AUTHOR'S NOTE
This story takes place several years before the events of The Chessmen of Mars.
"In the tales of the world that is Barsoom many names have been written, all of which bear great significance: Thuros, Cluvia, Tardos Mors, Tan Hardon, Kantos Kan, and former Earth heroes like Ullyses Paxton, Skid-Ric, and of course John Carter. Equally important were the noble women of this dying world: Thuvia, Tavia, Valla Dia; yet none have held more divine importance than the immortal Dejah Thoris. And let one not forget the male scion of John Carter and Dejah Thoris, the brave and resourceful Carthoris.
"But what of the female offspring of The Warlord of Mars and the Princess of Mars? Not much has been told of the young, lovely, and daring Tara of Helium.
"That is, until now in these, her very own words . . . "
ONE
I'm lying in my room, in our Royal Palace in the heart of Helium, thinking about the twin moons Cluros and Thuria. Just idly mind-wandering about whatever thought enters my brain. Mostly I think of my parents, one John Carter of Jasoom, and my mother Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium. Oh, and don t forget my older brother Carthoris.
Now, unlike my father and many of his friends from both Jasoom(1) and my own Barsoom I never take any amount of time to write down all the events of my days. We here hold a long-standing notion that only those with the most daring adventures even consider chronicling them to the readers of Jasoom, in particular Father's nephew Edgar Rice Burroughs; it is quite commonly believed that he, and he alone, can truly understand all there is to Barsoom.
But of course, that will not stop me from making the attempt, will it?
After all, even one as unassuming as I have at least one story to tell you.
And the best place to begin is at the beginning, right?
That beginning takes place roughly two-and-a-half zodes(2) ago, after Father had returned from his all-too frequent visits with his dear nephew Edgar, bragging about the latest escapade that either he himself or Mother had that day. Of course, I really can't complain too much; adventure is, after all, sort of our destiny though our official Barsoomian historians (if any remain) would attempt to have all of you assume otherwise.
Anyway . . . as I stated, I was lying on one of my sleeping silks in my room at the Royal Palace of Helium, staring up at the domed ceiling, bored out of my mind aside from dreaming of the Twin Moons I'd witnessed earlier that evening. Whenever I feel bored or sad, a bubbling urge in me arises between my breasts and it s all I can do to not explode screaming; it s not what a proper Princess of Helium or all Barsoom is to conduct herself.
Sighing out heavily and thrusting a silk aside, I arose to my feet, flinging off my jeweled apparel in the process. Naked and strong, I stormed out of my room and walked to my parents room, rapping their door quite loudly, sure to get the attention I desperately craved.
A brief moment later, the door opened and out stepped my Mother, Dejah Thoris, Queen of Helium . . . and not in a pleasant frame of mind. She, too, was as naked as I was.
"What is it you wish now, Tara?" she asked, rubbing her eyes vigorously. "Couldn't this wait until the new sun's rise? It's late."
"I think it can't, Mother," replied I, rather adamantly.
Mother breathed very hard, slowly exhaling her anger out. Her face slowly changed expression, and her mouth formed some soft words.
"Why don t we return to your room and talk in private? I want you to not awaken your father. He's carrying all of Barsoom's burden on his shoulders." With that said she led me back to my room, bypassing our favorite calot Woola, whose broad grin and friendly pant uplifted to no end. Instinctively I patted him on his head, and within seconds re-entered my room. Mother closed the door gingerly behind her. Wordlessly she glided over to the balcony facing the main center of Helium's court, and then whirled about to face me, her expression softening even more.
