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young officer who commanded it。 His prisoner was the son of a mighty
jeddak； he was the guest of Thuvan Dihnuntil but now an honoured guest
upon whom every royal dignity had been showered。 To arrest him forcibly
could mean naught else than war； and yet he had done that which in the
eyes of the Ptarth warrior merited death。
The young man hesitated。 He looked toward his princess。 She； too；
guessed all that hung upon the action of the coming moment。 For many
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years Dusar and Ptarth had been at peace with each other。 Their great
merchant ships plied back and forth between the larger cities of the two
nations。 Even now； far above the gold…shot scarlet dome of the jeddak's
palace； she could see the huge bulk of a giant freighter taking its majestic
way through the thin Barsoomian air toward the west and Dusar。
By a word she might plunge these two mighty nations into a bloody
conflict that would drain them of their bravest blood and their incalculable
riches； leaving them all helpless against the inroads of their envious and
less powerful neighbors； and at last a prey to the savage green hordes of
the dead sea…bottoms。
No sense of fear influenced her decision； for fear is seldom known to
the children of Mars。 It was rather a sense of the responsibility that she；
the daughter of their jeddak； felt for the welfare of her father's people。
〃I called you； Padwar；〃 she said to the lieutenant of the guard； 〃to
protect the person of your princess； and to keep the peace that must not be
violated within the royal gardens of the jeddak。 That is all。 You will
escort me to the palace； and the Prince of Helium will accompany me。〃
Without another glance in the direction of Astok she turned； and taking
Carthoris' proffered hand； moved slowly toward the massive marble pile
that housed the ruler of Ptarth and his glittering court。 On either side
marched a file of guardsmen。 Thus Thuvia of Ptarth found a way out of a
dilemma； escaping the necessity of placing her father's royal guest under
forcible restraint； and at the same time separating the two princes； who
otherwise would have been at each other's throat the moment she and the
guard had departed。
Beside the pimalia stood Astok； his dark eyes narrowed to mere slits of
hate beneath his lowering brows as he watched the retreating forms of the
woman who had aroused the fiercest passions of his nature and the man
whom he now believed to be the one who stood between his love and its
consummation。
As they disappeared within the structure Astok shrugged his shoulders；
and with a murmured oath crossed the gardens toward another wing of the
building where he and his retinue were housed。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
That night he took formal leave of Thuvan Dihn； and though no
mention was made of the happening within the garden； it was plain to see
through the cold mask of the jeddak's courtesy that only the customs of
royal hospitality restrained him from voicing the contempt he felt for the
Prince of Dusar。
Carthoris was not present at the leave…taking； nor was Thuvia。 The
ceremony was as stiff and formal as court etiquette could make it； and
when the last of the Dusarians clambered over the rail of the battleship
that had brought them upon this fateful visit to the court of Ptarth； and the
mighty engine of destruction had risen slowly from the ways of the
landing…stage； a note of relief was apparent in the voice of Thuvan Dihn as
he turned to one of his officers with a word of comment upon a subject
foreign to that which had been uppermost in the minds of all for hours。
But； after all； was it so foreign？
〃Inform Prince Sovan；〃 he directed； 〃that it is our wish that the fleet
which departed for Kaol this morning be recalled to cruise to the west of
Ptarth。〃
As the warship； bearing Astok back to the court of his father； turned
toward the west； Thuvia of Ptarth； sitting upon the same bench where the
Prince of Dusar had affronted her； watched the twinkling lights of the craft
growing smaller in the distance。 Beside her； in the brilliant light of the
nearer moon； sat Carthoris。 His eyes were not upon the dim bulk of the
battleship； but on the profile of the girl's upturned face。
〃Thuvia；〃 he whispered。
The girl turned her eyes toward his。 His hand stole out to find hers；
but she drew her own gently away。
〃Thuvia of Ptarth； I love you！〃 cried the young warrior。 〃Tell me that
it does not offend。〃
She shook her head sadly。 〃The love of Carthoris of Helium；〃 she
said simply； 〃could be naught but an honour to any woman； but you must
not speak； my friend； of bestowing upon me that which I may not
reciprocate。〃
The young man got slowly to his feet。 His eyes were wide in
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astonishment。 It never had occurred to the Prince of Helium that Thuvia
of Ptarth might love another。
〃But at Kadabra！〃 he exclaimed。 〃And later here at your father's
court； what did you do； Thuvia of Ptarth； that might have warned me that
you could not return my love？〃
〃And what did I do； Carthoris of Helium；〃 she returned； 〃that might
lead you to believe that I DID return it？〃
He paused in thought； and then shook his head。 〃Nothing； Thuvia； that
is true； yet I could have sworn you loved me。 Indeed； you well knew
how near to worship has been my love for you。〃
〃And how might I know it； Carthoris？〃 she asked innocently。 〃Did
you ever tell me as much？ Ever before have words of love for me fallen
from your lips？〃
〃But you MUST have known it！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I am like my father…
…witless in matters of the heart； and of a poor way with women； yet the
jewels that strew these royal garden pathsthe trees； the flowers； the
sward all must have read the love that has filled my heart since first my
eyes were made new by imaging your perfect face and form； so how could
you alone have been blind to it？〃
〃Do the maids of Helium pay court to their m