Thuvia Maid of Mars | Page 6

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 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
paths--the 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 men?" asked Thuvia.
"You are playing with me!" exclaimed Carthoris. "Say that you are but playing, and that
after all you love me, Thuvia!"
"I cannot tell you that, Carthoris, for I am promised to another."
Her tone was level, but was there not within it the hint of an infinite depth of sadness?
Who may say?
"Promised to another?" Carthoris scarcely breathed the words. His face went almost
white, and then his head came up as befitted him in whose veins flowed the blood of the
overlord of a world.
"Carthoris of Helium wishes you every happiness with the man of your choice," he said.
"With--" and then he hesitated, waiting for her to fill in the name.
"Kulan Tith, Jeddak of Kaol," she replied. "My father's friend and Ptarth's most puissant
ally."
The young man looked at her intently for a moment before he spoke again.
"You love him, Thuvia of Ptarth?" he asked.
"I am promised to him," she replied simply.
He did not press her. "He is of Barsoom's noblest blood and mightiest fighters," mused
Carthoris. "My father's friend and mine--would that it might have been another!" he
muttered almost savagely. What the girl thought was hidden by the mask of her
expression, which was tinged only by a little shadow of sadness that might have been for
Carthoris, herself, or for