“‘Cambyses, the King of Kings, King of the World, to his Brother, Bardya, and to his Sisters, Athura and Artistone, greeting:
“‘Know that I propose to remain here two weeks longer and will then return to Hamadan. It is my will that you make ready to accompany me to that city in order that my court may be graced by your presence and that the people may know that we are of good-will towards you. Later my brother may depart thence to his provinces. Farewell.
“‘Cambyses.’”
“My brother is beginning to rule us very soon!” exclaimed Athura, indignantly.
“He shall not order me!” exclaimed Bardya, fiercely.
“He is King!” warned the Prince of Iran. “Hamadan is many parasangs nearer Bactra than this city. It is also nearer Lydia. I counsel obedience. It will be easier to escape from Hamadan than from Pasargadæ, if escape you must; and a week’s journey will then bring you into your own realm. Besides, it may be, the King is earnestly desirous of showing good-will.”
“Good-will!” rejoined Bardya. “The King speaks of my ‘provinces,’ as if I were a mere satrap! It seems to me that I should be first consulted in such matters. It is in my mind to return to him a message that I choose to remain here for a time and then to return direct to Bactra.”
Bardya strode back and forth across the room wrathfully. He threw the King’s message on the floor and trampled upon it. The Prince of Iran watched him in gloomy silence. Athura went to her brother and placing her hand on his shoulders made him halt and look down into her clear, steady eyes. More than once she had calmed the anger of her impetuous younger brother thus.
“Brother, listen to me!” she said imploringly. “Listen to the Prince of Iran, if not to me! We are older than you, and you have never found us unfaithful to your interests. Cambyses is King of Kings, King of the World, by right of birth and by your father’s last decree. He speaks fairly to you. It is right that we visit him at his court in Hamadan and render him the honor due to him. You are here in his power. You should never have come hither at all. Wisdom dictates that you go to Hamadan, in all brotherly kindness. Then should he show an evil disposition, it will be much easier to escape to Bactra. At all events, brother, be not first to bring on war. Only in a just cause will the Aryans follow you.”
Bardya was impressed. He kissed her forehead. “I will do as you advise,” he replied. “I am crippled by that oath our father exacted of the King of Iran and of our Prince here. Without their aid, it would be wild, foolish, and impossible to begin war. I feel that should I begin the war, even they would oppose me with the armies of Iran. I am no better than a caged tiger.”