Chapter XIV. Sojourn on Barsoom.

Early the following morning, Gullivar Jones arose, confused until he realized that his being on Barsoom was not a dream but reality. Then he found his uniform was missing but upon a divan in his sleeping room was a tunic made of leather, coloured a dark tan adorned with white fur and a silk cape also tan. His sword leaned against the sofa near this new apparel. It was cleaned and rust-free. His boots were also cleaned, blacked and placed by the sofa. Gullivar dressed himself with this new attire and then went to leave. As he exited the door of his sleeping quarters, he met with an Orovarian who introduced himself as Pan Gee Han, a servant to the jeddak.

"Gullivar Jones, my jeddak has given me the task of escorting you to the main hall to dine with him and his family this morning. Is there anything you require before we leave to meet with the jeddak?"

"Yes, my clothing. Can you tell me what happened to my jacket and pants?"

"Princess Heru felt that your garb was still damp and dirty from yesterday's events. So she had me provide you with the fur and silk for your comfort. I then gave your clothing to the washer women so it could be cleaned. It shall be returned to you later this day."

"I must remember to thank the princess," thought Gullivar as he nodded his understanding to Pan Gee Han.

"If you are ready, I will lead you to the main foyer so you can eat the morning meal with the jeddak and his family."

With that, they left and in short moments, they entered the dining room of the jeddak's palace. Hath was alone, other than the attendants. He sat at the table lunching on various fruits, some eggs, and wine. He saw Gullivar Jones and motioned for him to enter and be seated.

"I trust you rested well, Gullivar Jones?"

"Yes, my Jeddak, the room was much nicer than I am used to and I am well rested."

"Excellent, please sit and enjoy the fine cuisine that we at Seth have to offer our guests."

Gullivar placed himself to the right of the Jeddak and was served by one of the porters. He, at first did not seem hungry, but soon realized that he was ravenous and he feasted on everything placed before him. As he was finishing his second helping of eggs, which he hoped were not laid by green Martians, the Jeddara and the beautiful Princess Heru entered the chamber. Heru rushed up to her father and gave him a kiss on his cheek and a fierce hug about the neck.

"Kaor, Father," she said. Then she turned to Jones who had risen upon the women's entrance and smiled, "Kaor Gullivar Jones. Are you ready for some adventures today?"

Heru was dressed in a sheer diaphanous skirt of soft yellow lashed about her waist with a belt that appeared to be made of silver. The skirt was slit on each side, such that her legs were free from its confines. About her breasts she wore a small blouse of similar colour. It was covered by finely made silver mesh that accented her figure. She had dark kohl about her eyes, which caused the azure tint to brighten. Across her forehead was a red design like a scrolling line, symmetrical on each side of her shapely nose. The two lines met and formed a gem like shape centered above her fine black eyebrows. He had not noticed this last evening. Her raven black hair hung loose over her shoulders and fell to the middle of her back. She wore a small silver tiara upon her head. Gullivar drank in all this and was quite taken by her beauty and felt a certain lusty longing in his body. He imagined what it would be like to be alone with her, body against body. Hearing her question he snapped back to reality and asked,

"Adventures, Heru?"

Before Heru could response, Thoris of Accer interrupted their little tit for tat, stating, "Princess Heru, please let him finish his meal. Perhaps Gullivar Jones does not plan on staying with us; he may wish to return to Jasoom."

Heru's eyes widened in real concern and she turned quickly toward Gullivar and placed her soft hands upon his chest. "You do not wish to leave for Jasoom so sudden, please say you will stay for a while. There is so much for you to see and understand here on Barsoom."

Gullivar looked into Heru's imploring eyes, pale blue, they appeared shy, pleading, and yet he could not help but notice strength and passion, a desire that bespoke of some longing on Princess Heru's part. As he stood drinking in her beauty, he had a momentary thought, "She is so lovely, such a woman. I do not think I could deny her anything she asks."

