In this book, the largest modern Russian writer Sergei Alekseev gives his artistic view of the life of our legendary ancestors - the Sarmatians and Scythians, the owners of the southern steppes from the Urals to the Carpathians. The plot of the novel finds the Sarmatians at that famous historical moment when the Persian king Darius with a huge army crosses the Bosphorus and enters the Scythian lands (6th century BC). Before our eyes are famous episodes in which the Scythians lead the Persians across the steppe, not giving them the opportunity to fight, smash their carts at night, and, having finally lined up for battle, suddenly break into pursuit of a running hare, which completely upsets the psyche of the foreigners. However, in the society of the Sars themselves, something is wrong. The prosperity of the economy led to the degradation of the tribes. They grew fat and lost their former prowess, stopped breeding, and abandoned ancient laws. Just a little more - and the more aggressive neighbors will see their weakness and attack. The young supreme ruler of the Sars, Hurricane, decides to save the spirit and will of the true Sars. He recruits an army of youths to revive Skuf and old customs. He also sends matchmakers to the northern lands of the Rapei tribe - “sun drinkers” - for brides.