Conan the Barbarian 162

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-161; next appearance in CB-163).

Minor Characters

 * Fafnir (Previous appearance in CB-161; next appearance in CB-163).
 * Jergl Zadh (Previous appearance in CB-152; dies in this issue).

Locations

 * Border Kingdoms

Time Frame
Several days

Synopsis
Conan and Fafnir enter a Border Kingdoms town and immediately head for a tavern while a group of falcon-god worshipers execute their leader for failing to lead them to victory over Conan. Their ceremony is interrupted by the demon Jergl Zadh, whose hatred for Conan aligns with the cultists. and he bends them into his service. Some days later, the falconmen attack Conan and Fafnir, but they escape on a stolen horse. Unfortunately, their path leads them directly to a cliff side, and when they leap into the river below, Jergl turns the water into flames. Conan manages to grab an tree branch and they pull themselves up, only to find the grassy fields turned into snakes. They slice their way to the mountainside, pursued by the falconmen, and begin to climb. The cultists call forth their birds of prey and the falcons attack the two men, only stopped when Conan manages to light the dry branches on the side of the cliff on fire. They make it to the top of the plateau and see a stone ruin. They explore inside, and fine it full of treasure, skeletons and a statue of Jergl Zadh. Suddenly, a flame appears from inside the statue - the spirit of Jergl himself, who explains he was banished from the mortal realm but in his places of power can possess a human body, and has led Conan here to do just that.The flame attempts to engulf Conan, but realizes too late that it was merely a mirror that Conan was reflecting into. Jergl Is trapped in the mirror and Conan throws a sculpture, shattering it. He and Fafnir flee as the ruin crumbles into dust.

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 21 - Blood of the Titan and Other Stories