“Hail, Prince of Iran!”
Involuntarily he grasped the hilt of a dagger in his belt and gazed doubtfully a moment upon the speaker. Then with a glad cry, he hastened forward and bending low, exclaimed: “Hail, Belteshazzer, prophet of God! I did not expect to meet you here! I rejoice exceedingly! I pray your blessing!”
“May the Lord of all the earth bless you, my son!” said Belteshazzer, solemnly, laying his hand upon the Prince’s bowed head. “It is a great pleasure to behold you again after so many months. Tell me how you come here. Is that your army yonder? I have been away several days in the mountains whither I go to study, and I am now returning to the city.”
The Prince stood before the prophet reverently, as one stands before a loved teacher.
“My guard is encamped yonder,” he answered, indicating his camp. “We march upon the Great King’s business to the lands beyond the Euphrates, where, it is said, I shall find the people in rebellion. The King has seen fit to honor me with the government of the western provinces.”
Belteshazzer smiled. Knowing well the political affairs of the empire from his long experience as adviser to the late King and as governor of several provinces, also knowing Cambyses and his dislike for the Prince, he perceived the pretext which the King had used to send the Prince far away from Iran.
“I had not heard of any serious disturbances in those provinces,” he said. “It is true that some wild, turbulent bands infest the outlying mountains on the northeast; but the provinces have been happy under the rule of Cyrus and have not suffered at the hands of Cambyses. Perhaps the Great King deems it wise to scatter the veterans of Cyrus to distant provinces!”
“That may be,” assented the Prince. “But you, Teacher, why here? The governor of Medea should not be in Elam.”
“I am no longer governor of Medea. The Great King has deprived me of that office. I am no longer an adviser to the King. I am going to Babylon to resume my duties in the college of wise men, to spend my time in the study of ancient records and to observe the changing heavens, until such time as the God of heaven and earth shall order otherwise.”
“Come with me!” exclaimed the Prince, impulsively. “I shall profit by your knowledge and experience. You shall have the chief place in my satrapy.”