A collection of 18 short stories. Macedonia in the Ottoman Empire - Avzi Pasha's love for a Macedonian beauty Janka. He showers her with gifts which she refuses, however, she cannot refuse a ring he sends her, a family heirloom of great beauty - when she realises what acceptance means, she drowns in Lake Ohrid. "A story of the eyes" - a legend of the Macedonian Emperor Samuilo's blinded army whose eyes the nymphs collected and took to the depths of the lake, hence its beautiful blue colour. "On Bear's Rock" - a story of Krushevo Republic and the Ilinden uprising , "The Master Tradesman" - a poignant tale of guest workers, coming in from villages to make something of themselves in cities, and other stories.