CHAPTER IX -Thuvia, Maid of Mars

In Chapter IX of “Thuvia, Maid of Mars,” Carthoris, Thuvia, and Jav fall into a pit as a result of Tario’s anger but emerge unscathed. Inside the chamber they find themselves in, they face threats including Komal, believed by Jav to be a deity set to devour them. However, Thuvia tames Komal, revealing the creature to be just a giant banth (a Martian beast) and not a divine entity. They proceed to escape the chamber through a series of corridors and into a plain where they anticipate confrontation from Tario’s forces.

During their escape, they witness the desolation of Lothar, a once bustling city now reduced to a ghostly shell with barely a thousand inhabitants from a once mighty population. Their society, reliant on mental powers to create illusions and lacking physical vigor or numbers, faces extinction. Jav showcases the ability to materialize their fearsome past, filled with warriors and battles, in an impressive but ultimately hollow display of past glories.

The chapter culminates in an attempt by Jav to turn Carthoris’s and Thuvia’s journey to their advantage, using his powers to create a diversion by manifesting an army to battle Tario’s forces. Meanwhile, Carthoris and Thuvia plan to slip away during the confusion. However, just as they attempt to leave, Jav reveals his true feelings for Thuvia, propositioning her with dishonorable intent. Thuvia rejects him with scorn, affirming her loyalty to Carthoris, who she insists would never abandon her out of cowardice or self-preservation. Thuvia’s dignified refusal underscores her integrity and devotion, setting the stage for potential conflict with Jav, who is revealed to not only possess the power to create illusions but also to harbor dangerous personal desires.