Conan the Barbarian 51

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-50; next appearance in CB-52).

Minor Characters

 * Stefanya (Last appearance in CB-50; no further appearances to date).
 * Lupalina the Wolf Mistress (Last appearance in CB-49; dies in this issue).
 * Thalkalides and Elviriom (Last appearance in CB-50; no further appearances to date).
 * Unos (Last appearance in CB-49; dies in this issue).
 * Belthamquar and Thelonia (First appearance for both; no further appearances to date). Demons.
 * Zoqquanor's corpse (Previous appearance in CB-48; no further appearances to date).

Location

 * The province of Phalkar in the Border Kingdoms.

Time Frame

 * A day.

Synopsis
Conan shows up at the entrance to Unos's palace with a covered cage, demanding to see the regent to give him a gift. He pushes his way into the palace, and a bored Unos allows him to speak. Conan pulls the sheet aside to reveal a bizarre, magical, talking bird, who informs Unos that Stefanya, rightful ruler of Phalkar, still lives, and that the previous regent was killed in a plot instigated by the court wizards, Thalkalides and Elviriom. The bird also claims that Unos is an unnatural creation of demonic magic, formed through the powers of the demons Belthamquar and Thelonia. Although the wizards demand Conan's immediate death, Unos halts the guards, as Conan has opened his eyes to the wizards' potential treachery - if they plotted the death of one regent, why not another? Away from the castle, the bird turns back into the sorceress Lipalina, and the two wait for the inevitable arrival of Unos, seeking help in defeating the powerful wizards. Lupalina summons the demons Belthamaquar and Thelonia, who, as a single favor to their son, dispose of the wizards in hideous manners, and vanish. UNos, in gratitude, kills Lupalina. Meanwhile, Conan picks up Stefanya and rides with her back to Ravengard, knowing that once Unos gets rid of the wizards he'll turn his attentions to the rightful heir of the province. The two of them pick up the body of Zoqquanor but are set upon by Unos, who uses his powers to blast Conan into a skeleton, but the barbarian miraculously regenerates thanks to his magical amulet. Unos summons vines to entrap Conan, then turns to Stefanya. Knowing she is tied to the wizard Zoqquanor, he blasts the body, injuring Stefanya. Seeing the girl writhe in pain gives Conan the strength to break free of the vines and he grasps Unos in a bear hug, and the amulet burns through Unos's flesh, killing him. Conan places the amulet around Stefanya's neck, and she revives.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga 82
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Seven: The Dweller in the Pool and Other Stories