Wezirmes, the son of Ghwaze Pizghesch, was one of the Nart elders. He grew up among the Nart heroes. He always outplayed his Nart friends in the games that they played. Since his early years all people held him in high esteem. All the Narts concurred that he would grow up to be a perfect Nart.

  One day, while playing with his friends, he saw the village people going in one direction carrying all sorts of food and drink. One was driving a sheep, another was carrying dried meat, and a third was holding a tub of wine. Wezirmes was most surprised by a poor woman toting a cask of food. Her children were walking behind her begging her for food. "Mummy, we are starving, give us something to eat!" they cried. She paid no heed to the heart-rending pleas of her little ones, and kept walking with the other villagers towards their destination.

  Wezirmes stopped playing and approached the crowd. "Why are you carrying all these things? Where are you taking them?" he asked. They all had one answer. "We are presenting these gifts to Peqwe as offerings."

  Those words broke Wezirmes's heart. He abandoned his games. He walked for a while, silent, crest-fallen and quite pale.

  After returning from a campaign, the Narts used to amuse themselves by indulging in games. At those games the children of the Narts assembled to partake in racing, wrestling, knucklebone, and stone-throwing competitions.

  The Narts at once sensed the absence of Wezirmes from those games, since he had never missed a single meeting. They got worried and wondered if he was ill. They sent someone to ask after him. The messenger came back with the following words:

• There is nothing physically wrong with me. I am just disappointed with the Nart heroes who offer old Billy goat beard, Peqwe, gifts as if he were a god.

• If the Narts do not stop their demeaning offerings, I will part ways with them. I cannot, and will not come to terms with your obsequious behaviour. Old Billy goat beard Peqwe does not deserve to be treated as a god by the indomitable Nart heroes. My heart will find no peace until I rid the Narts of this despot. This is all there is to it.

• If I fail to cut off Peqwe's head, and if I am unable to free the Narts from the tyranny of that cowardly old Billy beard, then I am not worthy of being called a Nart.

• Our mother! I have solemnly vowed to rid the Narts of Peqwe's oppressive yoke. Nobody on earth can make me alter my resolve, not even you, mother. Please tell how to fulfil my pledge. I have no weapon to wield!
• If you have resolved to fulfil your vow, then go to the vault below and bring out your father's white-nosed steed. The saddle is hanging by the iron horse-belts. Take it down. In a black chest, you will find your old man's sure-cutting sword. Attach it to your belt.

  The Nart elders were caught between the sledgehammer and anvil. They dreaded both Peqwe's ire and Wezirmes's unbridled strength. They secretly dispatched a messenger to Peqwe through a secluded road to tell him that Wezirmes was blockading the way of the gift-bearers. They waited for the might of Peqwe to send Wezirmes to kingdom come. But, to their utter astonishment, Peqwe just kept aloof, despite the fact that Wezirmes went on impounding his gifts and turning back the bearers.

• "So Peqwe pretends that he doesn't care. I know how to ruffle his feathers!" said Wezirmes, and went to Peqwe's place. As he was approaching the house, he called out Peqwe in a frightful voice:
• "Hey you, Peqwe, old billy-goat beard! Come out, you cowardly idol, and show yourself.

• "Good day to you, Peqwe!"
• "May you be smitten with misfortune!" retorted Peqwe.

  When Peqwe realized that there was no place for him to hide on Earth, he climbed up to the skies and wove a spider house to live in.

  As Peqwe was a god, and as he created the fields for the Narts, he unleashed his anger on them. He ordered the skies to hold off the rains. He caused the rivers to dry. The earth became arid, the crops died, the trees shed their leaves, the cattle miscarried, and women became infertile. The Narts fell into hard times and they started to blame Wezirmes for the curse that had befallen them.

• "Instead of bliss you have brought us misfortune by incurring the wrath of Peqwe. How do we survive this famine now?"

  Wezirmes told Satanay the whole story.

  The prophetess looked at Wezirmes's steed:

• Your old white-nosed steed is the progeny of the ancient Alhp breed. A brave hero reared it. Heat it well and strike it thrice with your lash. It will carry you like the wind to the eye of heaven. It will get you to your destination.

• "Good day to you, Peqwe!" said Wezirmes, saluting him in a most seemly manner.
• "Go to hell! You had made my life a misery on Earth before you drove me out to this god forsaken hole. Why don't you leave me in peace in my new abode here?" riposted Peqwe tremulously.
• "Don't cast your aspersions upon me, Peqwe. I have come to tell you about the calamity that has befallen the lands of the Narts."
• "Pray tell me, what affliction has smitten the country of the Narts? Surely it can't be that bad," said Peqwe, pretending innocence.
• "It is said that because I had forbidden the Narts to send you gifts, you became so angry that you drove goodness out of the land. Crops do not grow anymore, cattle have ceased to breed, and women have become barren. The land is cursed with famine. The Narts have lain the blame at my door. They say that I am the cause of all this darkness.
• "Yes, you only have yourself to blame. You are the arch villain. You seized the gifts that they had intended for me. Your evilness had been shadowing me on earth. Then you chased me out of the world. And now you have the temerity to follow me to heaven.
• "It is worry that has brought me to you. The Narts have sent me to make amends with you. 'We can't even find water to drink,' they say."
• "It pleases me no end that you find no water to drink. That will teach you not to make enemies with Peqwe," howled Peqwe.

• "Please forgive my one mistake. Do not doom all the Narts for a single slip. There, look down to earth. Can't you see how those hapless Narts are looking up to you in beseechment? Young and old, women and children have climbed up Mount Hereme to beg you to make it rain so that crops might grow anew," said Wezirmes.

• There, look down. The Narts on Mount Hereme have brought you gifts. They are extending them to you. Take them, Peqwe!" Wezirmes stretched his hand towards earth.

  Afterwards, it kept raining for seven weeks, with blood streaming down from the stricken body. The curse of Peqwe was lifted. The crops grew in abundance once more. The trees were full of fruit. The number of cattle multiplied. Women gave birth.

  Ever since this episode, all Narts held Wezirmes in great esteem on account of his bravery. He was admitted to the Nart Council. They toasted that in his adulthood he would be like a real Nart hero.

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