Conan the Barbarian 165

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-163; next appearance in CB-166).

Minor Characters

 * Fafnir (Previous appearance in CB-163; next appearance in CB-166).
 * Marta and her crew (First and only appearance to date; all die in this issue).
 * Klaus and Nadine (First and only appearance to date). Innkeeper and daughter.

Locations

 * A Border Kingdom city

Time Frame
Two days

Synopsis
Conan and Fafnir search through a tower they have sneaked into and take a number of treasures before a band of monks investigates. They notice items missing, including the Mirror of Thazarra, but are thankful that a hidden gem remains. Word spreads of Conan's exploits and a band of thieves led by Marta assume that Conan and Fafnir have found the Thazarra's Jewel, and they vow to get it themselves. Meanwhile, Conan has given the mirror to a girl, Nadine, in the tavern, but when she looks into it, she is possessed by the spirit of the sorceress Thazarra herself. She leaves the house through the window just as Conan and her father, Klaus, enter looking for her. They notice the open window and Conan promises to find Nadine. Thazarra busies herself building her strength by killing and absorbing the life force of men she seduces, but when she comes upon Fafnir, who recognizes her from the tavern, she decides to utilize his skills as a thief instead, arranging to hire him and meet him the next night. As Conan is searching, Marta's men attack and he soundly defeats them, and after questioning them finds out they believe he has a special gem. The next morning, Nadine is herself as she wakes in her bed and comes down to breakfast with no memory of the previous night, much to Fafnir's confusion. However, that night she is possessed again and goes to meet Fafnir to steal the gem from the monks. At the same time, Conan, now knowing he left something of value behind, also heads to the tower, as do Marta and her crew, realizing that perhaps Conan didn't have the gem after all. Conan reaches the treasure room first, and moves aside a giant statue to find a compartment underneath. Fafnir and Nadine then show up as Conan pulls out the gem, noticing it's the same shape as an indentation in Nadine's mirror's shaft, which fortuitously she brought with her. Placing the gem in the pommel releases Thazarra's spirit just as Marta and her crew arrive. Conan, Fafnir, and Nadine make their escape through a window as Thazarra possesses Marta, but the monks burst into the room and slay everyone.

Reprinted

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