As the murderers burst into the tent, Boris’ faithful servant George, a young Hungarian, placed himself between the prince and his attackers in an attempt to save his master’s life. The servant was killed at once, while the Prince, grievously wounded by the thrust of a lance, was bound up in the tent canvas and taken on a cart to Kiev. But he never reached the city. When Svyatopolk learned that his brother was still alive, he sent two Varangians to consummate the bloody deed, which was accomplished when one of them plunged his sword into Boris’ heart.
Svyatopolk’s next victim was Gleb. He sent word to the guileless prince that his father was very ill and was calling for him. Always obedient to his father, Gleb set off at once with a small retinue. Near Smolensk, where his route took him by boat down the river Smyadyn, he was met by emissaries from his brother Yaropolk bearing a letter of warning from their sister Predislava: “Do not come,’ she wrote. “Your father has died and Svyatopolk has killed your brother.”