Vinegar and Ashes: A Fable

A dark and haunting fairy tale of greed, friendship, and redemption.

Two weary soldiers, Max and Walter, are making their way home from the wars, hungry and footsore, when they stumble upon a cottage deep in a wild, overgrown garden. An old woman and her granddaughter take them in, offering warmth, shelter, and a magical gift: a bottle of wine and a cake that will never run out—so long as they share.

As the men journey onward into the mountains, winter closes in, and danger stalks their every step. One soldier’s generosity keeps hope alive; the other’s growing greed turns his blessings bitter. When the wine sours to vinegar and the cake to ashes, Walter learns that magic cannot save a heart corrupted by selfishness. But friendship, courage, and a small act of grace may yet bring them both home.

Perfect for fans of traditional European fairy tales and fables with a moral twist, Vinegar and Ashes blends lyrical storytelling with a chilling cautionary edge.

Step onto the snowy mountain pass—and discover the price of selfishness, and the redemption of a loyal friend.