Amazing writing of Russian folklore, with a immense fight between Christianity and the chyerti, the house gods and the old gods.
First book saw Vasilia meet the Frost demon, who rescues her from his brother (The Bear).
Second book sees her dressed as a boy, running on her horse.
To the west a little light lingered, but in the east the clouds mounded up, bruise-colored in the living dusk, bucking with unfallen snow.
Waiting-women, clustered nearby, nodding like blossoms.
Perhaps I am not so wise as you would have me, for all my years in this world I do not know what you should choose. Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet.
Vasya sat, "I am sorry," she said. "I was only curious."
"The more one knows, the sooner one grows old," snapped the domovaya. "Hold still."
They swam together in the lake at Midsummer; he whispered his promises in the autumn twilight.
