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 been plundered and our children have not been taken away to enemy camps.”

“That might have been true until now, but it will no longer be so in the future.”

“What it is going to be like from now on we do not know, nor do you either, Boyarin. But tell us one more thing, is your king a just man?”

“The whole world knows and sees his justice.”

“Is that why he sent you here to instate his justice among the people in our Tukholian mountain region?”

The boyar was visibly confused by this direct question, but after only a moment’s hesitation, he answered, “Yes.”

“What do you think, Boyarin, can a just man wrong his subjects?”

The boyar remained silent.

“Can he with dishonest acts instill justice into their hearts and by wronging them win their respect and love for him?”

The boyar continued his silence, toying with the blade of his battle-axe.

“You see, Boyarin,” finished Zakhar, “your lips are silent, but your conscience tells you that this cannot be true. However, your just king has done that to us, whom he has never seen and does not know, about whose welfare and fortune he does not trouble himself and who have never done anything to harm him, but on the contrary, every year give him a bountiful gift in the form of taxes. How could he be so unjust towards us, Boyarin?”

Tuhar Wolf glared at Zakhar furiously and replied, “You’re talking nonsense old man! The king cannot be unjust to anyone!”

“Oh, but he has wronged us by that very grant of which you boast so much! Let me put it this way: Would I not be wronging you if, without asking your permission, I took that glistening steel armor away from you and gave it to my son?