In a kingdom, a Tsar and Tsaritsa pass away, leaving their son, Iván Tsarévich, under the guidance of his wise attendant, Katomá Dyádka. Upon reaching adulthood, Iván wishes to marry and selects the beautiful Ánna the Fair, who has a peculiar condition: any suitor must pose a riddle she cannot solve, or he will die. With Katomá's help, Iván presents a riddle that she cannot answer, leading to their engagement. However, Ánna, wishing to rid herself of Iván, devises tasks to test his strength. She orders him to bring an iron column for firewood, which Katomá accomplishes effortlessly while secretly keeping iron shafts for future use. The next day, she instructs Iván to prepare a magical horse for their wedding, but Katomá ensures the horse behaves poorly, allowing Iván to appear strong despite the horse's struggles. After their marriage, Ánna plots against Katomá, convincing Iván that he is disobedient, leading to Katomá's legs being cut off. Left on a stump, Katomá meets a blind knight who has also suffered at Ánna's hands. They form a partnership, with Katomá guiding the blind knight, and together they survive in the forest. They decide to capture a kind merchant's daughter to help them. After successfully bringing her to their home, they face the witch Bába Yagá, who preys on the merchant's daughter. The knights devise a plan to capture her, ultimately defeating her and discovering the waters of life and death. They restore their bodies, with the blind knight regaining his sight and Katomá regaining his legs. The two knights return to free Iván, who is now a cowherd under Ánna's control. They switch places, and Katomá, disguised as the herdsman, is brought before Ánna. He reveals his identity, prompting her to repent for her actions. Iván forgives her, and they live harmoniously, while Katomá marries the merchant's daughter and settles down. The story concludes with themes of loyalty, redemption, and the triumph of good over deceit.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1833 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure