“Athens and Sparta prefer death to the Persian rule. They are going to fight the Persian though he be twenty times their number. Do you see nothing fine in that, my child?”
Her wide-open eyes answered him.
“Up till now the Oracle has disheartened them both. It shall not dishearten them again. Athens and Sparta will certainly visit the Oracle once more. If I have to die in giving them the message of the god, that is a small matter. The message shall be given.”
Theria moved toward him in awed, shining acquiescence.
“Father,” she said clearly, “if you have to die that way, I will not cry out any more.”
Nikander framed her white face in his two hands.
“My darling child!” he said in a kind of amazement. “How strangely you understand.”
She felt his hands tremble; then he smiled almost merrily.
“But I do not intend to die, Theria. I intend to win!”
Her trust in him now was too complete for her even to urge her own help upon him.