About noon two horsemen were seen riding at headlong speed from the direction of Nicæa. They came direct to the castle. They evidently bore exciting news. For the King and his Chief Counselor were observed in excited conference with them, and, shortly afterwards, the King mounted a horse and rode down into the valley, where his cavalry immediately marched away across the plain towards Nicæa, and several horsemen rode away in divers directions. Later the King returned to the castle accompanied by an officer, whose elegantly attired form and easy carriage, as he passed across the castle-yard, seemed familiar to Athura. She sent the maid to call Gustasp, whose duties now consisted in standing guard at the castle-door. The captain soon appeared.
“What means this excitement?” she inquired. “Who is the officer that came up with the King?”
Gustasp shrugged his giant shoulders. “The officer is Prexaspes,” he answered. “He was chief man of the empire under King Cambyses. He is in command of the Medean army which is assembling down there in the valley. I do not know just what news the messengers brought; but it is rumored that they reported a strong force of Persian cavalry moving up towards Nicæa over the hill-roads from Susa. If that be true, a battle may occur if the Medes dare to stand against them. There are but a few veterans here and they may not risk a battle. The Persian cavalry is terrible, especially if led by the Prince.”
Athura started up with joy, exclaiming, “By the Prince, did you say?”
“The Prince of Iran, yes,” he assented. “No one knows, but I will bet my shield that he leads the Persians!”
“Ahura-Mazda grant that it be true! What of you if there be a battle, Gustasp? Ought I to wait till the morrow? Or should I escape this night and trust myself to the mountains?”
“I have requested the honor of personally guarding you so that you may not escape,” he responded. “The King has granted my request. I do not know how to advise. The new men who came in with Captain Galutha are on guard. There is to be an enchantment, a sacrifice, and soma-drinking to-night. Ahura-Mazda grant that no spell be cast on us! Let me advise that you stay in this upper chamber with all your maids. I shall stand here at the foot of the stairs. We may need a barricade. That divan and the benches may do. When darkness comes, I will bring up javelins and spears. I do not know how to get out of the castle with you unseen.”
“What do you fear?”
“Madmen, drunken with soma! You and the maids are the only women in the castle. Even the King himself will be drunken and furious.”
“Bring up the arms, Gustasp! You will find in me no weeping, fainting child. We will fight this battle together!”