Kantos Kan with the others who had sworn allegiance to me still
stood upon the Throne of Righteousness with me.
"Come," said Kantos Kan to me, "we will escort you to your palace,
my Prince. Come, Carthoris and Xodar. Come, Tars Tarkas." And
with a haughty sneer for Zat Arras upon his handsome lips, he turned
and strode to the throne steps and up the Aisle of Hope. We four
and the hundred loyal ones followed behind him, nor was a hand
raised to stay us, though glowering eyes followed our triumphal
march through the temple.
In the avenues we found a press of people, but they opened a pathway
for us, and many were the swords that were flung at my feet as I
passed through the city of Helium toward my palace upon the outskirts.
Here my old slaves fell upon their knees and kissed my hands as I
greeted them. They cared not where I had been. It was enough that
I had returned to them.
"Ah, master," cried one, "if our divine Princess were but here this
would be a day indeed."
Tears came to my eyes, so that I was forced to turn away that I
might hide my emotions. Carthoris wept openly as the slaves pressed
about him with expressions of affection, and words of sorrow for
our common loss. It was now that Tars Tarkas for the first time
learned that his daughter, Sola, had accompanied Dejah Thoris upon
the last long pilgrimage. I had not had the heart to tell him what
Kantos Kan had told me.
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