His quick eye saw something white upon the stone bench in the dusky corner by the door.

He stooped and picked it up quickly.

It was the sealed scroll Atossa had left there when she needed both her hands to draw the bolt.

Darius took it to one of the narrow windows, looked at it curiously and broke the seal.

Zoroaster stood near and wiped the blood from his bruised knuckle.
The contents of the scroll were short.