Chapters 5-6, pgs. 319 - 391 Summary

A large force marches on Novgorod and Pskov, who were thought to be joining the Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania. While Boris is away with the campaign, Elena gives birth to a son, Feodor.

When Boris returns, he is not sure if Elena's baby is his. While he wonders what to do, Ivan arrives. Boris watches as the tsar goes to the monastery to talk to the abbot. Ivan feels that they tried to swindle him out of some land. Boris mentions that one of the monks is guilty of heresy. Stephen is executed. When Boris says he doesn't believe that Feodor is his child, Ivan kills the boy.

The Oprichnina ended in 1572.

The year is 1647 in chapter six. Andrei Karpenko rides to his father's farm in Russka. Andrei's dream is to ride with the Cossacks. Russka is now...