Conan the Barbarian 120

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last chronological appearance in CB-119; next appearance in CB-121).

Minor Characters

 * Jenna (Last appearance in CB-119; next appearance in ??).
 * Vonndhar (First and only appearance to date). Valusian servant of Erlik.
 * Okkan's Brigand Band. (First and only appearance to date). Agaarn, Orawk, Moretto named.

Locations

 * The city-state of Pelishta, Shem

Time Frame

 * Two days.

Synopsis
Conan and Jenna encounter a demon-filled mist that seems to be an illusion caused by the piping of a dandy named Vonndhar who greets the two. He says he has come to claim Jenna's soul in the name of his master, Erlik, god of death. Conan runs him through but he gets up and continues his conversation, convincing Conan he is a true servant of death and does not mean Conan any harm. He says Jenna should have died in the Valley of Eternal Night, but as she didn't, Vonndhar has been sent to judge whether she is worthy of continued life. Jenna, however, has slipped away and is fleeing through the forest. She stumbles upon a thieves' camp led by Okkan, whom she convinces them Vonndhar has riches and needs to be killed. As Conan and Vonndhar search for Jenna, they attack and are easily beaten off, and when Okkan realizes he was set up by Jenna, he turns on her until Conan stops him. Okkan explains that they are raiding Pelishta gold intended for a war with Akkharia. Conan decides he wants in, and the thieves happily accept someone of Conan's power. That evening, Vonndhar tells Conan of how he came from pre-Cataclysm times, from Valusia even before the time of Kull, but was killed in battle and raised by Erlik to be his servant. Jenna attampts to seduce Vonndhar, who happily lets her before informing her it won't affect his decision. The next day, using Jenna as bait, the group attacks a caravan. During the battle, though, a wagon tips over and crushes Jenna. Vonndhar is horrified - he was assured by Erlik that Jenna's fate would be his to decide - and calls his master. Erlik appears in the sky and tells Vonndhar he had become tainted with emotion. Vonndhar insists that Erlik claim him instead and the god reluctantly does so. Conan cannot help by think the wrong person died, as Jenna doesn't even seem to understand that Vonndhar sacrificed himself for her. He rides off in disgust, leaving Jenna with the thieves and gold.

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 15 - The Corridor of Mullah-Kajar and Other Stories