Publisher's Synopsis
Upon a massive bench of polished ersite beneath the gorgeous blooms of a giant pimalia awoman sat. Her shapely, sandalled foot tapped impatiently upon the jewel-strewn walk that woundbeneath the stately sorapus trees across the scarlet sward of the royal gardens of Thuvan Dihn, Jeddak of Ptarth, as a dark-haired, red-skinned warrior bent low toward her, whispering heatedwords close to her ear."Ah, Thuvia of Ptarth," he cried, "you are cold even before the fiery blasts of my consuminglove! No harder than your heart, nor colder is the hard, cold ersite of this thrice happy bench whichsupports your divine and fadeless form! Tell me, O Thuvia of Ptarth, that I may still hope-thatthough you do not love me now, yet some day, some day, my princess, I-"The girl sprang to her feet with an exclamation of surprise and displeasure. Her queenly headwas poised haughtily upon her smooth red shoulders. Her dark eyes looked angrily into those of theman."You forget yourself, and the customs of Barsoom, Astok," she said. "I have given you no rightthus to address the daughter of Thuvan Dihn, nor have you won such a right."The man reached suddenly forth and grasped her by the arm."You shall be my princess!" he cried. "By the breast of Issus, thou shalt, nor shall any othercome between Astok, Prince of Dusar, and his heart's desire. Tell me that there is another, and Ishall cut out his foul heart and fling it to the wild calots of the dead sea-bottoms!"At touch of the man's hand upon her flesh the girl went pallid beneath her coppery skin, for thepersons of the royal women of the courts of Mars are held but little less than sacred. The act ofAstok, Prince of Dusar, was profanation. There was no terror in the eyes of Thuvia of Ptarth-onlyhorror for the thing the man had done and for its possible consequences."Release me." Her voice was level-frigid.The man muttered incoherently and drew her roughly toward him."Release me!" she repeated sharply, "or I call the guard, and the Prince of Dusar knows whatthat will mean."Quickly he threw his right arm about her shoulders and strove to draw her face to his lips. Witha little cry she struck him full in the mouth with the massive bracelets that circled her free arm.