Gates of Fire

The narrative returns to the aftermath of Thermopylae, and this chapter and the next are told from the perspective of Gobartes’s record. Xerxes is having recurring nightmares caused, he believes, by his guilt at defiling the corpse of Leonidas. His advisors assure him that the proper steps have been taken to ensure that he is not stained by “blood guilt.” When Xerxes tells his two closest advisors, Mardonius and Artemisia, about his nightmares, Artemisia insists that the dream is meaningless. The two advisors then disagree about whether Xerxes should stay in Greece to oversee the invasion or return home. Artemisia’s arguments that it would seem weak to fail to finish the conquest and that he must be present to take credit for the victory convince the emperor. 

Xerxes is unable to sleep and has Xeones brought to him. Mardonius asserts that Xeones is just telling lies, but Xerxes disagrees. Xerxes points out that, as a ruler, he can never be sure of anyone’s candor. Xeones, however, wants nothing from Xerxes, merely to tell the story he was sent back from death to tell.