Conan the Barbarian 123

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-122; next appearance in CB-124).

Minor Characters

 * Atreah (Previous appearance in CB-122; next appearance in CB-124).
 * Jonnwalli (Previous appearance in CB-122; next appearance in CB-124).
 * Dukenrik (Previous appearance in CB-122; next appearance in CB-124).
 * A waif (Previous appearance in CB-122; next appearance in CB-124).
 * Murilo (Previous appearance in CB-55; next appearance in CB-124).
 * Yvonna (Previous appearance in CB-55; next appearance in CB-124).
 * Petroccia (First appearance; next appearance in CB-124). Commander of the Armies of Carnolla
 * Eilaynia (First appearance; next appearance in CB-124).

Locations

 * Pergona, Ophir

Time Frame

 * A day

Synopsis
The prison guards of Pergona have a hard time keeping Conan restrained, but he agrees to go with them to meet their lord. It turns out to be Conan's comrade from the Crimson Corsairs, Murilo, and his wife, Yvonna, both considerably portlier than Conan last saw them. Murilo is delighted to see his old companion and while the others rest and freshen up, Conan and Murilo retire to the library to talk. Conan cannot believe how much Murilo has let himself go, but Murilo explains how when he heard that Yvonna's father, lord of Pergona, had died, he rushed into a whirlwind courtship, but has come to regret the sedentary life of a ruler. Now that Conan has come, his fire has been rekindled and he insists they go on an adventure. Conan gathers Jonnwalli and Dukenrik and they head off to a mining outpost with which contact has been lost. When the party reaches the mines, they find the guards dead, looks of fear frozen on their faces and large scratches on their bodies. Conan, Atreah and Murillo enter the mineshaft with some soldiers and go down a pit, which ultimately opens into a huge cavern. Conan sees something moving in the dark and the small band is assaulted by green, toad-like humanoids who overwhelm them with sheer numbers. When Conan awakens, he finds his wounds have been healed and his is in a cage with several other men, including Atreah. One of the men, Petroccia, greets him and while Conan tends to Atreah, they are approached by the witch Eilaynia, who tells Conan that he will serve her forever...

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 16 - The Eternity War and Other Stories