"I have no wish to leave soon, Heru," answered Gullivar Jones. He turned toward the Jeddak and continued, "My Jeddak, it seems that your daughter has plans for my education about things Barsoomian."

After the morning meal, Princess Heru with her small escort of guards in tow, grasped Gullivar's hand and informed him that she wished to show him her thoats.

"Heru, I need to thank you for this change of clothing."

Heru smiled and lightly tugged on a tuft of the white ape fur draped on Gullivar's shoulders.

"You now look just like a true Barsoomian, my Gullivar. Dressed in silks, leather, and fur with a sword dangling from your waist, you cut a fine figure of a warrior," she replied smiling. Then thinking with humour, "He little realizes that he is dressed like the Jeddaks of the greens and reds with the white ape fur. He does cut a dashing figure dressed appropriately for Barsoom."

Gullivar Jones smiled at her remark and appeared to strut subtlety, but not being a Martian he failed to realize the significance of her saying 'my Gullivar'. Heru realized this and just smiled. They left Hath and Thoris and shortly were out of the palace and headed for the royal stables.

Seth was still a very beautiful city. Unlike most of Barsoom, the land around Seth was lush with much foliage from trees, shrubs, and abundant crops. Seth lay near the north pole of Mars but was nestled in a series of volcanic valleys. The weather was warmer due to this fact and much moisture was found in the air as the volcanic activity caused the ice caps further north to provide abundant humidity. As they walked towards the stables, Gulliver Jones was surprised by the various colours of the grasses, blues, reds, yellows, besides the earthly green. Fruits of diverse hues hung abundantly from the branches of trees. A riot of colour and scent from the plethora of flowers gracing the window boxes on the walk were a delight to the eyes. Yes, Seth was very beautiful.

Seth, in its day had been a great shipping city and had ruled most of the north latitudes of Barsoom. Yet due to the loss of the oceans and the decay of the morals of the Orovars, it was only a remnant of its glory from the ancient past. Still, sitting on the small opal sea it was beautiful with its tall towers. The Barsoomians knew how to build things to last for centuries. The palace of Seth was over ten thousand years old and showed little wear. Yet Gullivar was unaware of this as were most of the Hither people. Princess Heru had an inkling of its past due to her study. The populace of Seth had not repaired or built anything new in the city for at least two thousand years. They were a lazy people.

Princess Heru found Gullivar Jones fascinating, handsome, and quite formable. The Orovar men, even her father, she sensed were a little afraid of him. The young maids at the banquet last evening had constantly eyed him, Heru realized, since Gullivar Jones seemed exotic to them. Heru found him exotic. He looked like the typical Orovar at Seth but his actions were so different. She found herself admiring him when she could steal glances without his knowledge. He was confident, proud, and appeared powerful. Also he listened to everything she said with an attitude so different from the males of Seth. They all seemed to lose interest quickly and wanted to return to listlessness. Even her guards were hard put to perform their duties. Yet something about his eyes intrigued her, sometimes they almost frightened her. She could feel his eyes on her when she was not looking. She was uncertain about this look of his but she was intrigued and felt longings of her own.

Heru thought, "Han Pan Du and his worthless guards I could do without. I am perfectly safe with my Jones. I sense he is worth a dozen Hithers." She turned to the head guard and said, "Padwar Du, I do not require your escort today, Gullivar Jones can provide me with enough protection. Besides, no one in Seth wishes to harm me."

"Princess, your father has assigned us…"

"Nonsense," returned the princess. She turned her azure eyes on Jones and asked, "Gullivar I will be safe with you as my escort?"

"Of course," answered Gullivar Jones. He puffed his chest a little at Heru's question and confidence. Besides he thought, "I would like to be alone with her and not have all these guards about."

"As you wish, Princess Heru," rejoined Padwar Han Pan Du, somewhat thankful, since now he and his troop could return to quarters and idly drink the day away. So he turned and ordered his men to leave and they did.

