know that I am the greatest swordsman of two worlds. It would be foolish for me to simper, and suck my finger, and say that I was not. I am, and everyone who has seen me fight knows that I am. Is it braggadocio to state a simple fact? It has saved a number of lives, for it has kept no end of brash young men from challenging me.
Fighting has been, you might say, my life's work. There is not a lethal weapon in the use of which I do not excel, but the sword is my favorite. I love a good blade and I love a good fight and I hoped that tonight I should have them both.
I hoped that Motus was all that they thought him. The thought might have obtruded on the consciousness of some men that perhaps he was, but no such idea ever entered my head. They say that overconfidence often leads to defeat, but I do not think that I am ever overconfident. I am merely wholly confident, and I maintain that there is all the difference in the world there.
At last we came to the throne room. It was not the same room in which I had first seen Ptantus; it was a much larger room, a more ornate room; and at one side of it was a raised dais on which were two thrones. They were empty now, for the jeddak and the jeddara had not yet appeared. The floor of the room was crowded with nobles and their women. Along three sides of the room were several tiers of benches, temporary affairs, which had evidently been brought in for the occasion. They were covered with gay cloths and cushions; but they were still empty, for, of course, no one could sit until the jeddak came and was seated.
As I was brought into the room, a number of people called attention to me and soon many eyes were upon me.
In my well-worn fighting harness, I looked rather drab in the midst of this brilliant company with their carved-leather harness studded with jewels. The Invaks, like most of the red nations of Barsoom, are a handsome people and those in the throne room of this tiny nation, hidden away in The Forest of Lost Men, made a brave appearance beneath the strange and beautiful lights which gave them visibility.
I heard many comments concerning me. One woman said, 'He does not look like a Barsoomian at all.'
'He is very handsome,' said a sweet voice, which I immediately recognized; and for the second time I looked Rojas in the face. As our eyes met I could see her tremble. She was a beautiful girl, by far the most beautiful of all the women in the room, I am sure.
'Let's talk with him,' she said to a woman and two men standing with her.
'That would be interesting,' said the woman, and the four of them walked toward me.
Rojas looked me square in the eye. 'What is your name?' she asked, without a flicker of recognition.
'Dotar Sojat,' I replied.
'The Sultan of Swat,' said one of the men, 'whatever a sultan is and wherever Swat may be.' I could scarcely repress a smile.
'Where is Swat?' inquired the woman.
'In India,' I replied.
'I think the fellow is trying to make fools of us,' snapped one of the men. 'He is just making up those names. There are no such places on Barsoom.'
'I didn't say they were on Barsoom,' I retorted. 'They are forty-three million miles from Barsoom.'
'If they're not on Barsoom, where are they?' demanded the man.
'On Jasoom,' I replied.
'Come,' said the man, 'I have had enough of this slave's insolence.'
'I find him very interesting,' said the woman.
'So do I,' said Rojas.
'Well, enjoy it while you may,' said the man, 'for in a few minutes he will be dead.'
'Have you laid a wager on that?' I asked.
'I couldn't find anyone to bet against Motus,' he growled. 'Kandus was the only fool to do that and the jeddak covered his entire wager.'
'That is too bad,' I said; 'someone is losing an opportunity to make some money.'
'Do you think you will win?' asked Rojas, trying to conceal the eagerness in her voice.
'Of course I shall win,' I replied. 'I always do. You look like a very intelligent girl,' I said, 'if I may speak to you alone I will tell you a little secret.'
She saw that I had something that I wished to say to her in private, but I will admit that I had put her in rather an embarrassing position. However, the other woman helped me out.'
'Go ahead, Rojas,' she urged. 'I think it would be fun to hear what he has to say.'
Thus encouraged Rojas took me to one side. 'What is it?' she asked.
'Llana of Gathol,' I said. 'How are we to get her?'
She caught her breath. 'I never thought of that,' she said.
'Could you get one of those invisibility spheres to her right away?' I asked.
'For you, yes,' she said. 'For you I would do anything.'
'Good; and tell her to come out into the courtyard by the quarters of the slave women. A little after midnight she will hear me whistle. She will recognize the air. She must answer and then wait for me. Will you do that for me, Rojas?'
'Yes, but what excuse am I to make for leaving my friends?'
'Tell them you are going to get some money to wager on me,' I said.
Rojas smiled. 'That is a splendid idea,' she said. And a moment later she had made her explanations to her friends and I saw her leave the throne room.
Chapter 10
The crowd was growing restless waiting for the jeddak, but I was more than pleased by this delay as it would shorten the time that I should have to wait before I could achieve invisibility.
It seemed now that everything had been nicely arranged; and when I saw Rojas return to the throne room and she gave me a quick fleeting smile, I was convinced that almost the last of my worries were over. There was really only one doubt remaining in my mind, and that was as to what might happen to me after I had killed Motus. I had no doubt but that Ptantus would be furious; and being a tyrant with the reactions of a tyrant, he might order my immediate death.
Anticipating this, however, I had decided to make a run for the nearest courtyard; and if sufficient time had elapsed since I had taken the invisibility sphere, I would only have to step out into the open to elude them. And, once in one of the courtyards, and invisible, I knew that I could escape.
Suddenly trumpets blared and the people fell back to each side of the throne room. Then, preceded by the trumpeters, Ptantus and his jeddara entered the throne room accompanied by a band of gorgeously trapped courtiers.
I glanced at the great clock on the wall. It was exactly the 8th zode which is the equivalent of 10:48 P.M. Earth time. By midnight Llana of Gathol would have achieved invisibility-if Rojas had given her the sphere. That was the question. Yet I felt that Rojas had not failed me. I firmly believed that she had done her part.
The royal pair made their way slowly across the room to the dais and seated themselves upon their thrones, whereat the nobles and their women found their places on the benches.
From somewhere Motus had appeared; and he, and a noble who accompanied him, and I, and my warrior guard, were alone upon the floor. A fifth man then appeared who I later discovered was what you might call a referee, or umpire. He summoned me forward, and the five of us advanced and stopped before the throne.
'I bring you the noble Motus,' he said addressing Ptantus, 'and Dotar Sojat, the Sultan of Swat, who are to duel to the death with long-swords.'
The jeddak nodded. 'Let them fight,' he said, 'and see that you fight fair,' he added, glaring directly at me.
'And, I suppose that Motus does not have to fight fair,' I said; 'but that is immaterial to me. I shall kill him however he fights.'
The referee was almost beside himself with embarrassment. 'Silence, slave!' he whispered. He carried an extra sword which he handed to me and then motioned us to cross swords.
