Dmitrii greets Kasyan, whose men kill the wounded bandits. Vasya tends Sasha’s wounded arm and glimpses Morozko in his death-god aspect, come for the fallen. She silently thanks him before he vanishes, believing that he sent the wind that turned the bandits’ arrows during the ambush. Kasyan reveals that he met Vasya a week earlier. 

They capture a wounded straggler who reveals the camp’s location, and Dmitrii orders an immediate pursuit. When Dmitrii offers Vasya the chance to execute the prisoner, she refuses. Kasyan makes an excuse for her, and Dmitrii kills the man himself. At the empty bandit camp, Vasya notes that the captain is missing. When she asks about the other stolen children, Dmitrii dismisses her concern. Kasyan warns her against antagonizing princes and offers a cynical view of peasant girls’ worth. They burn the camp and return to the Lavra, where villagers cheer.

Sasha finds his mentor Sergei preparing the bodies of their fallen men and confesses Vasya’s true identity. Sergei agrees to help maintain the secret. Sasha takes Vasya to his cell. She breaks down crying and tells him that their father died saving her from a bear. She omits the supernatural elements of the event and the fact that their stepmother also died in the incident. 

When Sasha asks if she is a witch, she says she does not know. He promises to take her to Olga in Moscow. That night, Morozko appears in Vasya’s dream. She confronts him about his intermittent interference. He promises never to interfere again and vanishes.

The next morning, the villagers prepare to leave the monastery. Vasya promises to escort the rescued girls home. At breakfast, Kasyan tells Vasya that the peasants have nicknamed her Vasilii the Brave. When Vasya informs Dmitrii of her promise, he teases her but agrees to the detour.

That evening, Sasha visits Sergei and tells him of his father’s death. Sasha plans to take Vasya to Olga, where Vasilii Petrovich can disappear. Sergei doubts Vasya will accept confinement after her recent adventures. They discuss their mutual suspicion of Kasyan Lutovich, whom neither of them has heard of before. Sergei promises to make inquiries about Kasyan and the missing bandit-captain.

Over three days, the party travels toward the girls’ village. At a campfire, the oldest girl weeps because soldiers joked that Vasilii expects sexual favors. Vasya reassures her, revealing that she is Vasilisa Petrovna and swears the girl to secrecy. 

They arrive at the rebuilding village, and the girls are joyfully reunited with their families. They tell the crowd that Vasilii the Brave saved them. Vasya glimpses the domovoi, who appears to salute her.

The party rides hard toward Moscow for a week. On the last night, they camp by the Moskva River. Kasyan tells Vasya about a lost love who disappeared before he could take her to his home, Bashnya Kostei (translated as tower of bones). His expression shifts from nostalgia to baffled rage.

The next morning, they enter Moscow. Vasya is awed by the stone walls. Citizens cheer for Dmitrii and Sasha, calling him Aleksandr Peresvet, or Lightbringer. Kasyan spreads Vasya’s nickname, Vasilii the Brave. Solovey becomes agitated by crowds. At Dmitrii’s palace, the horse rears dangerously. 

Dmitrii orders Vasya to bathe in his palace. Fearing exposure, she claims an urgent desire to see Olga. Dmitrii reluctantly agrees but commands them to attend a feast later. Sasha scolds Vasya for her recklessness as they ride to the Prince of Serpukhov’s palace. A steward leads them to a paddock for Solovey. Vasya settles the horse there, feeling uneasy about leaving him fenced in.

Olga oversees preparations for the Maslenitsa festival, which welcomes spring. Darinka tells of Father Konstantin’s warnings about witches. Olga’s daughter, Marya, announces Sasha’s arrival with a boy. In her private chamber, Olga is stunned when Vasya removes her hood. The sisters have an emotional reunion. Vasya notices Olga is pregnant and tells her that their father is dead. Olga’s mood cools as she reveals Father Konstantin is in Moscow and has already blamed Vasya.

Later, in Olga’s chapel, Sasha explains that Dmitrii believes Vasya is their brother Vasilii. Olga is appalled, but Sasha explains that Dmitrii has taken a liking to Vasilii and promised him honors, so the boy cannot disappear without causing a political incident. They agree that Vasya must maintain the disguise through the Maslenitsa festival, after which Olga will seclude her in the terem and arrange a marriage.

Sasha visits the monastery of the Archangel. The hegumen (head of the monastery), Father Andrei, confirms that Konstantin has been spreading stories of Vasya’s witchcraft. Sasha confronts Konstantin, who recounts his version of events. Sasha perceives the priest’s hatred for Vasya and realizes that he is lying. When tested about a bay stallion, Konstantin’s denial suggests that he is mixing lies with truth.

Varvara bathes Vasya, and Olga gives her a fine kaftan. After Vasya leaves, Olga orders Varvara to secretly inform their brothers at Lesnaya Zemlya that Vasya is alive.

Sasha and Vasya walk to Dmitrii’s palace. Kasyan greets them in the great hall. Dmitrii takes them to a private room and announces that his wife is pregnant. He then reveals that an ambassador from the Tatar warlord General Mamai has arrived, demanding immediate tribute and threatening invasion. They discuss the political dilemma. Vasya promises to serve Dmitrii.

Dmitrii, Kasyan, Sasha, and Vasya walk to the emissary’s palace. In the audience hall, Vasya recognizes the ambassador, Chelubey, as the bandit-captain. He meets her gaze with half-laughing hatred.

Afterward, at Solovey’s paddock, Vasya tells Sasha the ambassador is the bandit-captain. Sasha dismisses her claim. He angrily confronts her about her web of lies regarding her horse, her stepmother’s death, and her flight from home, demanding the full truth. Unable to explain the supernatural aspects, Vasya remains silent. Disgusted, Sasha says he will keep her secret but will no longer trust her. He coldly orders her back to the palace.