Artyom Panov leads a detachment of guardsmen performing special tasks for the army of Prince Mstislavsky. Having received news of the arrest of his friend and patron Fyodor Basmanov, he wants to take refuge in the taiga for a couple of months until the anger of the sovereigns subsides. The suspicious behavior of the Lapps inhabiting the surrounding forests serves as a completely convincing pretext for him. However, an unexpected turn of events forces him to regret his decision...