A.D. 1560 has come to Rus’.
The ruler Ivan, who has not yet received the nickname “the Terrible,” sends Prince Sakulsky to the Crimea—to ransom the captives who fell into the hands of the Tatars, and secretly to discover the routes of an invasion of the Crimea for a future war against the raiders-slave traders who torment Rus’.
This reconnaissance will allow the Tsardom of Rus’ to achieve one of the most crushing victories over its enemies.
But Andrey Zverev has no idea what kind of victory it will be.
It will bring fame to the Russian army, insult to Prince Sakulsky, who will be exiled to Beloozero, freedom to Mikhaylo Vorotynsky, and a stain on the first Russian tsar—the mark of a bloody dictator.