Page:Zakhar Berkut(1944).djvu/122

 The guards continued their silence and stood ready for battle. Maxim was puzzled as to why they made no reply but without waiting any further, he commanded his company to release their arrows at the guards. The arrows buzzed like a disturbed nest of bumble bees and stuck in the house over the mercenaries’ heads. At that instant the guards, as if at a prearranged signal, threw down their weapons and with outstretched arms rushed toward the Tukholian youths.

“Comrades, brothers!” cried they. “Don’t be offended by our silence. We promised the boyar that we would meet your approach with armed resistance, but we did not promise to spill our blood and die for his injustice. We were present at your municipal session and we know that the boyar has wronged the community and that the decision of your people’s court is only just. Perform the tasks you were assigned to do and if your fathers are willing we will beg them through you to allow us to stay in your community for we do not care to serve the Boyarin any longer.”

The joy of the Tukholians and especially of Maxim was immeasurable. They all threw down their weapons and piled them up before the boyar’s house, happily relieved, shouting and laughing, embracing their new and unexpected allies with whom only a moment before they had expected to engage in bloody combat. Maxim was the happiest among them all because his fears had not materialized and he was forced to fight neither Peace-Renown’s father before her eyes nor did he have to drive away into unknown trails the one with whom he would never wish to part. His joy at this simple effecting of an unpleasant duty for a moment wiped out all other uncertainties.

Accompanied by the boyar’s happy guards, the Tukholians entered the house examining its interior curiously but without disturbing anything. Maxim approached Peace-Renown’s room with tremulous anticipation expecting to find her either in tears or furious, desiring to cheer and soothe her with words of