Conan the Barbarian 179

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-178; next appearance in CB-180).

Minor Characters

 * Keiv (Previous appearance in CB-178; next appearance in CB-180).
 * Jamal (First and only appearance to date; dies in this story)
 * Ahmet (First and only appearance to date; dies in this story). Captain of the Becharadur guard.
 * Imhotep (First appearance; next appearance in CB-180). Demon

Locations

 * Shem
 * City of Becharadur

Time Frame

 * Several days

Synopsis
Conan and Keiv are washed ashore near the city of Becharadur in Shem. They are spotted by the young thief Jamal, who passes quickly as he is on his way to a thieving job arranged by the servant girl Naomi. She helps him evade the guards to the castle and as he is loading his bags with treasure he insults Naomi who draws a knife. The brief scuffle ends with her falling out the window to her death and he is discovered. He flees the castle but is caught in a small riot caused by a priest of Ishtar speaking of a prophesized savior against an incoming raid by the conqueror Imhotep. Jamal defends the priest who gives him a pendant in thanks, but Jamal must run again as Captain Ahmet and his men are looking for him, and eventually they catch him, but the swift-thinking thief turns their attention to the prophesized savior, who he claims is the barbarian he saw on the beach. Conan, still unconscious after days of swimming, is taken to the castle and when he awakens, is shocked that the citizens bow to him and proclaim him their chosen one. He returns to the beach to find Keiv covered in arrows as the people thought he was a monster and shot at him to make sure he was dead. He wasn't, though, and wakes when Conan calls to him, annoyed with being punctured by a score of arrows. Although he is warned by a prophet who knows full well Conan isn't the chosen one, a bemused Conan takes full advantage of his status in the city with wine, food, and women, although Keiv is uncomfortable with the situation. Days later, Jamal comes across a plotting Ahmet, and when he tries to flee is slain by the soldier outside Conan's quarters. Keiv discovers his monstrous form makes him impervious to alcohol, but observes a riot in the streets where the prophet who condemned Conan is hung for blasphemy. He notices a glow coming from the north and rushes to tell Conan, finding Jamal dead at the door with an amulet clutched in his hand. Keiv informs Conan that there is unrest in the city and something approaching and Conan decides the game is not longer worth it, but discovers the town guard will not let him leave. Conan and Keiv start to battle the soldiers but the walls crumble as demonic creatures on a flying blood red horses sweep into the town, destroying structures and lives alike - Imhotep has arrived.. The city and everyone in it is razed to dust except Conan and Keiv, protected by the amulet, and the dead prophet. Keiv suggests that Conan might indeed be the chosen one, as he has survived to stop Imhotep.

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 23 - Well of Souls and Other Stories