Conan the Barbarian 53

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-52; next appearance in CB-54).

Minor Characters

 * Murilo (Last appearance in CB-52; next appearance in CB-54).
 * Murilo's soldiers (Many appeared last in CB-52; next appearance for many in CB-54). Yusef is named; Gaston and Gerro are killed.
 * Tara (Last appearance in CB-52; next appearance in CB-54).
 * Vanni (First appearance; next appearance in CB-54). Son of the ruler of Ronnoco.
 * Belzamo (First appearance; next appearance in CB-54). Ruler of Ronnoco.
 * Yvonne (First appearance; next appearance in CB-54). Daughter of the ruler of Pergonna.
 * The Blade Brothers: Sliver, Clawfoot and Steel-Skull (First and only appearance to date; all die in this issue). Mercenaries with metallic limbs.

Location

 * The city-state of Ronnoco and the nearby countryside.

Time Frame

 * Three days.

Synopsis
The Crimson Company approaches Ronnoco and, since they are early for their appointment, are mistakenly attacked. After a brief skirmish, the fight is ended by Vanni, son of the ruler of Ronnoco, who shrugs off Conan's angry words. The Ronnoco soldiers are expecting an attack from nearby Carnolla, and have the Crimson Company have been brought in to assist. Murilo, Conan and Tara meet with Belzamo, the ruler of Ronnoco, who explains that he intends to ally with a third city-state, Pergona, against Carnolla, and the best way to do that would be to force an alliance by kidnapping the daughter of the lord of Pergonna, Yvonne, who is being transported by the Blade Brothers to her arranged wedding in Carnolla. A disguised Conan and Tara meet with the Blade Brothers, but a fight soon breaks out and the Blade Brothers are all killed. The Crimson Company take Yvonne into their custody. Meanwhile, a contingent sent back to claim the Ring of the Black Shadow is decimated by the growing shadow creature, although one member of the group, Yusef manages to escape to tell the tale...

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga 83
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Eight: Brothers of the Blade and Other Stories