Heru smiled and said shyly, "We are alone Gullivar Jones. Will I be safe with you?"

Suddenly, Gullivar felt something different in his heart. True his arrival on Mars was not planned; this carpet had separated him from his Polly and Earth. Perhaps he should leave but this Princess was so attractive. Being a sailor, even if he was thought to be an officer and gentleman, he had felt that a little dalliance would be entertaining. Now looking at this rusty hued princess with jet black hair, fine hips, delicious breasts, long uncovered legs that never seemed to end and with the pale blue eyes, so innocent, he was ashamed for a moment of his lustful thoughts. His soul whispered to him; she is exquisite not to be toyed with. She is one to cherish, to love, to serve, a rare flower of Mars. His eyes averted for a moment and his better self-prevailed.

"Heru, my princess, you are safe with me."

Heru's eyes widen and she took a short breath. Then she uttered a soft gay light laugh. She smiled, turned and said, "I wish to show you my pets."

Gullivar realized he had said something significant but could not understand what it was that he had stated. He lightly touched Heru's left shoulder, he could feel the warmth of her skin and it caused a feeling like electricity to shoot though him.

"Heru," asked Gullivar. "Did I say something wrong just now?"

"No, nothing. I just find you interesting, Gullivar Jones. Very interesting, your manners are different from my people. Not bad, just different."

"Truly please tell me what I did say that was out of place or rude. I am sorry but I need to know so as not to repeat the error."

Heru laughed and looked into his eyes and said, "It was nothing, only know that it caused me to smile. Me the daughter of the Jeddak of Seth heard you and smiled."

"Please, Heru…"

"No it is enough that I heard and knew and smiled Gullivar. Let us leave it at that."

No amount of asking could get Heru to tell Gullivar what he had said. He replayed his words in his mind and could come to nothing. If he understood Barsoomian customs he would have been very surprised to know that he had asked Princess Heru to marry him. By referring to her as 'my princess', Gullivar had inadvertently asked for her hand in marriage. Heru realized that Jones did not understand this, since she had referred to him on several occasions as 'my Gullivar' or 'my Jasoomian' and he had not responded as a Barsoomian male should act. She realized what she wanted and had said these titles to note his response. Her mother had admonished her after the meal late last night but she only laughed. Her mother was not fooling Heru; they shared the same idea that Gullivar Jones may be an ideal match. Someone she could control and guide to help change the temper of Seth.

By the time they reached the stables, Gullivar had given up on fathoming what he had said to cause the initial excitement and mirth in Heru. His thoughts also changed, he found her very attractive, but as he listened to her he was ashamed of his earlier thoughts. She was refreshing, very sensual true, but so innocent he felt.

They entered the stable and Gullivar saw the Martian horse, a thoat. Actually more correctly, horses, since it appeared that several types of thoats existed. The first was large with eight legs. It was slate grey about the size of a rhino from Earth. It had nails on its rounded feet and a large flat tail extending almost six feet from its hindquarters. The head had a set of large horns and a wide horizontal mouth with several rows of small teeth. Its eyes were inset into the head below the horns. It had a very docile gentle look. Heru went over to the stall and handed it a piece of fruit which it ate. Gullivar's eyes widened in surprise that its tongue had a blue colour.

"I call him Cluros," she said smiling. "Come Gullivar pat him, itch behind his ears. He enjoys that."

Gullivar approached and gingerly patted the thoat; it elicited a soft bellow of enjoyment.

"Cluros, you said. What does it mean?" asked Gullivar.

Heru laughed and said, "I am so comfortable with you Gullivar that I forget that you know little of Barsoom. Cluros is the name we call Dansoom, one of our moons the other is Thuria."

"Dansoom?"

