“It is well. From what you saw and heard, know you anything concerning the marriage of the King to his sisters?”
“It was all the talk in the rest-houses and in the streets of Hamadan when I came to that city. I was not permitted to see the royal Princesses, as the marriage feast had occurred but two weeks prior to my arrival. But I caught a glimpse of the royal lady, Artistone, at a window in the palace. I thought it was she. It was said that the King has ten other wives and keeps them in one part of his palace separate from all others, like the Assyrians. There had been much murmuring among the Persians and some rioting between them and the Magi. I saw the noble Otanes, who was very wroth and who has since left the city, going southward to his castle in Persia. He bade me say to you that you should make quick answer and that he hopes to hear that your army will march at once to Damascus.”
“Did you hear whether the Princesses consented?”
“They both refused to consent to the marriage; but the King decreed the marriage instead of observing the Persian custom of marrying. It was reported that he gave them their choice of marriage or death, and that Princess Athura chose death. It was also reported that one of the Princesses had escaped from the palace and had disappeared. I know that squads of cavalry were searching the country all around the city. It was said to be Athura who fled. I have also a verbal message from Prexaspes, who bade me say to you these words, ‘The bird has escaped the fowler’s net.’”
“What else said he?” demanded the Prince, greatly agitated.
“Nothing. But he gave me a purse of gold.”
“Have you heard whether Athura was found?”
“No. The palace servants are quaking with terror and dare not talk. It is said that the King slew three of them with his own hands on the day when the Princess fled. She had not been discovered, I think, when I left.”
“What heard you of the Prince Bardya?”
“Nothing, except that he had departed from the city some months before I arrived, going towards Rhages. At Rhages, it was said that the Prince had passed through and had then been set upon by robbers and taken into the mountains. It is a great mystery. Some say that he is dead, slain by the Magi, or that the Magi have him imprisoned in their mountain strongholds.”