the title and the pendant to her son, and he ... When the time comes, I will give the pendant to Bagnilka, and so it will be forever and ever!
- Well, I agree that this is higher than you, it was destined by the Arsans! However, think about this, well, you will swamp the last river in the district, but what will happen to the water, mermaids and other river inhabitants?
- Like what, they will come to me in submission! I'm not such a bad king!
Well, how can I convince you? And what if next time, when the annoyed river king sends mermaids, and they lie in wait for Bagnilka, none of your subordinates will be near? And me ... Understand, because I accidentally ended up in the way of angry girls today. Imagine what would happen if Puschevik kept me longer?
- Good. Kikimora, carry my swamp drop! Drop, gift Arsanov, soak up my words! I swear that neither I, nor those Bagniki who will come after me, will touch the river. Let it remain clean for centuries, not swampy!
But was that your wish? I know you just kept your promise! Ask me for something for you too!
- Yes, I don’t need anything, I just wanted ...
The girl did not have time to finish the last words, when suddenly, out of nowhere, the wind lol, it's raining. Lightning traced strange writings across the sky. Bagnik was dumbfounded with surprise. The letters sparkled through the clouds. Bagnik tried to read them. After a while, Bagnik fell to his knees.
- Perun, Perun himself honored me with his attention! Oh, horror... Fire letters warn! An innumerable army is coming here! Yes, not one squad of your father, but a whole army! The strictest order was given to them! Don't go back to Kuyav without you! They know where you are now! They won’t just leave, they will ruin the neighboring settlement where Kupava, Lyubava’s sister, lives! Horses trample the crops...
- What should Bagnik do? Let me open up to them, let them take me to my father!
And don't you dare think about it! You saved my baby and I am indebted to you! The sacrificial fire will not be your lot! God Perun does not send his fiery letters for those who are ready to put up with a sacrificial fate!
Yes, but people get hurt!
“I came up with something… If everything works out, then no one will get hurt!” Now the kikimoras are taking you to the swamp! And I'll start collecting all the moisture I can! The river will have to sacrifice something! After this battle, the upcoming summer will be dry for us! I will send such a fog on the army, such as have never been seen even in these parts!
“But how can I get down into the swamp?” I won’t have anything to breathe there, I’ll choke there!
- But after all, my Bagnilka spends the whole winter and autumn there, does she breathe there somehow? But she is only half undead, the other half is human.
Perhaps you have some kind of magic?
- No magic! Especially for my baby, I created an air bubble together with the relatives of Lyubava. Its walls are very strong and inside it is filled with air, and this air ... I was cunning, there is a little magic here, but I will not dedicate you to it, time is running out! The main thing in all this is that there, under water, Bagnilka can breathe as freely as up here!
There's enough room for you too! The bed for Bagnilka is made for growth, lie down next to my daughter and sleep peacefully! And after you get a good night's sleep, together we'll think about what to do next!
- What about the army? What about the people in the settlement?
“I told you, don’t be afraid! What I came up with will keep the peace in my area and will not let evil triumph.
But, despite Bagnik's assurances, the princess was still afraid of the descent. Only the fear of offending Bagnilka's father kept her from refusing the kind offer. While the girl hesitated, kikimoras approached, and the moment was lost. Vladina obediently followed the nannies. She had to endure the most unpleasant moment at the moment of direct descent. Before the decisive dive, one of the nannies timidly asked the girl to take in more air, and if Vladina was afraid, close her eyes! The sensations were not pleasant, but, however, it all ended pretty quickly. Cold hands released Vlad, and the same timid voice asked the girl to open her eyes.
Bagnilka's bedroom was empty and vast. It was slightly smaller than the banquet hall in the Keeper's chambers, but only a tiny bit. To brighten up the feeling of incompleteness, carpets were hung everywhere you looked. The walls and floor were covered with carpets, tapestries and capes.
The walls and floor were transparent, and it seemed that the curtains, draperies and carpets lay directly on the swamp moss. They lie vertically, horizontally, in an assembly, in general, as the kikimor fantasy suggested, decorating the room for a restless pupil. It seemed that all this cloth splendor was just hanging in the air, not supported by anything.
