This weeks tale.

The seventh tale: Tale of the golden swan.

Once a year in the Kingdom of Ogdazh, a great game took place known as the ‘Golden Swan’. Every child that had reached the age of reason would be sent out to find the great golden swan. The swan in itself was a mythical creature and so the children were told that the one who found one of its eggs – which the parents would make and hide - would win the contest. The prize was to become the great swan’s friend, which meant that the swan would watch over the child always. The King had won the game very young in age and had become the most notable King in all their history, so the children very much wanted to win this game. Especially young Yarhid (yarr-heed), a boy from a small village who had come of age this year and very much wanted to please his mother by finding the eggs. Yarhid was a soft boy, who was slow at running and very clumsy, but of such kindess and sweetness that even the mothers of the other children delighted in all he did. His brothers and sisters were all older and stronger, braver and smarter, and they teased Yarhid, telling him that he should not seek the eggs but be one himself, for he was still soft like a baby. Yarhid's gentle nature knew not how to fight being teased, and so he ran to the yard to cry. His mother, wanting to console her boy, would always bring him a treat and tell him stories of he great King. On the night before he game, she told him that the story of her own father, telling Yarhid that when he was little, he was very much like him, gentle and kind. "Do not worry about those who are stronger and faster, for they are not better than you. Even my father, youngest of his brothers and sisters found the eggs though everyone teased him, and so will you sweet Yarhid." With that, she wiped the rest of his tears and went inside while Yarhid finished his treat and dreamt of his coming adventure.
The next day, the race began and the children went off in a furious wave of excitement into the castle wood to find the eggs. Little Yarhid had also gone to play, despite all the teasing. His mother had given him the keepsake his grandfather had when he had found the treasured eggs, for courage and luck. The boy, full of determination leapt into the wood and searched high and low, climbed in trees and dug in the ground, he even asked the woodland creatures if they had seen the eggs but they did not seem to know where they were. Occasionally, he stopped to eat some food and rest as he had promised his family.
As the sun began to set, Yarhid grew tired and discouraged and thought it maybe best to give up. He sat on a tree root and sulked, when he suddenly remembered his mothers words and his grandfathers keepsake. He took it from his pocket, held it tight and prayed that the gods would guide him. Keeping his eyes closed, he walked, one hand outstretched, believing the gods would lead him to the eggs, but all he found was a branch to trip over and then a scrape on his knee. He cried in pain, but the sound that came next hurt something much deeper. A loud cheer from outside the wood, and a gong calling the children home for someone had found the eggs.Yarhid was utterly dismayed, and now couldn't help but cry. His mother had said he would win, and he did not, how would he be able to face her. Yarhid cried and cried until finally, he slept.
When he woke, the wood was dark and scary, he called out, hoping someone would answer but only the night creatures answered. Little Yarhid, began to cry again. Then, from behind, he heard a rustling, terrified at the thought of a wood beast coming to eat him, he ran as fast and as far as he could. Poor Yarhid ran until he was lost and was finally halted by the not so gentle knock of a tree. When he got up, he looked around and saw he was nowhere he knew. It was getting cold and Yarhid started to shiver, all he could think of was finding a warm place to hide. As he looked around again, he noticed a faint golden light shining through a clearing nearby. Yarhid approached carefully, remembering that some wood beasts may try to eat him. As he drew closer he heard a voice and a strange sound. He thought he was saved and hurried towards the clearing but instead, he stumbled upon a sight beyond anything he could have ever imagined. The strange golden light had been coming from the golden swan of legend and the voice was that of King Ogdazh. They were sitting together, eating and talking to each other. The swan spoke in its own tongue but the King seemed to understand.
"Ah, young Yarhid, everyone searches for you now, where have you been?" Asked the King, the swan, majestic and radiant turned to the boy and also asked a question but Yarhid did not understand. "The swan says, do you not want to go home? Your mother is very worried."
Yarhid came into the clearing, bowing his head in shame. "I cannot go back, my mother said I would find the eggs and I failed, if I go home she will be angry. I wanted to be like my grandffather." He removed the keepsake from his pocket. "Here, this was his and with it he found the eggs when he was a boy."
The King took it and looked at the keepsake a moment, then showed it to the swan. They spoke to each other as Yarhid watched. Then the King said. "It is agreed, we will keep this."
Yarhid cried out in anger: "Why?? My mother will want it back, you cannot take it!!!"
The King rose to his feet, towering above the boy. "I am King of this land boy, perhaps you have forgotten?" He said loudly. The boy quieted, terrified. "But in my realm, no man shall take from another without returning in kind." He gestured to the swan, who from beneath his wing drew a small golden egg which the King gave to the boy. Yarhid took the egg with both hands, astonished, delighted, but on it there was an inscription that he could not read. "It says, Yarhid prince of bravery." The King explained. "You are now his friend and he will watch over you always and see that you fulfill a great destiny."
As Yarhid raised his eyes to thank them, they had already vanished, and he stood there alone but triumphant. The next moment, someone grabbed him from behind and spun him round. It was his mother, sobbing."My boy!" She cried holding him and kissing him all over, her tears tingling his cheeks. "Where did you go? Why did you not come home?"
Yarhid spoke softly. "Because I did not find the eggs, I feared you would be ashamed, and also I lost the keepsake..."
She smiled in delight at his sweetness."My, how silly you are, I will never feel shame for any of my sons and daughters, and never mind the keepsake....what is that in your hand Yarhid?" She noticed something in his hand, shimmering of gold. Yarhid smiled proudly and told her of all his adventures, of the terrible forest, of the King and his new friend the swan, as they walked home hand in hand.
From not very far away the King and the swan watched. "If only he knew." The King said, and both he and the swan laughed heartily.

From the Legends of Altai Volume 1, The tales of King Ogdazh: Book of Divination copyright 2008