Conan the Barbarian 29

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-28; next appearance in CB-30).

Minor Characters

 * Eithriall (First appearance; dies in this issue.) Iranistanian; also called Ormraxes.

Location

 * Aghrapur, capital of Turan.

Time Frame

 * Two days.

Synopsis
Conan enters the city of Aghrapur in time to see the delivery of the statue of Tarim from Prince Yezdigerd. Conan mocks the procession and is quickly set upon by the religious zealots of the city. Conan is overwhelmed by numbers but rescued by a stranger who leads Conan via back alleys to a tavern. He introduces himself as Ormraxes, but some approaching guards call him Eithriall and attempt to bring him in. In the scuffle Conan is knocked unconscious and finds himself revived by a masked man who informs Conan where Ormraxes is being held. Conan, determined to repay his debt to Ormraxes sneaks into the dungeon. Conan plows his way through the guards and rescues Ormraxes from the forces of King Yilidiz. Upon his return, Conan discovers the masked man is, in fact, Eithriall, and Ormraxes (an archaic Turanian term for "ghost") is just a spiritual projection Eithriall was using as a spy. The man and spirit use a crystal to reunite themselves, but a startled Conan interrupts the ceremony with his sword and Eithriall/Ormraxes perish in flames. The Turanian guards appear at that point and reveal they know what has happened. They offer Conan a choice - enlistment in the Turanian army, or imprisonment. Conan opts for enlistment.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga #66
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Five: The Shadow in the Tomb and Other Stories