"Oh, what should I do?"
On the streets of Kiev, a Nomad wearing a felt hat with a brim and a fur coat complained.
Although this person was dressed like an ordinary herdsman, the jewel-encrusted hilt of the knife at his waist undoubtedly indicated his extraordinary status.
The guards around him further emphasized this point; although these men wore patched-up armor, the aura of battle-hardened elites emanating from them could not be faked.
Even though he was clearly a steppe nobleman, it didn't prevent the Rurik Prince's personal guards from driving him and his retinue away from the mansion, just like beggars.
Passing citizens watched these Nomads warily, consciously keeping their distance from them.
Everyone still remembered what these Nomads had done during the period of lawlessness in Kiev; many people's family members had died at their hands, and hostile gazes were cast their way one after another.
In fact, these herdsmen had not participated in the plundering during that time; their current predicament could be entirely attributed to being caught in the crossfire.
And these herdsmen didn't care much about these gazes; they had grown accustomed to them along the way and had learned to ignore them, especially since dwelling on them would bring no benefit.
The complaining herdsman was named Varu, a Tolk chieftain from outside Kiev. In the great war against the Polovtsy, he did not flee like others, but instead organized his clansmen to stand firmly with the Rus' people, joining Sviatoslav's raid, which allowed him to ultimately enjoy the fruits of victory.
But even so, he could not escape the impact of the Black Hat Army's desertion from the battlefield and the plundering of Kiev.
If Yaroslav were still alive, he would certainly not have to worry so much. That Grand Prince was wise and knew what was best for everyone, but now Yaroslav's physical condition was no longer a secret.
As a Tolk chieftain who had dealt with the Rus' people for decades, Varu knew Yaroslav's sons very well, and it was this understanding that made him as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.
After Yaroslav's death, once his sons had settled his affairs and secured their own positions, they would certainly continue what their father had ultimately wanted to do: launching a purge of the Nomad tribes on the Rus' border. This was also something they had to do to establish their authority.
If the Grand Prince led the punitive expedition, Varu's tribe would undoubtedly make a fortune in this great purge; the Grand Prince would certainly conscript his tribe to join the expedition.
But if his sons took the initiative, it could only mean killing him along with his tribe.
Yaroslav's three sons had no particular feelings for the Nomad tribes; their dislike for them outweighed their appreciation for their value. If a purge were launched, crushing a small tribe would be a mere convenience, as a large army could simply march in.
Many innocent small tribes shared Varu's thoughts, so Varu gathered these tribes around him, hoping to find a master who could shelter them.
These small tribes had basically been on the Rus' border for decades, and in these decades, they had become highly Rus'-ized. This could be seen from the names of the second and third generations, with more and more names having both steppe and Rus' characteristics.
Many people had even converted to the Rus' Christian faith, and some had directly started farming and establishing villages.
In fact, on the border between Rus' and the steppe, there were even tribes that had built cities and lived settled lives like the Rus' people. The city of Voiny was a prime example, but those steppe compatriots were very confident in their city's defenses and were not at all worried about a possible Rus' punitive expedition.
As for fleeing into the steppe, that was not even considered. The chaotic fighting on the steppe had begun again, and so many small tribes and refugees were scrambling to flee to Rus'; going back in would be tantamount to suicide.
Moreover, the tribes on the steppe were very hostile towards these Rus'-ized tribes; going to the steppe would immediately mean facing encirclement from all sides.
However, their efforts to seek refuge met with obstacles everywhere. No one wanted to be associated with them, as the Nomad raids and Yaroslav's great imprisonment had only recently passed. As for those Rurik Princes, they wouldn't even grant them an audience.
Varu's complaint was precisely because of this, and now he realized that there was only one person he could choose.
Rostislav Vladimirovich.
This Prince Rostislav was their best choice from the beginning; he was kind to people and very willing to interact with Nomad tribes. Varu had also met him once, and he had distinguished himself in battle, being a favorite of the Grand Prince.
But this person ultimately had one problem: he would certainly be sent down to some wilderness in Rus' to be a Prince, and most likely deep within Rus' territory.
If they were to pledge allegiance to him, their entire tribe would have to follow this Prince Rostislav deep into the Rus' land, full of river bends and forests, and bid farewell to the beautiful steppe forever.
For these Nomads, although they were already Rus'-ized, they still heavily relied on the steppe. This was a common situation among the first generation currently in power, and the economic backbone of the tribe was ultimately animal husbandry. How could they graze without pastures?
It was because of these concerns that Varu put Rostislav Vladimirovich last, as a final safeguard.
And now, everything was clear; they had no other choice. Varu could only go to that Prince Rostislav now; he was their last hope. Leaving the steppe meant leaving the steppe, but it was still better than losing their lives.
"Let's go, we'll go to that Rostislav Vladimirovich. We can only choose him now."
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Varu and his party rode their horses to Rostislav Vladimirovich's Red Mansion. Compared to the residences of other Princes and nobles, the servants here treated them noticeably more gently. As they approached, they even proactively came forward to inquire about their purpose, and upon learning that they wished to see His Highness the Prince, they even invited them to dismount and led their horses aside to graze on fodder.
This brought a warmth to Varu's heart. He had met so many Rus' Princes, and not one of them had treated him this way. Those servants were all arrogant and even openly demanded bribes from them.
Led by a servant, Varu walked through the courtyard. The chieftain noticed that there were many people in Rostislav Vladimirovich's Red Mansion: nobles, merchants, and even mercenaries, all waiting or conversing.
Varu initially thought he would have to join their ranks, but the servant simply led him to Rostislav Vladimirovich's door. After a brief announcement, the servant gestured for Varu to enter.
Thus, Varu met Alexander of Kiev, the hero whose martial renown had spread throughout Rus' territory with the returning soldiers, the youngest brave general of Rus'—Rostislav Vladimirovich.
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