Young Vsevolod returns to Starodubskoye after studying abroad, only to face an arranged marriage to Zlatoslava, sparking conflict with his father, Ratibor. Shortly after the wedding, a royal command sends them east to retrieve stolen tribute. The journey grows perilous as curses, mystical creatures, and strife emerge. Meanwhile, in Tsargrad, Velimira and Zlatoslava uncover a conspiracy threatening the kingdom, entwining their fates with dark forces.

SYNOPSIS:

Young Vsevolod returns to his native village of Starodubskoye after years of studying abroad. His father, Ratibor, the village elder, intends to marry him immediately to the daughter of his friend Svetozar, which creates tension between them. Soon after Vsevolod’s wedding to Zlatoslava, the village is shaken by an urgent royal command: to retrieve stolen tribute from the border village of Stary Yar. Ratibor, Vsevolod, Svetozar, and their team set out eastward, where they encounter numerous challenges and tensions. They soon realize that the mission may be a trap and that the threats lurking in the forest are far from human. In these untamed lands, mystical beings reside, and the forest itself seems alive. As they delve deeper into the wilderness, they face mysterious disappearances, ancient curses, and internal conflicts. Suddenly, Vsevolod finds himself on the brink of betrayal when a mutiny in the group puts him at the heart of a deadly clash. Confronting his fears and misconceptions, Vsevolod must learn to be a true warrior and leader, while his father, Ratibor, fights for the survival of their family and the restoration of their honor. Meanwhile, in the capital of Tsargrad, Vsevolod's mother, Velimira, and his new wife, Zlatoslava, seek help from the young Tsar Vyacheslav, only to uncover a conspiracy at the royal court. Someone is attempting to destabilize the kingdom through dark forces and treachery.

THE TALE OF RATIBOR