Once upon a time, there was a fortified city, built by Prince Krakus, which sat on Wawel hill. Its inhabitants were prosperous and lived very happy lives.

One night a dragon flew over the hill. With its huge translucent wings spread open, cast against the moon’s golden crescent, the dragon was a huge and ominous sight.

“So this must be the land of milk and honey which the witches of Bald Mountain raved about! Wonderful! I will wreak havoc here!” he roared with laughter and snorted a torrent of fire.

As he circled in the air above the hill, he spotted at its foot the entrance to a deep cave, wherein he settled down, and from there he prowled, pillaging and plundering surrounding fields and pastures.

A week had not gone by, when the city dwellers were overcome with despair. How to protect themselves and their herds from this voracious dragon? In the prince’s court, the subjects began to file in with complaints, beseeching his help.

“O wise Prince!” Jack the shepherd cried when he found himself before his Lord. “Last night all my sheep were killed; all twelve of them have been devoured!”

“This gluttonous beast grabbed my oxen and horses. I barely escaped with my own life!” whimpered Boris the yeoman.

Day upon day the laments and pleas for help grew.

Eventually Prince Krakus summoned Vladimir, the bravest and strongest of his knights, and ordered him:

“Vladimir, take my faithful troops, and defeat the dragon once and for all!”

When Vladimir, with a detachment of heavily armored knights arrived near the cave’s mouth, the beast was asleep. But neither the dull thud of horses’ hooves nor the knights’ war song woke the dragon. Vladimir dismounted his horse, entered the cave and shouted:

“O evil dragon! On behalf of Prince Krakus, I command you to cease harassing the inhabitants of our city and to return from whence you came!”

At these words the dragon woke up and crawled out of the cave. He leered at them first with one eye, and then with the other one, and roared:

“I am a fire-breathing dragon, reared by the witches of Bald Mountain! Do I hear well? Does Krakus dare order me?”

And he laughed frightfully, spitting flames and releasing plumes of smoke.

And thus the battle began. Vladimir’s soldiers stood bravely against the beast, but the forces were unequal. Their swords broke on the dragon’s thick slimy scales which were harder than steel. Under the terrible swings of the reptilian tail, their shields were pummeled and the armor pounded. Rivers of fire from the dragon’s mouth burnt the valiant knights and one by one they collapsed in agony.

When only Vladimir remained on the battlefield, the dragon said to him:

“I have devoured so many calves, sheep and oxen that I’ve had enough of cattle meat. I feel like having a fresh young lady from Krakus’ stronghold. I heard that the prince has a beautiful young daughter. I reckon that she must taste delicious. Now bring this message to your master.”

Vladimir, who had been stripped in battle of his horse and weapons, and who had suffered many wounds, returned and repeated to his Lord the threat uttered by the evil dragon. Prince Krakus was terrified, because he loved his daughter more than anyone. All night he mulled over how to get rid of the fire-breathing monster. In the morning he sent messengers to the far corners of his principality with this decree:

“Our gracious ruler Prince Krakus proclaims that he will give his daughter, Princess Anna, in marriage to the man who delivers the entire city and principality from the dragon that brings death and wages terror upon us all.”

A great multitude of knights answered the challenge. Nobody knows how many survived the clash with the beast. But the dragon became more and more angry and now constantly demanded Krakus’ daughter. The hideous roar of the monster was an oppressive source of terror; the inhabitants of the city shuddered in fear and apprehension.

Illustrations and cover

Arthur Friday

English Translation and Adaptation:

Stefan Potocki

Matthew Zamoyski

Typesetter

Andrzej Nowak

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© Copyright by Tom eMusic

ISBN 978-1-62321-004-5

Tom eMusic

www.tomemusic.com

New York 2012