"Here let me show you," replied Heru. She took Gullivar's hand and led him outside of the stable. She took a knife that had been hidden in her skirt and commenced sketching in the soil near the stable. Initially Gullivar was confused. First, because she had a rather large sharp knife hidden upon her and secondly, because she was outlining something. Then he realized she was drawing the solar system. She moved and collected some pebbles and laid them out in the rings she had drawn. On the third ring she placed two pebbles, one smaller than the other and repeated this action on the fourth ring, except using three small stones.

Once finished, she pointed at the center and said, "We name our sun Aysoom. It means first heavenly body." Then she pointed with the blade at the second circle and continued, "This we call Rasoom, the second body."

Gullivar nodded and added, "We call it Mercury after an ancient god because it so quickly circles the sun, er Aysoom as you named it."

Heru smiled at Gullivar and then answered, "Gullivar it is kind of you to use our words. I found you very nice."

Gullivar at that moment so wanted to grasp Heru and kiss her. Yet he hesitated, he felt that she was like a flower that was in fresh bloom and he did not want to spoil the blossom. While he felt she had a hidden passion in her eyes, she was so trusting of him. He did not wish to lose this.

Heru continued, "This is Cosoom, then Torsoom. You know we call Earth Jasoom."

"Yes, Heru, so Cosoom is third, Torsoom is fourth, and Jasoom is fifth. So to count to what I would call five, would go, ay, ra, co, tor, ja. When I so quickly learned your language two days ago telepathically not all made sense. I understand better as you explain this." He paused a moment and then said, "So our moon is named Torsoom by your people."

Heru smiled warmly and said, "I am happy to aid you. What do you on Earth name Cosoom?"

"Venus."

"Venus?" replied Heru. "What is the meaning of this name Venus?"

"It means love I suspect. It was a name given to the goddess of love. Venus, Aphrodite, Isis, all different names for the goddess of love, an ancient deity of old Earth civilizations."

"Isis?"

"Does that sound familiar, Heru? Do you have an Isis on Barsoom?"

Heru was silent for a moment. Then she responded, "It is similar to Issus, our Goddess although we view her as the Goddess of Death and Rest. Later we will go to the Halls of Knowledge. I will show you something that will probably interest you."

Gullivar nodded.

Heru pointed again to the sketch and asked, "What is the Earth name of Torsoom, your moon?"

"We call it the moon."

Heru giggled and tried to cover her mirth but was unsuccessful. Gullivar was enchanted by her laughter.

"Why is that so funny to you Heru?"

"You Jasoomians are odd. You name the orbs, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. Yet you give Jasoom such a harsh name, Earth, and fail to name your moon. You just call it the moon." She started laughing lightly again. Her shoulders lightly shook in merriment.

Gullivar joined her and after a moment they ceased the mirth, he said, "I suppose that does sound funny. Some of the people on Jasoom call the moon Luna."

"Luna, I like that. Torsoom is called Luna. What does Luna mean?"

Gullivar looked sheepish for a moment and then answered, "It is a different language from my native tongue. It is Latin, an old language of Earth and it means moon."

Heru's blue eyes widened again and her enjoyment of their exchange was very apparent. She shook her head and the pale azure of her eyes twinkled with laughter. She then said, "You Jasoomians are so unimaginative."

Gullivar said, "Not true, we have many stories about many things. Another name for our moon is Selene, it also means moon but in a different language. Besides, other than your two moons, you name all the planets by counting. That is not so imaginative."

Heru smiled, "I tease. You tease. You are right so I apologize. I like the word Selene, it sounds so feminine. So your moon is a woman. Please tell me what does your name for Barsoom, Mars you say, mean?"

"We call Mars the red planet it looks red like the colour of blood. Mars is the god of war in our ancient myths. Or they call him Ares also. So Mars is war."

Heru was silent and thoughtful for a moment, thinking, "Mars is war, very male sounding, that is appropriate since it seems all we do on Barsoom is fight one another. Yet why does he say blood is red, when it is blue?" She replied, "Interesting Gullivar that Jasoomians call us the red planet. What do you name Cluros and Thuria?"

