Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Chessmen of Mars Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tara of Helium rose from the pile of silks and soft furs upon which she had been reclining, stretched her lithe body languidly, and crossed toward the center of the room, where, above alarge table, a bronze disc depended from the low ceiling. Her carriage was that of health andphysical perfection-the effortless harmony of faultless coordination. A scarf of silken gossamercrossing over one shoulder was wrapped about her body; her black hair was piled high upon herhead. With a wooden stick she tapped upon the bronze disc, lightly, and presently the summonswas answered by a slave girl, who entered, smiling, to be greeted similarly by her mistress."Are my father's guests arriving?" asked the princess."Yes, Tara of Helium, they come," replied the slave. "I have seen Kantos Kan, Overlord ofthe Navy, and Prince Soran of Ptarth, and Djor Kantos, son of Kantos Kan," she shot a roguishglance at her mistress as she mentioned Djor Kantos' name, "and-oh, there were others, manyhave come.""The bath, then, Uthia," said her mistress. "And why, Uthia," she added, "do you look thusand smile when you mention the name of Djor Kantos?"The slave girl laughed gaily. "It is so plain to all that he worships you," she replied."It is not plain to me," said Tara of Helium. "He is the friend of my brother, Carthoris, and sohe is here much; but not to see me. It is his friendship for Carthoris that brings him thus often tothe palace of my father.""But Carthoris is hunting in the north with Talu, Jeddak of Okar," Uthia reminded her."My bath, Uthia!" cried Tara of Helium. "That tongue of yours will bring you to somemisadventure yet.