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 proudly. “For my services and heroism, the king has rewarded me with the lands and forests of this Tukholian region.”

“But these lands and forests belong to our community!” replied the Tukholians.

“That does not concern me in the least,” answered the boyar. “You will have to take your claims to the king! I have my grant from the king and that is all I need to consider.”

The people of Tukhlia just shook their heads at the words of the boyar and said nothing. In the meantime the boyar never once neglected to continue his boasting of the king’s gracious kindness and good-will towards him, although at first he neither pressed himself upon the people nor mixed in their community’s affairs.

At the outset the people, especially the younger generation, whether from curiosity or because of their natural hospitality, often visited the boyar and performed various services for him then just as suddenly ceased going there, completely neglecting him. This at first perplexed and then exasperated the boyar who began to retaliate by annoying the Tukholian residents in various ways.

His house stood on a hillock just above the Tukholian trail and he, following the examples of other boyars, erected a gateway upon it, demanding a toll of those who wished to pass through it. But the Tukholian people were not so easily imposed upon. They understood at once that a decisive struggle had now begun for them and they determined, upon Zakhar Berkut’s advice, to stand resolutely on their rights without yielding an inch of their ground.

Within a week after the toll gate had been put up, the people of Tukhlia sent their elected delegation to Tuhar Wolf. These delegates put their business before him in the form of two brief but pointed questions: “What are you up to, Boyarin?” and “Why are you closing off the highway?”