[12] So, as soon as they were well afield, Cyrus went to the Medes and thanked them, praying that the gods in their mercy might guide them all, and that he himself might have power given him to reward their zeal.

He ended by saying that the infantry would lead the van, while they would follow with the cavalry, and whenever the column halted on the march they were to send him gallopers to receive his orders.

[13] Then he bade the Hyrcanians lead the way, but they exclaimed, "What?
Are you not going to wait until we bring the hostages?
Then you could begin the march with pledges from us in return for yours." But he answered, as the story says, "If I am not mistaken, we hold the pledges now, in our own hearts and our own right hands.

We believe that if you are true to us we can do you service, and if you play us false, you will not have us at your mercy; God willing, we shall hold you at ours.

Nevertheless," he added, "since you tell us your own folk follow in the Assyrian rear, point them out to us as soon as you set eyes upon them, that we may spare their lives." [14] When the Hyrcanians heard this they led the way as he ordered, marvelling at his strength of soul.