In a time now faded into legend, there was a king who ruled over a forgotten tribe in a faraway land. His power was absolute, his word law, and his sense of justice ruthless. Among his most dreaded tools were his ten wild dogs—creatures trained from birth to respond only to his command and to show no mercy.
The Faithful Servant's Mistake
One day, after many years of stable rule, the king's most trusted servant made a grievous error. It was not a crime of malice, but a simple mistake—one that caused the king great frustration. Without hesitation, the king ordered him to be thrown to the dogs, as he had to many before who'd failed him.
But this servant, whose loyalty had never once wavered in ten long years of devoted service, calmly approached the throne. "Your Majesty," he pleaded, "I have given you a decade of faithful service. I ask only one favor before my punishment—grant me ten days to prepare."
Ten Days of Kindness
Curious, the king granted this wish. In those ten days, the servant went to the keeper of the dogs and made a simple request: let me care for the animals, feed them, and tend to their needs myself. The dogs, accustomed to cruelty and neglect, met his gentle hands with suspicion at first.
But day by day, he fed them, he bathed them, cleaned their cages, and spoke kindly to them. The wildness in their eyes softened as they began to understand trust and kindness. In the presence of regular attention and compassion, they transformed from savage beasts into affectionate creatures, loyal to the one who had shown them genuine care.
The Moment of Truth
The ten days quickly passed, and the fateful moment arrived. The king and his court gathered to witness the gruesome punishment. As the servant was cast into the pit, all held their breath—certain of his doom.
To everyone's astonishment, the dogs did not attack. Instead, they circled the servant, tails wagging, licking his feet, nuzzling him as if in gratitude for his kindness. The harsh law of the king had failed against the natural law of loyalty and kindness.
The stunned king leapt from his throne. "What has happened to my dogs?" he demanded.
The servant, standing unharmed among the animals, looked up and replied, "I cared for them for ten days, and they remembered. Yet I served you for ten years, and at the first mistake, you forgot."
A King's Awakening
The realization struck the king like a thunderbolt. Silenced and humbled, he understood the true meaning of loyalty—not something to be commanded through fear, but something to be earned through the acts of kindness and compassion.
In a rare act of mercy, the king freed his servant and from that day forward, he ruled with greater wisdom, never again forgetting the value of those who served him faithfully.
The True Nature of Loyalty
This fable serves as a powerful reminder: loyalty is not built through fear or force, but through consistent acts of kindness, trust, and gratitude. When we invest in those around us with genuine care, their loyalty endures—even in the darkest moments.
How quick we can be to judge others harshly over one mistake, forgetting years of dedication and service. As the king learned, true loyalty is a reflection of how we treat others over time, not a loyalty gained and discarded at a whim. Perhaps the next time someone disappoints us, we should remember the lesson of the king's dogs—and choose empathy over judgment.