Conan the Barbarian 89

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-88; next appearance in CB-90).
 * Zula (Last appearance in CB-88; next appearance in CB-90).
 * Belit (Last appearance in CB-88; next appearance in CB-90).
 * Thoth-Amon (Last appearance in CB-74; next appearance in CB-90).).

Minor Characters

 * Neftha/Ctesphon III (Last appearance in CB-88; next appearance in CB-90).).

Location

 * The Luxur Palace
 * The caverns under Luxur

Time Frame

 * One night
 * It has been seven years since Conan encountered the God in the Bowl.

Synopsis
Conan, Zula, and Belit flee through the castle's underground passages. Some of their pursuers are called off by a mysterious stranger with a serpent ring. Having shaken the soldiers, Conan and Zula prepare to head for Kheshatta, but Zula changes his mind when he hears that Belit's usurping uncle employs the wizard Ptor-Nubis, who sold Zula into slavery originally. The three of them make plans for Shem so Belit may have her vengeance. Meanwhile in the palace, the newly crowned Ctesphon III is surprised by the doors bursting open at the command of the serpent ring-wielding stranger, the sorcerer Thoth-Amon, who offers his services as adviser. Underground, the three companions rest, but Belit, in a hypnotic trance, sleepwalks towards the jaws of a serpent creature with the face of a woman, similar to the God in the Bowl. At the last moment, she is saved by Zula, who after a violent battle, manages to behead the monster. Conan recalls his earlier encounter, and also that it was a servant of Thoth-Amon. Continuing on, they find an underground river, and Conan sense they are being watched. He sees some humanoid figures who topple a boulder on him. When Belit comes forward to help, she suddenly attacks, and when Conan defends himself, Belit turns into a shape-changing snake man! Conan then fights one in Zula's form, and when the real Belit and Zula appear, he makes them say the words King Kull used to stave off the serpent men of his era, learned from Red Sonja. Finally, they reach the exits of the cavern, and see Belit's Black Corsairs waiting for them. Conan is suspicious, and speaks the words, and the Corsairs hiss and flee. The three step out into the desert sun.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga #93
 * The Chronicles of Conan 11 - The Dance and the Skull and Other Stories