# IV: The Capital explained — The Moon Maid

> Chapter companion for The Moon Maid by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Julian 20th, The Red Hawk, is taken by the Kalkars to their vast capital camp. He is brought before Or-tis the Jemadar, who offers peace and a division of the land, but Julian refuses, insisting that only a Julian can rule. Or-tis threatens to send him to The Butcher. Julian meets a fellow prisoner who reveals Or-tis is a half-Kalkar usurper who killed his father. Julian is then taken to a high chamber to await execution, while the war cry of his people is heard in the distance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Honor, Loyalty, and Betrayal

Julian's refusal to compromise his honor or betray his people, even under threat of death, contrasts with Or-tis's usurpation and betrayal of his own lineage.

### Survival and Resilience

The old slave woman's speech about the unchanging native people who endure through all conquests underscores the theme of resilience.

### Class, Oppression, and Rebellion

The Kalkar nobles oppress both the Yanks and the native population, while Julian leads a rebellion to drive them out.

## Character check-ins

### Julian 20th (The Red Hawk)

The captured Great Chief of the Julians, defiantly refuses Or-tis's peace offer and awaits execution.

### Or-tis (the Jemadar)

The Kalkar ruler who offers peace to Julian but threatens him with The Butcher when refused.

### The Kalkars

The enemy force that captures Julian and brings him to their capital camp.

### Red Lightning

Julian's horse, used to transport him to the Kalkar capital.

### The Vulture

A Yank warrior to whom Julian sends a final command to carry The Flag onward to the sea.

### The Butcher

The executioner to whom Julian is to be sent in the morning.

## Key lines

> There can be but one ruler for this whole country and he will be a Julian—if not I, the next in line.

Julian declares that only a Julian can rule the land, and if he dies, his successor will continue the fight.

_Julian's unwavering stance against sharing power with the Kalkars._

> They come and mix their blood with ours, but in a few generations the last traces of it have disappeared, swallowed up by the slow, unchanging flood of ours.

The old slave woman explains that conquerors come and go, but the native people remain unchanged, absorbing all foreign blood.

_A reflection on the enduring nature of the land's original inhabitants._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters/iv-the-capital
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_maid_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_maid_se/chapters