CHAPTER XI – Thuvia, Maid of Mars opens with Carthoris awakening on a blood-soaked battlefield, left unconscious amid the lifeless bodies of fallen foes. Disoriented and weak, he finds Thuvia and Kar Komak gone, with no sign of where or how they vanished. Though wounded and drained, Carthoris rises with unwavering resolve, setting his course for Aaanthor, where water and possible clues await, his thoughts consumed by Thuvia’s safety.

Reaching the crumbling city of Aaanthor, Carthoris encounters a haunting silence that cloaks the ruins, relics of a civilization now abandoned. As he explores its shadowy corridors, he’s attacked by savage green Martians and ambushed by towering white apes, whose ferocity pushes him to his limit. Overpowered, he is captured and thrown into a lightless cell deep beneath the city, uncertain of what fate might await him in the bowels of this forgotten place.

In the pitch-black depths, a familiar voice cuts through the silence—Kar Komak has returned. The Lotharian warrior uses the mental prowess of his people, conjuring spectral bowmen with terrifying precision to combat their captors. The illusion proves so lifelike that panic sweeps through their enemies, allowing Carthoris and Kar Komak to fight their way to freedom amid the confusion and fear wrought by this otherworldly force.

Once free of the city’s ruins, the pair presses on across the rugged terrain of Barsoom, knowing that their mission is far from over. Without the safety of an airship, they travel on foot, making slow but deliberate progress, all the while remaining wary of enemies who might still pursue them. To avoid drawing attention, they assume the roles of common travelers, concealing their true identities as they seek shelter and support.

Their journey takes them into the fringes of cultivated land, where the border between wilderness and civilization is sharply drawn. Here, fortified compounds are maintained to guard against threats from green Martians and predatory beasts that still roam Mars. Carthoris and Kar Komak are welcomed into one such compound by Hal Vas, a young noble who offers them rest without realizing the status of his guests.

Though grateful for the hospitality, Carthoris remains cautious, knowing political tensions across Barsoom are fragile and one misstep could jeopardize their plans. Hal Vas unknowingly belongs to a faction unfriendly to Helium, forcing Carthoris to hide not only his identity but also the urgency of his quest. Their conversations are layered with subtle tension, each word measured carefully to maintain the illusion of neutrality while gleaning whatever information they can.

Throughout these trials, Carthoris demonstrates unwavering dedication and inherited strategic brilliance. Whether navigating the ruins of war-torn cities or exchanging guarded pleasantries in enemy territory, he never loses sight of his goal—to find Thuvia and protect her from the dangerous schemes that threaten not only her but the peace of Barsoom. Every choice he makes is calculated, revealing the strength of his character and the depth of his love.

Kar Komak, too, emerges as more than just a companion. His loyalty, courage, and rare abilities enrich the journey, offering Carthoris not just support, but a reminder of the power of belief and brotherhood. Together, they form a formidable partnership, their alliance a testament to the unexpected friendships forged in the fire of shared trials.

This chapter deepens the story’s themes of perseverance, sacrifice, and loyalty. Set against the backdrop of a world teetering between the ruins of its past and the conflicts of its present, Carthoris’s mission reflects the enduring struggle between duty and love. As they move forward, each mile brings new peril, but also the unshakable hope that their courage will be enough to rescue Thuvia and alter the course of Barsoom’s destiny.