An old king, wise enough to understand animal speech, is presented with a snake by an old woman, who claims that eating it will grant him the ability to communicate with all creatures. The king orders his cook, Yirik, to prepare the snake but forbids him from tasting it. Curiosity leads Yirik to sample the snake, granting him the ability to understand animals. During a ride with the king, Yirik overhears the horses talking, raising the king's suspicions about Yirik's secret. After a mishap with wine, the king spares Yirik's life on the condition that he finds a golden-haired maiden, leading Yirik on a quest. He encounters various creatures in need, including ants, fledgling ravens, and a golden fish, all of whom he helps. In return, they promise to assist him in his time of need. Yirik learns that the maiden is Princess Zlatovlaska, the daughter of the King of the Crystal Palace. Upon reaching the palace, the king sets Yirik three tasks to prove his worthiness. Yirik successfully completes each task with the help of the creatures he aided: gathering pearls, retrieving a lost ring from the sea, and obtaining flasks of the Water of Life and Death. Finally, Yirik must identify Zlatovlaska among her twelve sisters, which he accomplishes with the help of a fly he saved. Zlatovlaska is revealed to be the golden-haired princess, and she is sent with Yirik back to the old king. However, the king, initially grateful, orders Yirik's execution for his earlier disobedience. Zlatovlaska, in love with Yirik, uses the Water of Life to revive him after his beheading. The old king, envious of Yirik's youth, attempts to replicate the process but fails, resulting in his death. With the old king gone, the people choose Yirik as their new king, and he marries Zlatovlaska. They rule happily, embodying the ideals of a perfect king and queen, celebrated for their beauty and happiness.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1928 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure