Conan the Barbarian 80

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-79; next appearance in CB-81).

Minor Characters

 * Bardylis (Last appearance in CB-79; next appearance in CB-81).
 * Ptolemy (Last appearance in CB-79; next appearance in CB-81).
 * Ablah (First appearance; dies after events in this issue; head seen in CB-81).
 * Aristo (First appearance; dies in this issue). Attalus soldier.

Location

 * The village of Attalus in the Lost Valley of Iskander.

Time Frame

 * One day

Synopsis
Despite his distrust of Conan, Ptolemy allows Conan to stay, and Bardylis leads Conan to a place of rest. Conan believes he recognizes a hooded man he passes by, who Bardylis identifies as Ablah, a trader. In his room, Conan hides the Eye of Set he is transporting, which is fortunate because he is ambushed and bludgeoned into unconsciousness that night, and taken, tied up, to Ablah. Conan then recalls Ablah from dealings in Argos, but doesn't know why Ablah has attacked him. Ablah reveals he is working for the wizard Hun-Ya-Di to retrieve the eye and kill Conan. When his captors try to search Conan, he breaks free and attacks, killing them all though Ablah fled when the trouble started. Meanwhile, Bardylis, who has discovered the wine at dinner was drugged, comes to find Conan. She leads him through the streets when they are stopped by Ptolemy's men who are looking for Conan. Bardylis convinces Conan to go with them peacefully, but they find that Ablah has beaten them to the leader, poisoning him against the barbarian. Conan's insolence enrages Ptolemy and he attacks Conan bare handed. After a brutal fight, Conan knocks the leader unconscious, inadvertently taking command of the "might makes right" culture of Attalus. As Conan absorbs this, a soldier who was guarding the pass stumbles into the throne chamber. He is mortally wounded and with his dying breath tells them that 300 Stygians are attacking the pass, possibly making Conan's tenure as king very short indeed.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga #90
 * Chronicles of Conan Volume 10: When Giants Walk the Earth and Other Stories