"Deimos and Phobos," Gullivar replied.

"What are their meanings?"

Gullivar thought for a moment and recalled Bulfinch's Mythology that he read five years prior to the war. What did those names indicate? Then he remembered, saying, "They were twin brothers that were gods or daemons. Deimos and Phobos were the sons of Ares or Mars. Gods of fear and panic, rout on the battlefield. They are considered Greek, which is an old civilization from Earth."

Heru thought of this "Sons of a warring father, truly male." and replied, "Jasoomians are consistent in the naming of Barsoom and its moons. How old is this Greek civilization?"

"It still exists, but when it believed in Mars and his sons that was probably four thousand years ago. The moon name Selene is also Greek; Helios would be the name of Aysoom in Greek."

"Very recent this Greek civilization," replied Heru with a smile. "I assume that your aging is based on your shorter years. It seems life on Jasoom is fresh, young, and vibrant. Here on Barsoom, it is old and dying." She ended sounding sad. Then in a moment she brightened and said, "We think of Jasoom as the blue planet."

"The blue planet. Interesting. Why blue?"

"My mother told me that the Red men of the city state of Helium have a device that allows them to see images on other planets in this system and others. She told me that Jasoom has much water. These oceans make Jasoom look blue to the eye."

"Yes Heru, there is much water on Earth. I sailed the Atlantic Ocean as a naval officer for my country before our great war. The sea breeze is salty and…" He paused his thoughts returning to his life on Earth, Polly his fiancée, and his career. He wondered about returning and if the carpet had the ability to send him home. His mind cleared quickly when he realized Heru was talking.

"Atlantic Ocean?" asked Heru, her interested certainly piqued.

Gullivar asked for her knife and quickly sketched a rough outline of the United States in the sand. He then pointed to the right of his sketch saying, "This is roughly the outline of my country and its eastern border along the sea. Here is the location of the Atlantic Ocean." He handed the knife back to Heru.

"These oceans on Jasoom must be very beautiful. I would love to see them and feel the wind on my face," responded Heru.

"The sea has a call. You would look lovely with the wind rustling your dark hair as you stood aboard a vessel. I can see you aboard a three master, your black hair all messed and tousled from the sea breeze," flirted Gullivar.

Heru coloured slightly and smiled. She quickly averted her eyes. Gullivar noticed that her red cheeks took on a slight violet hue. This interested him.

"You are too kind Gullivar Jones," replied Heru her eyes again finding Gullivar's handsome face. He smiled.

Then he remembered this device she mentioned. Gullivar was intrigued and asked, "This device you mentioned that was in Helium have you seen it?"

"No Gullivar, I have never been to Helium. I know where it lies on the planet because I have studied the geography of Barsoom. Most here in Seth would not even know what Helium means, much less realize that it is the jewel city of my world. My mother tells me that it is the most prosperous and advanced city on all of Barsoom."

"Has she been to this Helium?"

"No, she only relates tales told to her by her parents long ago."

"How long ago, Heru?"

"Oh perhaps two hundred years ago."

Gullivar was astonished and asked, "Heru how old is your mother? How old are you?"

Heru looked at Gullivar and smiled saying, "Do Jasoomians ask women their age so easily?"

"I beg pardon but I plead ignorance on Barsoomian customs. Please tell me. To me Heru, you and your mother look close in age. Very young in fact, on Earth I would think you only seventeen or eighteen years of age."

"So young. Why Gullivar, I myself am thirty-five years old, yet just a maiden. Do Jasoomians age differently? My mother has an age of two hundred fifty years."

Now Gullivar was surprised. He assumed that Heru meant Martian years of six hundred eighty-seven days, so she really was closer to seventy earth years old by his reckoning. Yet she looked so young. She had told him that they matured quickly and then did not age. Little did he realize to what extent. That meant Thoris of Accer was close to five hundred Earth years in age. So he asked, "How long do people live on Barsoom?"

