Legends say that the alicorn - the unicorn's horn - fogs up and changes color in the presence of poison. And if a piece of the horn is dipped in poison, the alicorn will foam and neutralize the poison. Tsar Ivan the Terrible (1530–1584) also wished to purchase an alicorn. The unicorn became the personal emblem of the king, its image appeared on the small state seal. However, Ivan the Terrible's alicorn turned out to be fake. The staff made from the horn of a unicorn not only did not save, but, very likely, itself became the cause of the premature death of the king. A new novel by the famous writer Vitaly Gladky lifts the veil of secrecy over the mysterious and terrible death of one of the darkest rulers of Rus'!