This chapter's epigraph comes from a conversation between the Illustrious Narrator and the Honorable Narrator, in which the two men discuss the recent events in Persia. The Narrator says that he has heard rumors that the Persians have lost their position in the battle and that arslan is preparing to attack. He asks if there is any way he can harm him. He also asks if the rumors are true, and the Narrator replies that they have always been "poisonous plants" in the "seedbed of stupidity." He then tells the Honorable that his real name is Meshil, and that his father was the fifth of the five pars who bear that name. He tells the story of his father's murder, his brother's usurpation of the throne, and his attempt to murder his nephew. He adds that the rumors about arlan's intentions are false, because he knows that the prince is still in love with his sister. He then asks the Honorable if he can help him defeat the prince. The Honorable replies that he needs a leader with "the appropriate visage" . He says that if he were to use as much force as he used in the Battle of Atropatene, his life force would be drained, and he would not be able to fill it again. He suggests that he should win two of his own followers who were killed by the prince's party, and then he can travel to Rukhnabad, where he will meet the rightful king.