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 that newer, more attractive, younger companion is probably right now along with his fellow Tukholians demolishing our house, our last and only stronghold in the world!”

Peace-Renown could not endure her father’s bitter reproaches any longer and hot tears of injustice sprang to her eyes. “Rather, it is you who no longer love me!” she sobbed. “I do not know why you should suddenly turn so bitterly against me? I’m sure I have given you no cause for it! You have taught me yourself to live honestly and to tell the truth always. Has telling the truth all at once become so offensive to you?”

The boyar was silent, his head lowered sullenly. They were nearing the crest of the mountain, climbing along the narrow trail furrowed between giant beeches which completely obliterated their view of the sky. The horses, given their reins, themselves sought the path in the pitch darkness, their hoofs clattering hollowly, along the sloping rocky trail.

“Since we’ve been banished from Tukhlia where are we going now?” asked Peace-Renown suddenly wiping away her tears with the back of a sleeve and gazing towards the summit of the steep incline.

“Into the world wherever our eyes lead us,” replied the father.

“But you said we were going visiting at another boyar’s?”

“That’s right. The truth happened to be inconvenient so I lied to you.”

“Where are we going now then?”

“Wherever you want. It’s immaterial to me. Do you think we should go back to Halich to the king who growing weary of me was so glad to rid himself of us? A foxy individual that one, getting everything he can out of a man, sucking out all his life’s strength and then discarding him like the pit of a cherry after all its juice is sucked out. That’s just what he did with me. And how glad he was when I asked him for