A mother, determined to raise her son as a hero, names him Vitazko and nurtures him for twenty-one years. After proving his strength by uprooting a beech tree, she sends him to find a suitable home for them. Vitazko discovers a castle inhabited by dragons, defeats them, and claims the castle. He finds a chained dragon, Sharkan, but refuses to free him, warning his mother to avoid the locked room containing the dragon. Curiosity leads the mother to open the door, freeing Sharkan, who plots against Vitazko. He convinces her to feign illness, claiming only a suckling from the Earth Sow can cure her. Vitazko, trusting his mother, embarks on a quest to find the Earth Sow, aided by a wise woman named Nedyelka. He successfully retrieves the suckling but returns to find his mother in league with Sharkan. The dragon persuades her to demand the Water of Life and Death, leading Vitazko on another perilous quest. He retrieves both waters but is deceived again when Nedyelka substitutes them with ordinary water. Sharkan continues to manipulate the mother, who feigns illness again, this time claiming only a sight of the bird Pelikan can save her. Vitazko, driven by love, seeks Pelikan, ultimately capturing the bird with Nedyelka's help. Sharkan and the mother plot again, sending Vitazko for the Golden Apples from the Mightiest Dragon. With Nedyelka's assistance, he defeats the dragon and retrieves the apples, but upon returning, he is betrayed by his mother, who binds him and allows Sharkan to kill him. His body is sent to Nedyelka, who resurrects him but informs him that his heart is missing. Disguised as a piper, Vitazko returns to the castle to retrieve his heart. He plays music until his mother and Sharkan are entranced, then requests his heart, which they give him. Nedyelka restores his heart, allowing him to feel again. Transformed into a pigeon, he returns to the castle, kills Sharkan, and confronts his mother, who begs for mercy. He allows divine judgment to decide her fate, resulting in her death. Vitazko then seeks his princess, who has awaited his return. They marry, celebrating their union and his triumph over betrayal and adversity.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Fairy Tale