Now while Mardonius was choosing his army and Xerxes was in +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly, there came an oracle from Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi to the Lacedaemonians, that they should demand justice of Xerxes for the slaying of Leonidas and take whatever he should offer them. The Spartans then sent a herald with all speed. He found the army yet undivided in +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly, came into Xerxes' presence, and spoke as follows:

“The Lacedaemonians and the Heraclidae of Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta demand of you, king of the Medes, that you pay the penalty for the death of their king, whom you killed while he defended Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.” At that Xerxes laughed, and after a long while, he pointed to Mardonius, who chanced to be standing by him and said, “Then here is Mardonius, who shall pay those you speak of such penalty as befits them.”