Kreivi ja karhuntanssittaja

In the shadow of the ancient Sokolnits’ castle a spirited five‑year‑old, Feliks, darts across the courtyard on a vigorous pony, urged on by his exuberant imagination. His father, a stern count, watches with a mix of pride and anxiety, constantly warning the boy against reckless leaps. When Feliks urges the pony to vault a low fence, a sudden, rasping command from beyond the wall freezes the young rider in mid‑air. The startled animal bolts, the boy tumbles, and the count’s frantic cries are swallowed by an eerie silence that seems to come from the very stones of the manor.

Help arrives in the form of Stein, the aging steward, who hauls the unconscious child to a nearby room and applies a mysterious herbal tincture. Miraculously, Feliks awakens, bewildered but unhurt, his laughter already returning to the air. Yet the strange voice that halted his jump lingers in the courtyard, hinting at unseen forces that may soon test the family’s courage and loyalty.