At last Nehushta spoke.
"Know you this new king ?" she asked.

"I saw him but for a few moments last year.

He was a young prince, but he is not fair." "A young prince with an old man's head upon his shoulders," answered Zoroaster.

"He is a year younger than I--but I would not have his battles to fight; nor, if I had, would I have taken Atossa to be my wife." "Atossa ?" repeated Nehushta.
"Yes.

The king has already married her--she was the wife of Cambyses, and also of the false Smerdis, the Magian, whom Darius has slain." "Is she fair?
Have I not seen her ?" asked Nehushta quickly.
"Indeed, you must have seen her at the court in Shushan, before we came to Ecbatana.