Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, and Phondari, Pirate Queen of Mars, are hot on the trail of the Hoard of Segotha, an ancient treasure lost thousands of years ago. Legends say the hoard contains something wondrous, something of inestimable worth unknown even to the greatest warlords of Mars. But these same legends also say the treasure is cursed. True or not, Phondari's old enemy, Xen Brega, is determined to kill her and Dejah and keep the hoard for himself. But never mind Brega -- can Dejah really trust Phondari?