"If we are not killed in war or by disease we live for about five hundred years or more. Most people voluntarily take the pilgrimage down the river Iss before aging. Do the people of Earth not live so long?"

"Once long ago in a book we call the Bible it says that people lived lives that long but then it tells how the life spans of men were shortened to one hundred twenty years or less. This would relate to fifty to sixty years here on Barsoom."

Heru's eyes widened with surprise. She placed her fine hand on Gullivar's cheek with a light soft caress and asked, "How old are you Gullivar Jones?"

"I am twenty eight years, but I guess that would be fourteen on Barsoom."

Heru shook her head in dismay. She thought, "Such a short life, how do these Jasoomians learn anything? Yet my Gullivar seems bright enough and strong. I do not understand." She drew silent and sad for a moment. Then she said, "Enough of this death talk, let me finish our discussion about the planets." She returned to the drawing and continued, "After Jasoom, which you name Earth, then we name the next ones Dansoom, Ovsoom, Barsoom, Ensoom, Sasoom, and Xasoom."

As Heru listed the names she quickly pointed at the two moons of Mars, then Mars itself, followed by Athena, then Jupiter, ending with Saturn. Gullivar followed her knife movements and nodded.

"So Dan, Ov, Bar, En, Sa, and Xa would mean six, seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven. Wait, sa is not ten; tee is ten"

"Gullivar you are correct that dan is six, ov is seven, bar is eight, and en is nine. So Barsoom means eighth heavenly body. We are obviously counting, so your words ten and eleven follow nine, but in Barsoomian we would equate tee with ten."

Gullivar thought for a moment. Then he asked, "Why did the naming pattern change after Athena or I mean Ensoom. Why is what I call Jupiter not called Teesoom? You named it Sasoom."

Heru smiled kindly, but with an indulgent look like Gullivar was a child. She responded, "After Ensoom, there are many bodies orbiting Sasoom. To count them all would be nearly impossible, so we named just the largest objects, what you refer to as Jupiter and Saturn we call Sasoom and Xasoom. Their largest moons also have names.

"That makes sense, I guess" said Gullivar.

Heru smiled. She liked Gullivar's smile. Something changed in him from earlier. What, she was uncertain, but she felt more secure and safer now than before. She also felt a longing, something new in her, a strange desire to give herself to him.

"Not so soon," thought Heru, "I do not know him well enough yet. He could prove false like so many are here in Seth."

"You said that Ensoom was named Athena, I think?" asked Heru. Her bright blue eyes studied Gullivar's face.

"Yes, that is true. Because it is so small, about half the size of Earth's moon, our scientists thought it was perhaps a wayward moon of Jupiter, er I mean Sasoom," answered Gullivar.

"What is the meaning of Athena?"

"She was an ancient goddess of arts and reason. Why your Ensoom was named Athena by my people is unknown to me. Perhaps it lies in our idea that as in our ancient myths Athena sprang from the head of Jupiter her father, fully clothed and formed, so too it is thought that the planet was once a moon that escaped the orbit of Jupiter."

Heru nodded, satisfied with Gullivar's short explanation. His words seemed logical and made sense when held against how the Jasoomians named the other worlds.

"Well, let us finish viewing my thoats and I will entreat you into riding before the day is done," smiled Heru as she returned her dagger to the hidden sheath beneath her skirt near her left thigh. She took Gullivar by the hand and lead back to the stable near her thoat Cluros.

In the stall next to him, was another thoat. Its appearance was similar to the first. It was smaller and its horns not as pronounced. Heru turned and said to Gullivar.

"I named this one Thuria, after our other moon the one that is Ovsoom. Thuria is a female, the mate to Cluros."

"Heru, why do your moons have two names? One to place it in the sky and the other sounding so different?"

