Заспала е бяла Тодорка (White Todorka has fallen asleep)

под бял, под червен трендафил, (2) (under a white, under a red rose, (2))

Под кичеста бяла люляка. (under the richly bloomed white lilac.)

Заспала и засънувала. (She fell asleep and dreamed.)

Хладен ми вятър задуха, (A cold wind blew)

ситна ми роса зарося, (fine dew fell,)

Тодорка от сън се събуди (It woke Todorka from sleep.)

Тодорка вятър кълнеше: (Todorka cursed the wind:)

- Ветре ле, ненадухал се, (Wind, haven't you blow enough,)

дъжде ле, ненавалял се. (rain, haven't you poured enough.)

Тъкмо бях сладко заспала, (I had just fallen asleep)

заспала и засънувала (fallen asleep and dreaming.)

Станало е девет години (It has been nine years)

откак е мама умряла, (since mom has passed)

насън ми не беше дошла. (she hadn't come to me in a dream.)

Сега ми насън придойде (Now she came to me in a dream)

и си ме кротко учеше: (and calmly taught me:)

"Тодорке, чедо разбрано, ("Todorke, my understanding child,)

кога дойде сетна събота (when saturday comes)

не пери бяло пране, (don't wash white laundry,)

не си главата умивай, (don't wash your head)

че ми е мама омръзнало (because mother is tired)

мътна помия да пия (dirty slop to drink)

и дълбоки калове да газя..." (and deep mud to wade...")(folk song; Gabrovo)

She sang to herself with a clear and lively voice, alas, one that but a few would dare to call beautiful. Yet, songs did make work pass faster. The crimson concoction bubbled in the cauldron, and with each stir, she would lick her lips as she breathed in the scent wafting through the air. Her mouth filled with saliva, as she scooped in with the wooden spoon and brought it toward to taste. Unfortunately, the bliss on her face was quickly replaced by regret for being too impatient. Taking a few breaths, she handed the spoon to her friend, asking: "Should we add a little more chubritsa?" "You want to put chubritsa in everything!" Her companion replied before trying. She proclaimed with assurance, thinking for a while to judge the taste better. "A little salt and maybe cumin!" "And let's make it just a bit spicier!" The girl was quick to add, before wiping the sweat off her forehead and beginning a new song.

Троица братя града градеха, (Three brothers were building the city,)

денем я градьот на ясно слънце, (by day I build it in the clear sun,)

ноще са вали на месечина. (at night it falls beneath the moon.)

Троица братя каул сториха: (Three brothers wagered:)

"Чиено любе най-рано дойде" ("Whosever beloved came first)

да ми донесе ранна прогимка (to bring us to dine in early morning)

да го вградиме в белана града...(let us build her into the bella town...") (folk song; unspecified source)

"Kalina, what are these songs, go with something more cheerful instead. Or better yet, put a halt for a bit, otherwise, I fear the hens might get scared and stop laying." Asya - Beloslava's mother - called from the house, her words not meant to be serious in the slightest caused an almost uncontrollable giggle among the two young ones outside. "Oh, but why? Did the memories of your own voice scaring the animals away suddenly come back to you?" Delyana, Asya's sister, had returned from errands she deemed urgent enough to require an early waking, and was quick to join the conversation from the gate. Her tall and slender figure passed the girls by to enter the house and greeted her sister as was the custom. A greeting, that was immediately followed by a purposeful making of her voice worse than it was:

Овдовяла й лисицата (The fox has widowed)

Със дванайсе лисичета, (With twelve foxes,)

Със дванайсе лисичета, (With twelve foxes -)

Шестях мъжки, шестях женски. (Six males, six females.)

Седнала й майка им да ги пощи (Their mother sat down to groom them,)

Хем ги пощи, хем ги плачи: (Groom them and cry:)

- Де ще мама да ви види, (Where will mom be to see you?)

Де ще мама да ви чуе? (Where will mom be to hear you?) Отговаря най-малкото (Answered the youngest) Най-малкото, най хитрото: (The smallest, most cunning:) Ще идем, мамо, в…We will go, mother, to ...(folk song; Tarnovo region)

"Hey, you menace!" The older sister was heard teasing. "But I'm your favourite menace!" Responded the younger on her way out before giving an air kiss. She sat down on the low table, under the grapevine, and scooped from popara made with yoghurt, with her back against the whitewashed wall of a country house, while the sun's rays passed through the leaves and played on her white face. She was yet to change from her formal clothes, a garment worthy of a bolyarka - а white riza embroidered with silver and gold threads, matching that on her dress, so dark blue that if you did not look closely it would seem as black as her hair, a few pieces of which were sticking out from underneath her hat, sewn to match to the rest of her clothes.

