He was able to walk, and, if need be, ride,
but Mardonius would not suffer him to go outside his own tents. The
Athenian would be certain to be recognized, and at once Xerxes would send
for him, and how Glaucon, in his new frame of mind, would deport himself
before majesty, whether he would not taunt the irascible monarch to his
face, the bow-bearer did not know. Therefore the Athenian endured a manner
of captivity in the tents with the eunuchs, pages, and women. Artazostra
was often with him, and less frequently Roxana. But the Egyptian had lost
all power over him now. He treated her with a cold courtesy more painful
than contempt. Once or twice Artazostra had tried to turn him back from
his purpose, but her words always broke themselves over one barrier.

"I am born a Hellene, lady. My gods are not yours. I must live and die
after the manner of my people. And that our gods are strong and will give
victory, after that morning with Leonidas I dare not doubt."

When the host advanced south and eastward from Thermopylae, Glaucon went
with it, riding in a closed travelling carriage guarded by Mardonius's
eunuchs. All who saw it said that here went one of the bow-bearer's harem
women, and as for the king, every day he asked for his favourite, and
every day Mardonius told him, "He is even as before," an answer which the
bow-bearer prayed to truth-loving Mithra might not be accounted a lie.

It was while the army lay at Plataea that news came which might have shaken
Glaucon's purpose, had that purpose been shakable. Euboulus the Corinthian
had been slain in a skirmish shortly after the forcing of Thermopylae. The
tidings meant that no one lived who could tell in Athens that on the day
of testing the outlaw had cast in his lot with Hellas. Leonidas was dead.
The Spartan soldiers who had heard Glaucon avow his identity were dead. In
the hurried conference of captains preceding the retreat, Leonidas had
told his informant's precise name only to Euboulus. And now Euboulus was
slain, doubtless before any word from him of Glaucon's deed could spread
abroad. To Athenians Glaucon was still the "Traitor," doubly execrated in
this hour of trial. If he returned to his people, would he not be torn in
pieces by the mob? But the young Alcmaeonid was resolved. Since he had not
died at Thermopylae, no life in the camp of the Barbarian was tolerable. He
would trust sovran Athena who had plucked him out of one death to deliver
from a second.