But terrible trouble came now upon Michael. Konchaka died in his palace, and the report was spread that she had been poisoned. The coffin containing the body of the ill-fated woman was taken from Tver to Rostoff and given to Yuri’s relatives. Michael was weighed down with woe. Fate seemed to pursue him in this struggle with Yuri.
On learning that Michael was preparing to visit Sarai, Kavgady insisted that Yuri should hasten and anticipate the Tver prince, and in clear proof of the importance of doing so hurried off himself. When going, he advised Yuri to collect as many men as possible of those who had had dealings with Michael in the matter of tribute, so that they could be called to give testimony against the Tver prince.
Michael understood well what serious work was before him, for it was known at the Horde that Kavgady always misrepresented him to the Khan, and reports of this had come to Michael. At last, toward the end of the summer, he realized that he must loiter no longer. At Vladimir he met Akhmyl, an envoy, from whom he hoped to learn something of what was taking place in Sarai. Akhmyl counseled haste; he gave no precise information, only whispering Kavgady’s calumnies, “Be there before a month has passed,” said he. “Kavgady has stated that thou art not coming.” Michael’s boyars advised him not to go; his sons said, “Send us.” The prince hesitated. “One of thy sons is there now,” said the boyars; “send another.” “Listen to us,” begged the sons. “Go not, thou art calumniated. Send us. Go when the Khan’s rage has softened.” [[304]]
Michael sat long in thought. At last he said, “The Khan has not asked for you. It is my head that he wants. If I do not go, my inheritance will be seized, and many Christians will perish. I must die sometime; better die now, and save others.” He explained how he wished his inheritance to be divided; gave advice to his sons; wrote his will and took farewell of them. During the whole journey to the Horde he was gloomy and depressed. He was ready to pour out his soul before Uzbek, trusting in his justice. He did not doubt that the Khan would be gracious if he only knew the facts in the quarrel. But would the Khan know the facts?
When Michael reached Sarai he found that Uzbek had gone, and he had to journey a thousand versts farther, to find him near the mouth of the Don at the Sea of Azoff. Constantine, Michael’s son, who had been in Sarai, could give his father no information except that one of the Khan’s wives was kind; he had visited her and she liked him. From his boyars, who were with Constantine at the Horde, he heard that the Khan had spoken no evil against him. At the Horde all received his presents graciously, but he could learn nothing decisive.
At last the day came when he was to bow to the earth before Uzbek. He could see no displeasure in the Khan’s visage; he seemed as friendly as when he had given the patent; he was neither kind nor unkind. In the Horde it was the same—neither kind nor unkind. There was no recognition between him and Kavgady or Yuri. The whole Horde was with them, as it seemed to Michael. Everything confirmed the statement of his friends that Kavgady was calumniating him always. It was said also that the intimates of the Khan had mentioned repeatedly the necessity of judging the Tver prince. When the Khan promised and afterward forgot, they reminded him that the case was important and should not be deferred; that a state is made strong through showing favor to good men, and punishing the wicked.
Michael lived six weeks in anxiety without trial. Then he was suddenly summoned to receive judgment. The Khan, who was as much occupied by amusement as by affairs, was preparing for a grand hunt in the Caucasus and beyond those mountains. Pleasure, it appeared, coincided with policy. Some said that he was taking the forces of the Horde to a great hunt and was then going to a war on the Persian boundary. At all events, before setting out, [[305]]he wished to settle certain questions which annoyed him, and suddenly he said to his magnates, “Judge Yuri and the Grand Prince; then bring your decision. Whoever is right, him will I reward; the guilty I will punish.” This was all Kavgady needed.
Next day they summoned Michael. Many complaints were preferred against him: he had withheld the Khan’s tribute; he had sent his wealth to Livonia; he had begged aid of the Pope; he had borrowed money from tax collectors and princes, and had not returned it; he had been a robber; he had been unjust to subject princes,—this must have referred to Novgorod. Then came the two great offenses: he had poisoned Konchaka, and had warred against the Khan’s envoys.
The princes of the Horde sat in judgment; a great accumulation of complaints lay before them. Kavgady and Yuri were among the judges; they were witnesses as well. When Michael presented strict accounts of the tribute and lists of all taken from each person they cried out: “Thou art haughty and disobedient; thou hast insulted the Khan’s envoy, Kavgady, and fought with him; kept back the Khan’s tribute, and poisoned Yuri’s princess; thou hast beaten the Khan’s magnates.” “I have obeyed the Khan,” answered Michael, “and I obey him now. I have given accurate tribute. The Khan’s envoy attacked me with warriors; I was forced to defend myself. After that I honored him and gave him good presents; I took farewell of him with gifts, and with homage. I did not kill Yuri’s princess; her death came from nature.”
When the trial was ended it was repeated to the Khan. Uzbek was waiting. “Prince Michael,” said the judges, “is worthy of death, but thy word is free. All will be done according to thy pleasure.” And they explained the main offenses. The Khan commanded to give a new trial and test the truth carefully a second time. The judges were confused and retired with submission. But going later on to the Khan, by the advice of Kavgady, who was assisting them, they said: “Michael is worthy of death. If thou command to revise the late trial he should stand before us in fetters. We would not see thee offended; thy glory and honor touch us, O Khan, and concern all the people.” Kavgady now added: “The case between Yuri and Michael is known to me perfectly; I know the whole truth of it.” “Do as ye like,” replied [[306]]Uzbek, after thinking a little. “But judge the case justly, and come to me afterward.”