"You had affairs to attend in Dolnata zemya, hadn't you? How did it go?" Beloslava asked her aunt softly. Delyana, for her part, smiled and placed her grey eyes on them. "Oh my, I'm more than flattered that you have taken interest in me and my affairs. Though I must admit, I hope it is not for the purpose of gossip, for as you know neither I nor your mother approve of such pursuits." Her voice, as playful as ever, showed she was ready to reprimand them if necessary. "Today, to my great astonishment, I discovered that there are children who show less respect to their parents than you two." The girls were quick to exchange looks, as a single thought crossed their minds - perhaps the time for their punishment had finally come! "I assume this does not give you ground to believe you can go back to performing mischiefs again!" Asya exclaimed as she stepped out of the house. Almost as tall as her sister, her full figure was dressed in a two-apron nosiya, just like Kalina and Beloslava, her beauty was in no way inferior to that of Delyana. "You are still grounded, and all this work won't do itself. What were you thinking when you decided to go that far alone? They are simple commoners, they must be simple in mind too and won't be able to figure out? Or that some maluk bolyarin will not see and recognize you? Or worse - someone from knyaz Zagorchin's family? You know better than I do that he is among your brother's closest associates. He has been a valued ally of Valchan and Albena before and after your brother's ascension to the royal throne. He is not a stupid person, he would immediately send word to his son-in-law - the knyaz of Zhegavitsa, questioning about you. What explanation are we to give your brother if this somehow gets to him? What if something had happened to you?"

"The truth," Kalina mumbled, her head hanging down. "How will we know what the truth is if you wouldn't tell us?" Delyana added. Even if she knew it, she wanted to hear it from the two girls. "Look, we don't mean you unwell, nor do we want to limit you, as hard as it is for you to understand it at this age." Asya patted Beloslava before kissing her forehead, then Kalina, moving her braid off her shoulder, a gesture to which she responded with a small smile. "Come on, let's see how much more we can get done today." But before things could get back to their natural order, Kalina was quick to nugg Beloslava, to direct her gaze towards the gate. Delyana, who had been with her back facing it, ever since she had gotten up was alarmed by their doings. She narrowed his eyes, as she turned, then instantly widened them in surprise. She was about to confine in her sister, but her attention was caught by something else. "Kalina, no!" Kalina had been quick to grab the knife left on the table and without hesitation took a defensive position. Even if the reason for it made it uncalled - an old man in ragged clothing, who was smiling as he watched them. "Blago? Blagovest?" She whispered uncertainly, and her sister nodded in response. That was enough for her to head towards him in frenzy. "Blago! Welcome!" "Well meet!" He replied in return. "Doda, look what a yunak I bring you!" Asya called upon joyfully. "He has travelled far and wide, crossed nine mountains and nine rivers, defeated three zmeys, three lamyas, and three halas. What could it be that has brought him to my humble home? Delyana and the old man were finding it hard to stop laughing, and he had to take a few breaths before he could answer.

"I am nothing more than a simple traveller. Wandering the world is the only trade I know. I ask of you for some food, water and shelter for the night, and in the morning I will be gone, before the third rooster cries." "Blago, I can't believe it! Is it really you?" Delyana drew him closer with excitement. "Yes, I am, if my memory hasn't started to fail me." He replied playfully, his words resulting in a wide smile blossoming on her face. "How many years have passed since the last time we saw each other?" The hug she gave him was one that one keeps only for those closest to him. "Girls, come on. Do not be afraid! Beloslava, can't you recognize Blago?" Beloslava's face instantly lit up, realizing who he was. "But of course! Blago, how I have missed you so!" She let out in one breath, before hugging him on her own turn! "I could not recognize you!" He told her with excitement. "Did you get your wish to run barefoot on the grass" "That and so much more!" Kalina, confused by what was happening, stood aside, but Delyana pulled her towards them swiftly. "You're confused, aren't you? You have never met Blago, and surely know him better by his full name - Blagovest Vurbanov Petrosinov!" Blagovest Petrosinov - her grandfather's first cousin and his most faithful friend. At least by the words of men who knew them. Orphaned at an early age, her great-grandfather had raised him alongside his own children. From a young age, his intelligence shined, allowing him to enter royal service. But not long after, he would renounce his high position and honours to wander around the world. And so, for years not a single word from him. People had begun to wonder if he was among the living anymore. Until he appeared unexpected to send his cousin off on his final journey, only to vanish once again without saying a single word.

With her head held high, though still wary, she approached to greet him, but as she leaned in to take his hand and kiss it as a sign of respect, a single name took them all by surprise. "Huba..."