“It is a great calamity, indeed, but I can help.  Your disaster is a result of not listening to me.  Do you remember, when you found the feather of the firebird, I said, ‘Don’t take it.  Much trouble it brings.’ Now you have found out that I told the truth.  I tell you this as a friend; it is but a trifle, not a great favor.  The real work is yet to come.  Now go to the czar and say, ‘I need two troughs, white spring wheat, and some foreign wine.’ Tomorrow, at dawn, we depart.”

Above: A carving of the czar maiden that stands in Yalta's Fairy Tale Glade. Above Right: A handpainted lacquer box depicts Ivan and the czar maiden being carried by the little horse.

The czar quickly complied with Ivan’s request.  So early the next morning, the little horse woke Ivan.  The fool took the troughs, wheat, and wine; dressed a little more warmly; sat on his little horse; and flew off to the east. They traveled to a thick forest where the little horse said: “Here you will see a glade before a mountain of pure silver.  The firebirds fly there before dawn to drink water from the streams.”  Then the little horse climbed up the side of the mountain. “Pour the wine over the wheat in one trough and watch from beneath the other.  Grab a firebird and yell as loud as you can.  I will appear at once.” The little horse disappeared.

At midnight light poured down the mountain as the firebirds flew in.  They ran and shouted and pecked at the wine-soaked wheat.  Ivan crawled out from ambush and grabbed one bird by the tail.  “Help, little friend!” he cried, and the humpbacked horse appeared at once.

“Master, you have distinguished yourself,” the little horse said.  “Quickly, put her in the bag!” Our travelers returned to the palace. “Did you get a firebird?” the czar asked.

“It goes without saying,” Ivan replied, opening his bag.  Such a light poured out that all the courtiers covered their eyes with their hands.  The czar shouted, “Brothers, a fire! Pour on water!”

“This is not a fire,” said Ivan.  “This is light from the firebird.” “Ivan my friend!” said the czar.  “You have made my soul merry. You shall be the groom for my best horses!”