He touched the child with his jeweled scepter and all present bowed low before the babe and showed him the respect and devotion due to a prince.
Hormuz, however, was too cruel to be quite satisfied. He feared to harm the boy, but he wanted some proof that Bostanai was really a descendant of King David. The child grew up into a handsome, clever youth, and Hormuz, partly out of fear, but partly because he had really grown to love the boy, kept him constantly by his side.
One day, while sitting in the bower in the garden, he watched the boy among the roses. The day was hot and a drowsiness came over the king. He had not slept in that bower since the night of his fateful dream, and he was not happy about doing so now. But he did not lack courage, and he called the boy to him.
"Bostanai," he said, "stand guard by the door, and move not while I sleep."
Hormuz slept soundly and peacefully for some time, and when he awoke he saw the lad standing motionless where he had placed himself.
"Bostanai," he called, and when the boy turned, he was startled to see blood trickling from a wound on his face.
"What is that?" he asked, anxiously.
"The sting of a wasp," Bostanai replied.
For answer, the boy only smiled.