Chapter 4

The adrenaline that had kept me going since the fight in the garden, drained away during the long climb back up to my rooms. Lara was waiting for me, having thoughtfully filled the tub. Shaking with fatigue, I removed my filthy and bloody ball gown and sank into the hot water gratefully, feeling the stings from several cuts and bruises.

Sitting on the edge of the tub, she listened while I related the events that swirled repeatedly through my head. She read far more from my mind than my disjointed description conveyed.

"Kantos Kan, eh?" She smiled dreamily, giving an exaggerated sigh. "Lucky you. Such a lovely man."

I stared at her as if she'd told me the world was flat. "Lara, he's Kantos Kan!

She raised an eyebrow. "Well, yes. Is that a problem?"

"I've been in awe of him all my life."

She raised her eyebrows at me. "Cara, have you ever wondered why he has never had a mate?"

"Never?"

"Well," she said, "admittedly he has a son, but to my knowledge he's never had a wife in our meaning of the word."

"What of the mother of his son?"

She shrugged. "Since he has never told anyone who she was, it was probably a warrior's fling. Personally, I think he has never found a woman his equal."

I sniffed. "I'm certainly not his equal."

"No? You are the daughter of generations of jeddaks, the sister of a Jed. The great-granddaughter of John Carter! You're bright and educated – if somewhat impulsive – and possess capabilities few women dream of. Why not?"

I shook my head in denial, unable to answer.

"Is it the age difference?" she asked.

"Age difference?" I asked, puzzled. Lara was much older than Carthan. Thuvia considerably older than Carthoris. "What does age have to do with anything?"

She nodded her head sagely and I wondered why she smiled. "Exactly. Then what is the problem?"

Thinking How could such a man love me, a child by comparison . . .?" I stammered in denial, "I'm not –" in love? "– it can't happen that fast!"

"No? Cara, my dear, you know that mind melding leaves no doubt. I defy you to try not thinking about him."

"I don't have time. I have to find him," I said, heaving myself out of the tub.

Managing not to roll her eyes, she smiled indulgently and handed me a towel. "Of course you do. Where will you look?"

"I overheard the women talking about some jeddarra and their destination."

"Women?" she asked sharply.

I nodded, patting my injuries gingerly. "They were all women. I recognized some of them from that group in the arena. Though I didn't see her, I believe Danalla was the instigator and that she was following through on her threat to kill you. As Kantos Kan and I stood on the terrace with the light illuminating my red hair, I think they mistook us for you and Carthan."

I added, "Lara, do you remember Korad, that deserted city on the shore of Throxus?"

"Of course. It was one of many old port cities we all explored with Carthan when he was developing his map of ancient Barsoom. Why?"

"Before I jumped from the flyer, the name came up when the women who attacked us were boasting about our capture. One of them said, 'The jeddarra of Korad will be pleased.'"

"But Korad has been abandoned for millennia."

I shrugged, "Isn't it possible that it has been occupied again?"

Lara said dubiously, "I suppose so, but it would be an impractical place to live. Think of the work just to make it habitable – and it's so far from . . . anywhere."

I looked at my mother. "I need its coordinates."

"I'm coming with you."

"Carthan would never let you go without him – and then we would be obliged to include Tarin, Grampa Jack, Tardos Mors and half of Barsoom's armies."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"Those women are panthans, Lara – not criminals. I have a strong feeling that lives could be saved if I did this alone."

She regarded me with deep skepticism and said, "You'll have to convince me of that." She began to apply ointment to the worst of my cuts and scratches and then tried to persuade me that if I got some sleep the futility of a single-handed rescue would become apparent in the morning.