Conan the Barbarian 262

=Framing Story=

Major Characters

 * Conan

Synopsis
=Panther's Blood=

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in SSOC-36; next appearance in second story of SSOC-185).

Minor Characters

 * Rufia (Last appearance in SSOC-36; no further appearances to date).
 * Jubali (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue).
 * Mazduk (Last appearance in SSOC-36; dies in this issue).

Locations

 * Akharia

Time Frame

 * Two days

Synopsis
After fleeing north from Asgalun, Conan and Rufia take refuge in the city of Akharia, but it is soon besieged by Asgalun's army and Conan joins with the city's defenders, although Akharia is far outmatched and outnumbered. With the walls of the city crumbling, Conan discovers the serving girl Rufia has taken in is a spy sent by King Mazdak, but the girl, Jubali, escapes. Conan and Rufia attempt to flee the city via a hidden tunnel but the way is blocked by Asgulan soldiers and Mazdak himself, who renders Conan unconscious. Rufia is promised to Mazdak's general Gerardus and taken to his quarters. Jubali returns but is rebuffed by Mazdak, so she sneaks away with Conan's body and makes him promise to get her to Mazdak for revenge. Conan and Jubali ambush some guards and make their way to Geradus's harem, where Jubali confronts and kills him for choosing Rufia over her. They then find Mazduk conducting a ritual in a panther god temple, with Rufia chained inside a stone statue of a giant panther. While Conan attempts to rescue Rufia, Jubali, a true priestess of the panther god, shifts form into a black panther and attacks and slays Mazduk, though she herself is felled with arrows. Conan flees with Rufia, but she reveals that she has always been in love with Gerardus and wants to stay behind with him. A confused but relenting Conan rides off alone.