Vikhor

A queen went out to walk in her garden when a sudden gale arose. Vikhor was in the gale and carried her away. Her three sons grew up without knowing where she had gone. When they asked their father, he could tell them only that Vikhor had taken her. They received his blessing and set out to find their mother.

The youngest son, Prince Vasily, was the only one who could climb the steep hill where Vikhor’s palace stood. He entered while Vikhor was away and made himself known to the queen. She fed him, then hid him behind cushions in a distant room. She told him to stay concealed if Vikhor returned in a quarrelsome mood. When he began to converse, Vasily should come out, greet him and grasp the little finger of his right hand.

Vikhor flew back and spoke angrily to the queen. Vasily stayed hidden until his mother signalled to him. He emerged, greeted Vikhor and caught his finger. Vikhor tried to shake the prince loose, flying around the house and then outside, but Vasily held on wherever he went.

After soaring high, Vikhor struck the ground and broke into fine yellow sand. Vasily still held his little finger. He gathered the sand and burnt it in the stove. Ralston’s account of this episode ends with Vikhor’s destruction.