But, of course, it was all an illusion. It was worth touching a transparent wall, the hand immediately bounced back. The walls were made of a very strong and repulsive material. When the girl asked what the walls of the room, the floor and the ceiling were made of, the kikimors could not or did not want to answer. In the middle of the room stood a spacious bed, made to grow. Bagnilka was fast asleep in the crib. The bed was decorated with carvings. To please the poor baby, left without a mother, the carving on the crib was done by the whole village.
Each yard took one headboard. And every detail of the crib was now a real work of art. On one back, the whole host of pagan gods was carved, on the other - the heroes of fairy tales, on two, smaller sidewalls, animals and birds were carved. A small table and a bench were decorated with the same skillful carving. That's all the furniture that stood in the outlandish room. However, I was wrong. Walking around the crib, Vladushka saw a huge chest for toys. When the second kikimora, who was increasingly silent, opened the chest, Vlada could not tear her eyes away. Being, though illegitimate, but still a princely daughter, Vladina was not deprived of toys, but those toys that Vladushka saw now made her forget about everything. The chest was huge, Vladina climbed in and began sorting through the toys. Vladushka considered herself a big and grown-up girl, but when she saw the abundance of toys, she forgot who she was and where she was. The kikimora, silent until now, suddenly she spoke and told Vlad about the people who lovingly carved these toys for the poor orphan.
From time immemorial, the village of Dregovichi has been standing not far from the swamp. The village is small, its inhabitants are Lyubava and her sister, Kupava, distant and close relatives. After Lyubava disappeared, everyone tried to somehow alleviate the grief of the baby. The monotonous and slightly nasal voice of the kikimora had a lulling effect on Vlad, if not for the second kikimora, who noticed that the girl was falling asleep, the princess would have fallen asleep here, on the mountain of toys, lovingly carved by sensitive Dregovichi. Mig and Vladina were already in bed next to Bagnilka.
"Well," she thought, embracing the little warm Bagnilka, "now I'll sleep, sleep, sleep! I'll sleep for a whole week! I will sleep for all the days and nights that I have not slept!”
Vladina fell asleep, and she had strange dreams! She saw a dream within a dream. She dreamed that they were waking her up, feeding her, and putting her to bed again. And again she sleeps, sleeps, sleeps. But one day the dream ended. The princess woke up suddenly. Sitting up in bed, the girl looked around. Nothing has changed in the room. Bagnilka snored peacefully, the dolls from the open chest smiled slyly, the birds and animals carved on the bed vigilantly looked into the distance. There was no sound from behind the magical walls of the room.
But still, something happened! The changes were imperceptible to the eye, the air, or what has become different? As soon as the girl got up on the bed, kikimoras appeared and began to persuade the princess to sleep more. But Vlad has finally woken up. Resolutely throwing back the covers, she slid to the floor. The kikimoras, seeing that the girl's decision was firm, agreed to accompany her upstairs. Vlada straightened the blanket and kissed the sleeping Bagnilka on her cheek, warm from sleep, and ... And she took in more air into her lungs. Once on the ground and opening her eyes, she was so dumbfounded that she even forgot that it was time to take a breath. Fortunately for her, the body itself knew what to do, and after a few seconds the girl inhaled the frosty, prickly air with full breasts.
Yes, yes, apparently, it was late autumn outside. The surroundings were cold and gloomy. The foliage on the trees, apparently, flew around a month ago. Vladina looked around fearfully. What happened? Yesterday, when she went to bed, it was July, sickle, the top of summer! And today, November, chest, was in charge, snow is about to fall and December, jelly, will come. And where, in the name of all the gods, and Svarog in the first place, did August, September and October go? That is, Zhniven, Versen and Zhovten.
Really ... The girl suddenly lit up with an incredible guess! Could it be that the wish she made to herself before going to bed came true in such an incredible way, and she slept for three months? Here, by the way, the memory of what she took for a dream in a dream came to mind. The girl remembered how she was fed, dressed and put to bed again. Bagnik, yawning and shivering, appeared, as always, out of nowhere, and confirmed Vladina's guess. The princess slept next to her little friend for three whole months. The events that happened yesterday actually happened three months ago. The princess cringed. The cold pinched her arms and legs more and more. He climbed deeper and deeper under a long shirt, on which a sundress was put on.
— Bagnik, how can I go further? Am I cold?! - the girl barely said, her teeth were chattering from the cold.
