Maxim’s, uneasily. However, Maxim did not seem angered by the words and replied calmly, “Stirring up a rebellious attitude against you, sir? No, that is not true. You have been falsely informed. Rather the whole community resents the fact that you are using their pasturing grounds and forests as if they were your own without troubling yourself to ask their permission to do so.”
“Oh, so I have to ask the permission of your community, do I? I might inform you that the king gave me permission to use these forests and downs. I don’t need to ask for any other.”
“That is exactly what my father has told the citizens, Boyarin. He is trying his best to calm them and advises them to wait for a decision by the folk-court session at which time the matter will be taken under consideration.”
“The folk court!” cried Tuhar Wolf contemptuously. “Am I to be given to understand that I will be tried by this court?”
“I think you will find that it will be to your own advantage, Boyarin. You will have the opportunity then of explaining to the people just what your rights are in the matter, which may serve to quiet them once and for all.”
Tuhar Wolf turned from him in disgust. They were proceeding along the trail where it curved in the center, in order that its descent might thus be rendered less precipitous and perilous. Maxim, walking behind them, could not keep his eyes off Peace-Renown. But his face no longer glowed with happiness as it had a short time before. The more Tuhar’s face clouded with annoyance and resentment, the surer Maxim felt that a deep and impassable abyss was widening between himself and Peace-Renown. But the simple and unworldly mountain youth, knowing little of the heights of boyar ambitions, had hardly guessed how infinitely vast and impassable that barrier actually was.
They had now descended into the valley. At the base of the waterfall flowed a wide, peaceful stream, clear as crystal.
27
