Prince Darus laments that he has broken the heart of his wife, Princess Zurah of Helium. The strength of their love is tested in the most painful, and dangerous ways possible. Darus’s family suspect’s that Zurah’s Than family bloodline has expressed itself in aberrant behavior and that she has killed twenty-three little girls right before their eyes. Zurah pleads that she killed no girls but rather green bug monsters, brandishing swords. In to a terrible family meeting the family rejects her story. They saw beautiful little girls being slaughtered. It is exacerbated by the arrival of a detachment of guards bearing a warrant for Zurah’s arrest for mass murder of children signed by the Jeddak (King), Tardos Mors, himself. Zurah’s reaction is to flee which she does in her small fast-flyer. She flies to Torquas knowing their friend, Jeddak Hortan Gur, will grant her refuge. However, the effect of her leaving crushes Prince Darus. On their bed Zurah left a note, “Find me, fight for me. It is the only way to keep me.” Thus begins an epic chase across the wide expanse of Barsoom’s trackless deserts where Zurah learns of hitherto unknown species who may hold answers. But why would they be attacking Helium and how did Zurah see them for what they were when others saw little girls? To clear her name Zurah must answer all of these questions. It is a test of her strength and the love she and Darus share. She must for she is, the .