Hello all, this section was really exciting to read as a few things drew it's conclusion and we are on to the last arc of the trilogy!

Summary

Chapter 20

Vasya rides through midnight with Morozko supporting her. Their goal is to get back go Moscow and retrieve the golden bridle. Vasya asks for Morozko’s help to bing the Bear and he initially asks her to wait but upon her insistence, says nothing more of it. Once they arrive in summer, Pozhar leaves them stating that she has paid her debt. Summer is harsh on Morozko and he feels blinded. They encounter three monks, Sasha, Sergei and Rodion. Upon seeing Morozko, Sasha turns hostile towards him and starts arguing with Vasya over their relationship till Sergei stops them and says to hear her out. After her story, Vasya tells them that they have to bind the bear with the golden bridle. Though initially reluctant, the monks make plans to steal it with Vasya. Morozko says that he will try to keep his presence in Moscow hidden from the Bear. They meet Pulodnitsa who tries to affect Sergei with heat-sickness but is stopped by Vasya. Sergei then expels him with a prayer against Vasya's cries. As Sergei starts to feel more and more unwell, Morozko calls the winter wind and cools him down, revealing himself to the Bear. Morozko and Vasya argues about saving Moscow once again to no conclusion. Sasha and Morozko talks while Vasya sleeps and Sasha says he is worried about her but accepts Morozko as someone who will protect her.

Chapter 21

They near their destination and Vasya finds her anxiety rising, remembering how it was when she was last there. Morozko comforts her and reminds her that she isn't alone. They reach the gates and the guards tells Sasha to that Dmitrii wishes to see him immediately. They cause chaos with the horses and Vasya escapes with Morozko. However, they immediately meet the Bear and he engages in a fight with Morozko after he reveals Vasya to everyone else with a shout. Vasya races against time to retrieve the bridle, the Bear must be bound before sunset. She reaches Olga's place, where she meets Marya, Varvara and the Chyerti who are now stronger because of Marya's efforts. She meets the bannik who tells her that the house-chyerti will help her in this.

Chapter 22

Back to Sasha at the gate, more guards arrive and a mob forms, throwing vegetables and even a stone at the monks. Sasha tells Rodion and Sergei to head to the Archangel while he goes to see Dmitrii who is with Konstantin. He puts Sasha under lock.

Olga plans the infiltration with Vasya. Vasya will be disguised as her servant as she enters the palace to visit Eudokhia at the terem. They also talk about Marya and Vasya's plan to bring her to the house by the lake. On the way to the palace, Olga brings up Morozko and asks to meet him so she may bless them. They hear Konstantin and Vasya gets anxious again but is comforted by Olga. They were in the terem when Konstantin enters. To distract him, Olga swoons. However, they still spot each other before Vasya runs off. She meets a domovoi and asks him to guide her to the treasure room. She uses magic to open the door and enters the room. Guards appear and begin to search the area. Terror takes over Vasya and she summons a thunderstorm. She then summons Morozko who puts the guards to sleep and starts to calm her down before she goes mad. It was here when she realised how magic can cause one to lose their mind.

Chapter 23

Now we see it from Konstantin’s perspective. Olga’s dvorovoi, makes snide comments at Konstantin, tells him that the Bear always betrays and gives away that Vasya is alive and in the terem. After he saw Vasya as she escapes, he shouts and tries to find her without avail. He sees the Bear in the dooryard, dragging Morzoko, and accuses him of lying to which the Bear responds that it doesn’t matter and that he’ll kill her now. Moments later, Morozko disappears and Konstantin gives up on his search.

A domovoi meets Morozko and Vasya outside the treasure room and informs them that because it’s dark, the Bear would let them in. They leave the place and sees Konstantin holding Olga hostage with a knife to her throat. Vasya asks for Olga to be let go and gives herself up. Konstantin asks the guards to bind Vasya, and in that moment Dmitrii enters the space, unsurprised at Konstantin’s actions. Vasya tells him to get into the palace as she smells rot and senses a pandemonium incoming. He tells Konstantin to let Vaysa face justice in front of the people which causes Konstantin to hesitate. The Bear tells Konstantin that Dmitrii is lying and that Sasha informed him.

The gate rumbles and Morozko calls out a warning for them to be indoors. Vasya distracts Konstantin and Dmitrii gets Olga away before she could be hurt. The dead comes through the gates. They fight and struggle but what eventually brought the upyry down was Sergei’s arrival and prayer. The Bear was brought down by Konstantin’s suicide and Vasya taking advantage of the distraction to bind him. When all is said and done, Dmitrii warns them of another war that is coming.

Chapter 24

Dmitrii tells Vasya and Sasha that the Tatars are spotted advancing. Vasya tells them that the silver has been lost as witnessed before. Dmitrii says that he would call the princes to arms and that Oleg of Ryazan will not come because Ryazan is too close to Sarai. Vasya convinces Dmitrii to let her help out and she says she will find Vladimir Andreevich. She thinks back to Morozko’s words saying that she’s a bridge between men and chyerti and understands that this is her fate. Sasha insists on going with Vasya and they will go together through Midnight. Vasya also tells Varvara that she meets her mother in Midnight. Vasya tells Varvara to let Marya know that they are blood related. Varvara tells Vasya to save Moscow and take Marya to a place where she can be free.

Morozko returns and brings word that the Bear is bound. He also reveals that he has the power to cure wounds while the Bear has the power to bring people back to life. Vasya brings him to meet Olga who expresses her hatred but seeing that it’s what Vasya wants, gives her blessing to them both.

Morozko tells Vasya that he cannot stay and asks Vasya to come with but she refuses. She wants to save Moscow and help Dmitrii. They then part ways.

Chapter 25

In Midnight, they meet the Polunochnitsa who tells them that they did not win and that they encouraged the war between the Bear and Morozko. In anger, she tells them that she is closing the way to the lake.

Chapter 26

Vasya and Sasha encounter the Tatars and gets captured. The Tatar immediately recognises Vasya and cuts her head. They are brought to a tent where Mamai, Chelubey and Oleg are at. Mamai has a large deal at stake too, he has to defeat Dmitrii else he will face a rival faction in the warring Horde. They suspect the two are trying to spy on the Tatars. Sasha and Vasya try to lie about why they’re there, saying that Sasha is bringing Vasya to a convent where they were robbed. No one really believes them, and Chelubey asks to interrogate them in his own tent but Oleg steps in to take Vasya to his.

Chapter 27

Vasya contemplates what Midnight said about her failing and wonders why she would betray them. Oleg tries to get the truth from Vasya and tells her that he can help her if she just reveals it. He also tells her The Prince if Serpukhov is held prisoner there too. Vasya shows Oleg fire on her palms and declares that the Mamai will lose the war because the chyerti is with them to convince him to switch sides. Oleg then makes a deal with her, if she can save the prince and Sasha while making his boyars question their allegiance, he would listen to her and fight alongside Dmitrii.

The next morning, they travel with Vasya walking tied up to Oleg's stirrup. She negotiates with his horse to help her. She also realises that Oleg is actually protecting her. Along the way, Chelubey's horse draws near and Vasya gives a signal which causes Oleg's horse to kick out. Chelubey orders Oleg to bring Vasya to him by nightfall.

As they journey on in the afternoon, the men realises that the horses are slowing down. Oleg suspects Vasya and questions her but she deflects. When they finally stop the march, Oleg says that he will bring her to Chelubey. She asks where Sasha is and he answers that he is in Mamai's ger. They left her on a rock while Oleg settles his men. She then uses her magic to loosen her ties, stir up the horses and escapes on Oleg's horse.