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CHAPTER XIII - A DESPERATE DEED
E-Med crossed the tower chamber toward Tara of Helium and the slave girl, Lan-
O. He seized the former roughly by a shoulder. "Stand!" he commanded. Tara
struck his hand from her and rising, backed away.
"Lay not your hand upon the person of a princess of Helium, beast!" she warned.
E-Med laughed. "Think you that I play at jetan for you without first knowing
something of the stake for which I play?" he demanded. "Come here!"
The girl drew herself to her full height, folding her arms across her breast, nor did
E-Med note that the slim fingers of her right hand were inserted beneath the
broad leather strap of her harness where it passed over her left shoulder.
"And O-Tar learns of this you shall rue it, E-Med," cried the slave girl; "there be
no law in Manator that gives you this girl before you shall have won her fairly."
"
What cares O-Tar for her fate?" replied E-Med. "Have I not heard? Did she not
flout the great jeddak, heaping abuse upon him? By my first ancestor, I think O-
Tar might make a jed of the man who subdued her," and again he advanced
toward Tara.
"
Wait!" said the girl in low, even tone. "Perhaps you know not what you do.
Sacred to the people of Helium are the persons of the women of Helium. For the
honor of the humblest of them would the great jeddak himself unsheathe his
sword. The greatest nations of Barsoom have trembled to the thunders of war in
defense of the person of Dejah Thoris, my mother. We are but mortal and so may
die; but we may not be defiled. You may play at jetan for a princess of Helium,
but though you may win the match, never may you claim the reward. If thou
wouldst possess a dead body press me too far, but know, man of Manator, that
the blood of The Warlord flows not in the veins of Tara of Helium for naught. I
have spoken."
"I know naught of Helium and O-Tar is our warlord," replied E-Med; "but I do
know that I would examine more closely the prize that I shall play for and win. I
would test the lips of her who is to be my slave after the next games; nor is it well,
woman, to drive me too far to anger." His eyes narrowed as he spoke, his visage
taking on the semblance of that of a snarling beast. "If you doubt the truth of my
words ask Lan-O, the slave girl."
"
He speaks truly, O woman of Helium," interjected Lan-O. "Try not the temper of
E-Med, if you value your life."
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