Conan the Barbarian 88

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-86; next appearance in CB-89).
 * Zula (Last appearance in CB-86; next appearance in CB-89).
 * Belit (Last appearance in CB-86; next appearance in CB-89).

Minor Characters

 * Neftha (Last appearance in CB-85; next appearance in CB-89).
 * Ctesphon II (First and only appearance; dies in this issue). King of Stygia
 * Hath-Horeb (First and only appearance; dies in this issue). Sorcerer adviser to the king.

Location

 * Luxur

Time Frame

 * One night.

Synopsis
Belit reveals how, after having been transformed into serpents and making their way to the caverns under the palace, she and Neftha regained their forms and made their way into the palace through secret passages. Neftha explained how Ctesphon lives in paranoid fear of the sorcerer Thoth-Amon, and sits alone at night poring over scrolls and books. She led Belit straight to his chamber, where he indeed sat hunched over a table of scrolls. Unfortunately, as Belit attacked, it turned out to be a trap laid by Ctesphon's advisor Hath-Horeb, who tells Belit that Neftha is Ctesphon's sister, who was merely using Belit for her own plans. Belit attacks and manages to grab the cowering Ctesphon, pulling him out of the room. But he proves to be Hath-Horeb magically disguised, and he renders Belit unconscious. She awoke in the sarcophagus, rescued by Conan and Zula. She then leads the men to another passage that Neftha had told her about, and they stumble across the execution of Neftha moments before her head is taken. The three leap into action, with Zula warning them not to meet Hath-Horeb's gaze. Belit finds her way to Ctesphon and demands to know what happened to her father; the cowardly king says he had him executed years ago. Belit pushes him off a railing to his death. In the shock of the moment, battle freezes, and Hath-Horeb crowns Neftha as the new ruler, Ctesphon III. She immediately orders the death of Belit and the capture of Conan and Zula, but acting quickly, Zula magically cloaks himself and his companions. Hath-Horeb prepares to counter the spell, but Belit slays him with a spear. The three companions run as Neftha orders her men in pursuit...