"The Lame Blacksmith (collection)" by Maria Semenova, summary Automatic translate

This book is a collection of stories and the author’s retellings of ancient pagan epics, created between 1980 and 1991. The harsh reality of the ancient world is seamlessly intertwined with mythological consciousness: fearsome gods easily descend upon people, brave heroes fearlessly communicate with spirits, and every human activity is perceived as a mysterious, sacred act. The author meticulously recreates the harsh life and worldview of the Normans and Slavs, transforming disparate fragments of chronicles into living, breathing history.

The story that gave the entire collection its title was a striking literary debut for the writer. The early mythological works in this collection won the prestigious Best Children’s Book Award of 1989.

The Lame Blacksmith

The Njar king Nidud captures the renowned Nordic craftsman Volund. To deprive the proud captive of any chance of escape, on the evil advice of his wife, Trúðr, the ruler orders the blacksmith’s tendons cut. The crippled Volund is sent to the secluded rocky island of Sævarstöd, shackled in heavy chains, and forced to forge jewels. The cruelty of the victors knows almost no bounds. King Saxxi’s young son is the only one who shows a shred of compassion for the cripple. The boy secretly swims to the island, and the craftsman carves him a wooden sword, warming to the child.

King Bödvild’s young daughter accidentally breaks a gold ring given to her by her father. She secretly comes to Volund to have it repaired. The blacksmith repairs the ring but takes her captive, seeking revenge on Niðud for his own physical injuries. He recalls the king’s sons, who had visited earlier and whom he had spared. Volund refuses to inhumanely punish Bödvild. She sees her captive not as a vicious monster, but as a suffering man, and develops a strong feeling for him. Meanwhile, Volund secretly forges wings for himself from swan feathers and iron shackles.

Bödvild is forced to flee her home, unwilling to marry the rude suitor Randver, who has been forced upon her. The girl boldly steers her small boat to the blacksmith’s island. Nidud and Randver arrive on Sævarstöd to punish the master, but Volund deftly throws off his shackles. Armed with the stolen sword, the blacksmith overthrows the ruler and his companion, binds them tightly, and leaves the cliff. He flies to the sea rocks, where Bödvild awaits him. Together, they escape on the arriving longships belonging to Volund’s father.

Scandinavian legends

Scandinavian myths open with the creation of the universe from the body of the primordial giant Ymir. The gods Odin, Vili, and Vé establish Middle-World and breathe life into the first humans, created from ash and willow found on the shore. The World Tree Yggdrasil permeates vast spheres, linking the abode of the Aesir, Asgard, the lands of mortals, and the icy wastes of the Jotuns. Odin sacrifices himself on the branches of an ash tree to comprehend the great secret of the runes. For the sake of supreme knowledge, he trades an eye for a draught from the fountain of wisdom, and then extracts the mead of poetry from the giant Suttung.

The fair Aesir wage a long war with the Vanir, ending with an exchange of noble hostages. Njörðr, Freyr, and the beautiful goddess of love, Freya, settle in Asgard. The thunder god Thor protects the worlds from the frost giants, riding a resonant chariot pulled by sharp-horned goats. With his trusty hammer Mjöllnir, he defeats the stone giant Hrungnir, only to be rescued in time by his son Magni. In another journey, Thor goes fishing with the giant Hymir and nearly pulls the World Serpent, Jörmungandr, from the ocean floor.

The treacherous Loki forces the gods to make disastrous decisions. He creates terrifying monsters: the giant wolf Fenrir, the serpent Jormungandr, and the dark mistress of the dead, Hel. The gods’ carefree existence is shattered by Loki’s dark envy. He orchestrates the death of the bright Balder by placing a deadly mistletoe branch in the hands of the blind god Hodur. The brave Hermod rides to Hel’s realm, begging for his brother’s return. The mistress of death sternly demands that every living thing weep for Balder. Loki, in the guise of a wicked witch, refuses to shed a tear, and Balder remains in darkness.

The enraged gods punish Loki by chaining him to a rock deep underground. His faithful wife, Sigyn, collects the snake venom dripping onto her husband’s face in a bowl. An ancient, dead völva prophetess foretells Ragnarök to Odin — a terrible final battle. In this dark hour, the gods will fall in battle with Surtr, Fenrir, and the rising monsters, but the Earth will surely be reborn renewed. The narrative concludes with a wondrous meeting between Thor and the Slavic thunder god Perun. Two thunderstorms peacefully converge in the high heavens, and the gods respectfully share their wisdom.

