Bohatyr. Knyha 1: Staleve zhezlo

965 rik, molodyy knyaz′ Svyatoslav perebyraye vladu nad Kyyevom i Novhorodom. Ale vin bazhaye pravyty krayinoyu ne z knyazhoho prestolu, a z sidla boyovoho konya. U zhylach Svyatoslava teche haryacha krov varyaz′kych predkiv, vin prahne ob’yednaty blyz′ki y daleki plemena pid zaliznoyu rukoyu i peretvoryty svoye knyazivstvo na naybil′shu derzhavu u tsiy chastyni svitu. U pershomu svoyemu zavoyovnyts′komu pochodi knyaz′ rushaye na schid, do Bulhars′koyi derzhavy nad rikoyu Ityl′... Tym chasom u selyschi Karacharove, na zemli plemeni muromtsiv, zhyve molodyk na im’ya Illya, vidshtovchnutyy vlasnym rodom, slabkyy, chyrlyavyy, napivkalika. Koly odnoho dnya selysche spalyly lyuti napasnyky, lyshe Illya vyzhyv i musyv podbaty pro mertvych. Same todi do selyscha naviduyut′sya troye tayemnychych zhebrakiv. Vony zhlyanulysya nad molodym kalikoyu i znyaly z n′oho proklyattya, yake sprychynylo chvorobu. Vidtak, nache nanovo narodzhenyy, Illya v sidli virnoho Burushka rushaye v dorohu, prahnuchy pomsty, a yoho dolya nevdovzi peretynayet′sya z doleyu Svyatoslava. Obydva vony vtuplyuyut′ zir u zlovisnu Drakonyachu vezhu u bulhars′komu misti Suvari...