“Why do you need to go somewhere,” the owner of the swamp said affectionately, “I thought you would sleep until spring, next to my girl, and stay there!” And I will have not one, but two daughters! Where are you going? Who is waiting for you? And here you were accepted as a native, we fell in love with you! You'd be fine here!
- Thank you, on a kind word, kind person! Believe me, and with all my heart I fell in love with your little one, you and your subjects. Good you! But, my happy time has not come yet! I am still too close to the chambers of my father and from the place where evil toils. My heart tells me that they will not leave your hospitable land alone while I am here. Oh, I can't talk, I'm so cold!
I see your decision is firm! And here are the clothes! This is a warm caftan and fur coat of my wife Lyubava. When her adversaries kidnapped her, it was summer, so winter clothes remained. I see that you have grown up while you were sleeping, Lyubava's clothes will only be a little too big for you! Kikimory, where are you? Those aunts are clumsy! Bring boots! - and Bagnik threw several rings of fog in the direction of the swamp. The kikimoras immediately appeared, apologizing and groaning from the cold. Warm boots, which they carried in their hands, immediately riveted the girl's gaze. She shuddered to want to shove her legs into their furry insides. What she did with the help of kikimor.
“Well, she’s warmed up,” said Bagnik contentedly, “but how well they lie, how okay!” And as for your father's vigilantes, here's the thing! No one has been here all these three months! They did not appear here, and I believe that they will not appear again! Well, you've made your decision! - Bagnik was silent for a while, apparently collecting his thoughts, - I will give you a farewell gift and do not try to refuse! I know you! For yourself, don't ask for anything! A lot of my land hides riches, but you won’t take it! That's why I've planned a special gift for you! We brainstormed with the Dregovich masters, but this is what we thought! While you were sleeping, the Dregovichi made a doll for you. Yes, this doll is not simple, but charmed! And her face is exactly like you! Master Dregovich even went underwater to look at you! Look at this doll! And remember everything I say: if you get into trouble, blow in the face of the doll and put it on the ground. She will turn to you. While the doll will keep the answer in front of the offenders, you will have time to escape.
Thank you, swamp king! I have a full kalita of gifts, but I can’t use anything! Maybe your gift will be happier!
- What do you have there? — the curious Bagnik stuck his nose into the gate
- Many things! Here it is, a spruce twig, Leshy's gift! As a last resort, Leshy gave me this branch, but I can’t use it, you know what hand I have! And this is a strand from Pushchevik's head. I took it by force from the formidable king of the forest, but I don’t know how to use it. Nobody explained!
“Oh, yes, you own great wealth,” Bagnik said respectfully, touching the gate, “and you don’t know about it yourself!” Do you want me to explain everything to you? Everyone has a destiny, no matter if you are a person or swamp evil spirits.
Up to a certain point, our fate is free, it does not have a rudder and sails, but one day everything changes! This happens differently for every living being. As for you, as soon as you throw this strand on the ground in front of you, nothing can be returned back! The strand will turn into a green path, visible only to you. And where this path will take you, only the goddess Makosh knows, and other gods at her disposal. But, think carefully before using Pushchevik's hair. As soon as you walk along the path lined with his hair, you will no longer be able to turn aside.
“Thank you, swamp king, for everything!” I really appreciate your advice, but I'm so tired of getting into endless troubles that, perhaps, I'll take advantage of what Pushchevik shared with me so reluctantly.
Your will, girl! It’s a pity that you didn’t want to stay with us, but I can’t help you any more!
“Farewell, Bagnik, and kiss Bagnilka for me when she wakes up!” Maybe we'll meet again!
- Goodbye! Maybe we'll meet!
And again the little princess found herself alone. Dregovichi waved to her amiably when she passed through their village. The village ended, and the girl went deeper into the forest. Her legs carried her further and further, the forest became more and more inhospitable, and it was still scary to use Pushchevik's hair. Bagnik's warning stuck too firmly in her.
The forest stood cold and hostile, the bare branches of the trees shuddered from gusts of wind, the fallen leaves underfoot repeated the same thing: “gone, gone!”. Vladina stopped. Pull do not drag time, but you can’t do without hair. The forest surrounded her from all sides, and the girl, even if she was rich now, would never have indicated the place where she came from, and even more so, she did not know where to go next. Everything happened as Bagnik said. Touching the ground, Pushchevik's hair turned into a green path.