The voice recalled the days when she sat at the feet of the great teacher and listened to his wisdom.
“It must indeed be Belteshazzer!” she exclaimed, with a sigh of relief. “None else could know me! Now Ahura-Mazda be praised! How come you here?”
A tall form emerged from the darker shadows and drew near. “I came up from Susa in obedience to the command of a spirit,” he said. “I knew not why I was urged to come until I reached the shadow of this great rock. Then I knew that I was sent to meet you here. In the spirit I saw you coming. Do you remember the lessons in the west tower of the palace at Hamadan, and how the Hebrew was not easy for you to learn?”
She remembered well this wonderful man, whose wisdom was that of a god, whose eyes read the very thoughts of men, and whose heart was pure and kind. With a happy note in her voice she answered: “Truly, Master, I am that unapt scholar in Hebrew! What joy to meet you here! Truly God has guided you hither! Now I may call upon your great wisdom to advise me what to do. Approach nearer, I pray you!”
Belteshazzer advanced to the side of the horse and, bending over the fair hand she extended to him, touched it with his forehead in reverence and affection.
“I hold it great happiness to be of service to you,” he said. “In the village near by is my caravan. I have there a new tent with new furniture never used by any other. It is at your service. There await your service also two handmaidens of my own race, daughters of a prince of my family, discreet and worthy of trust. I have also many servants, all well-armed. My caravan is large. Come and dwell with us until the years of Cambyses shall be fulfilled. I know from what you have fled. You shall be a princess of my people until these troublous days are over. O Most Beloved of the Nations, you may abide in my care until the time when your Prince shall come to the throne! If you tire of the tent-life with the caravan, my palace in Shushan, or my house in Babylon, shall be yours.”
“Is it best that I do not go to the Prince now?”
“It is best that you do not. It would mean instant war between him and Cambyses. The times are not right for that. Neither should you go to the lords of Persia. For Cambyses has already sent armed men out on all the roads leading to Persepolis. Even now couriers are not far behind you going to Susa with orders to watch for and intercept you.”
“I will be guided by you, O Prophet of God! Lead the way and I will follow.”
He led the way towards the village of Bagistan in the valley below, and soon came to his caravan. He conducted her to a beautiful tent furnished with all the luxuries of tent-life. Two beautiful maidens were brought to her.