She again smiled and answered, "In the ancient times of oceans, a legend tells of two lovers who met at night to avoid their parents who were at war. They were named Cluros, an Orovarian Padwar and Thuria, a young princess of the Okarians. It was a forbidden love since her father forbade them from meeting. Yet their desire was so great that they fled their homes to be together. As they escaped across the sea, Oyarsa, the great God of Barsoom, angry at their disobedience caused their small boat to be dashed against the shore near the Elysa Plains. Great danger were they in since they were swept ashore near the green horde. Members of the Warhoon captured both Cluros and Thuria and planned to slay them. Thuria cried aloud at the thought of losing Cluros and pleaded with Issus, Oyarsa's spouse, to save them. Issus took pity upon them. She placed them in the sky. To this day, they light up the night sky as they chase each other across the void above Barsoom. All on Barsoom now think of them as the heavenly lovers. Marriage on Barsoom is always performed in the evening so that Cluros and Thuria are present. The ancient rites are always blessed with water. We vow I am yours forever."

As Heru ended her story, her eyes were misty and had a far off look. Gullivar listened to her story with great interest. He thought, "Another world miles from home, yet these Martians seem to value much the same things as we do on Earth. They are really not any different from us. Love, honor, family, we are them I suppose since their civilization is so ancient."

Heru's eyes studied Gullivar's face. She tried to read his thoughts but found she could not. "Perhaps he masks them much better than we do," Heru mused. "I have not been able to capture anything telepathic from him. Yet if I remember, he indicated that he learned our language that way."

As Gullivar stood there watching Heru, he suddenly noticed that he could catch hints of thoughts from her. Just a word or two, yet he sensed them. He was really intrigued by this. He remembered that she had mentioned that their language was partly telepathic in nature. Perhaps if he tried harder he could start to read thoughts around him with more ease.

"Gullivar, what do you think of my two pets?"

"They are different from anything I have ever seen."

"Gullivar, last evening you used a word, horse I think it was, to relate it to my thoats."

"Yes, Heru."

"What is a horse?"

So over the next few minutes Gullivar Jones described horses to Princess Heru. He used his sword to outline the basic shape in the floor of the stable. Heru laughed at the sketch and was surprised that a horse had only four legs; ran so slow in comparison to a thoat or calot and really did not have a tail. Yet she did admire its symmetry of shape as told by Jones.

"These horses are much similar to our other thoats, Gullivar."

Heru turned and entered a different portion of the stable. Gulliver had noted loud angry snorts and squeals coming from beyond this opening earlier as he and Heru had their discussion. He had caught a glimpse of these other thoats when he first entered. Now he was to see them up close.

"Gullivar, these thoats are vile tempered. They are more difficult to manage," stated Heru.

Yet as she approached one, it calmed immediately and sniffed the air seeming to look for a portion of food from the Princess. She was more cautious in her movements but soon was patting this one on its nose. It was slightly taller than the other thoats, had no horns and a narrower head, more horse like in shape. It had only a single row of teeth and was entirely hairless. Slate grey coloured was the upper portion of the body with a white underbelly. The legs went from grey in colour at the shoulder to yellow at the nail-less padded feet. Like the other thoats it had four legs on each side of its body. Gullivar watched as Heru gave this thoat a small apple like fruit. It quickly ate the morsel and grunted softly.

"I call him Banth, because he is so ill tempered," laughed Heru. "Yet I find I like him best."

"Banth," thought Gullivar. "I see an image of a banth in my mind. Lion like in appearance just many legs."

Heru looked at Gullivar for a moment and her eyes widened. "Yes, I catch a thought, fleeting but he sees a banth. Perhaps his race is weak in telepathy rather than guarding it well."

"What did you say Heru?"

She started, "Nothing Gullivar. Are you ready for a ride on my pets?"

Gullivar eyed this thoat and replied, "Aye, as long as I do not have to ride this one you call Banth."