the swishing sound of their sabers.
Then they made me pick up
pomegranate seeds.
At last, the Prince said:
"Get ready, tomorrow morning
you'll go with my friend.
From now on he will be your Prince.
I'm exchanging you
for these two dogs.
Go and bring your mother."
My poor mother begged the Prince
to spare us.
She reminded him how faithfully
our family had served his house,
how diligently we had been picking
the best saffron for the Prince.
The Prince was deaf to her entreaties.
They called up Kondakar.
Kondakar only smiled at the Prince
obligingly and nodded his head.
On the master's order, we were driven
to the field and put in a yoke.
They made us thresh wheat.
There, under the yoke,
my mother died,
broken by humiliation and shame.
I lost my senses grieving.
Even my master, a tyrant that he was,
came to himself after his drunken
stupor,
and in terror began praying to God
to have mercy on him.
That's how I bid farewell
to my mother.
My lord,
I, Nodar Zalikashvili, an orphan
and your loyal servant,
am kneeling before you.
I've brought you two hundred
choice saffron flowers
that my mother had gathered for you.
The Prince's smug laugh
was his last.
In a minute he ceased to laugh
forever.
I gave my last pennies
to a merchant I met.
He helped me to change into
a woman's dress.
Together we set out for foreign lands.
A guard on the border
guessed it all,
however he kept my secret.
I changed my clothes, and my language.
I adopted another faith.
I was moving away from my country.
My hope of regaining it
was evaporating.
Wars and battles became
my lifestyle.
After I shed a warrior's armour,
I became a merchant.
I got wealthy and independent.
But the past haunted me.
I felt homesick.
I couldn't forgive myself
for having renounced my faith.
PATH OF FATE
It's daybreak.
I must have tired you
with my confession.
My caravan is heading for Gulansharo.
Join us,
as long as fate has put you
in our path.
Accept this robe from me.
Bring the horse!
I've chosen this horse for you myself.
Look at this beauty!
A horse worthy of a king!
Remember, his name is
Mertskhala, or Swallow.
You're giving me
a horse and a robe?
Allah is giving them to you.
For luck...
Durmishkhan.
A good deed will never vanish
without leaving a trace.
Never.
Don't forget my name.
It's Osman-aha.
GULANSHARO
WEDDING
AND BLACK INTOXICATION
Why are you laughing, wife?
Osman-aha gave me a cross.
Show it to me.
Thank you, Osman-aha.
Oh God, how happy I am!
I am a grieving mother of your God,
the Holy Virgin.
He laid down His life for His sheep.
Let the world be one,
and love one.
Are you saying it to me,
the Light-Faced one?
He came to you,
your kind Shepherd,
and you didn't recognize Him.
You didn't have mercy on Him.
You stripped Him bare
and divided His clothes by lot.
You didn't spare Him.
My eyes are opened!
You opened them, the Light-Faced one.
Osman-aha!
Whose child is it?
To whom does this Lamb of God belong?
It's my child.
Let him grow!
Who's poured the black intoxicant
in me?
Who's made me drunk?
I gave you black wine.
Now I'll give you milk.
What is it, my dear?
Help me!
Be patient.
God is merciful.
Don't be afraid, I'm with you.
If we have a boy, we'll name him
Zurab, if a girl - Gulisvardi.
What?
No, not Gulisvardi.
Why did you think of that name?
Zurab, Gulisvardi.
PRAYER
Have you ever met Durmishkhan,
a merchant?
He's tall and handsome.
No, we haven't met him.
And you, did you see him?
No, I didn't.
Durmishkhan.
Tall and handsome.
No, I haven't seen him.
Saint Nino,
have mercy on me, help me.
O Archangel, I've come a long way
to pray to you.
Here, I'm making a sacrifice of
a rooster.
I beg you, help me,
relieve me of my anguish.
Saint David, I could hardly make
my way to you.
I've brought you a sheep.
Help me, I'm perishing.
Sacrifice a red rooster!
Sacrifice a red rooster!
Hey, beautiful, buy something.
Let