Duel with the Serpent

Slavic tales tell of the youth of Earth and Heaven. From their union are born Dazhdbog the Sun, Perun the Thunderer, and Fire. The gods bring a man and woman to life from rubbing pieces of wood, and Fire becomes a sacred hearth. The Earth is filled with joy, and abundant harvests are the responsibility of Rod, Mother Lada, and her beautiful daughter Lelya, the goddess of spring. But a dark star falls heavily to the ends of the earth, bringing with it Chernobog and Morana. They settle in the frozen Iron Mountains and begin to sow iniquity everywhere.

Chernobog and Morana seduce the Moon, forcing it to betray its bride, Dennitsa. The enraged Perun cleaves the traitor in half with a golden axe. Meanwhile, the Thunderer teaches the earthly youth Kiy the craft of blacksmithing. Kiy forges his first plow, iron sickles, and silver amulets, rejecting Morana’s flattering promises. The vengeful sorceress creates the monstrous Serpent Volos from a dissolute human hair and a stolen snake egg. The foolish and greedy Volos becomes a loyal servant of darkness.

Volos kidnaps young Lelya and hides her in the deep caves of the Iron Mountains. Dazhdbog sets out to rescue her, but the Serpent plunges an icy tooth, forged from deceit and lies, into his back. The enchanted Sun freezes in ice, and an endless, deadly winter descends upon the world. Perun battles the Serpent, but Morana blinds the thunderer, rips out his heart, and binds him in frozen chains. Fierce diseases and the Plague Maiden devastate human settlements, but the blacksmith Kiy defends his home.

The children of the blacksmith Kiy, Svetozor and Zorya, find a frozen statue of Perun at an abandoned temple on Mount Glyaden. They light a blazing fire, give their blood, and the mighty god is revived. Perun’s son, born in captivity at Volos, brings his father the stolen eyes and heart. Healed in a boiling cauldron, the thunderer forges a steel axe blade with Kiy. Perun challenges the Serpent to a decisive battle, crushes Volos’s icy magic, and frees his brother and wife. Spring and the Sun return to the exhausted people.

Sorcerer

Nezhdan, a former princely warrior, wanders the dense forests after the death of his leader, Vadim. On a deserted path, the old warrior encounters an emaciated youth, Bratila. The frail youth turns out to be a sorcerer: right before Nezhdan’s eyes, he heals the blood of a wounded reaper. The travelers stop in the village of Pechishche with the friendly elder Las. Nezhdan pays close attention to the local orphans — the timid girl Nadezhda and her brother, Tur, whose right arm was severely injured by a wild birch tree.

Nezhdan takes the orphans under his protection, driving the elder Pervak’s rude son away from Nadezhda. Bratila decides to cure Tur’s hand by exorcising the evil affliction into a wooden boat carved by the sick boy himself. The ritual requires magical mistletoe. Nezhdan knocks down the necessary plant with a well-aimed arrow, undeterred by the eerie forest spirit. The village blacksmith and the orphans are involuntarily drawn to Nezhdan. They sense in the grim warrior a just and unwavering force capable of protecting them from any misfortune.

Elder Las decides to get rid of the recalcitrant strangers and, at the same time, enslave the orphans to the visiting Prince Churila. Early in the morning, an enraged mob of villagers, led by Las, approaches Nezhdan’s house. A powerful local sorcerer arrives with them. The elder attempts to crush the warrior with a sorcerous curse, calling down upon him the terrible wrath of Dazhdbog. Nezhdan overcomes his supernatural terror and remains firm, sword drawn. Deprived of his will, the sorcerer grows decrepit and flees in animal fear.

Prince Churila, arriving at the courtyard, recognizes Nezhdan as a renowned Ladoga warrior and joyfully accepts him under his protection. Nezhdan offers his trusty sword to the leader, taking Bratila, Nadezhda, and Tur with him. Elder Las, overcome with impotent rage, sets fire to the barn where Tur was crafting his craft. Bratila, with a slight smile, allows the fire to destroy the wooden boat. He knows the flames are burning away and carrying away the boy’s illness, which had been transferred to the wood.