Conan the Barbarian 52

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-51; next appearance in CB-53).

Minor Characters

 * Murilo (Last appearance in CB-11; next appearance in CB-53).
 * Murilo's soldiers (First appearance; many appear next in CB-53). Gezpacho and Anakus are named. Dirkov and Coppolus are killed.
 * Tara (First appearance; next appearance in CB-53). Hanumar acrobat.

Location

 * Belverus, capital of Nemedia, and the city-state of Ronnoco, on the road south to Ophir.

Time Frame

 * A week. It is the first day of spring, four years after the events of CB-11.

Synopsis
Conan rides into Belverus searching for employment as a sell-sword. Unfortunately, he arrives just as a wild bull rampages through the street. A young acrobat first distracts the bull, and Conan finishes it off by snapping its neck. It turns out the bull was released by Conan's old acquaintance Murilo. Murilo invites Conan and the acrobat, who is actually a girl named Tara, to join his Crimson Company, who are heading to Ronnoco. On the trip, Conan gains new armor and a spiffy red cape, and Murilo entertains Conan and Tara with a tale from the time of King Kull, of a pair of worshippers of a Scorpion God who were attacked by a servant of the Black Shadow. The servant of the Black Shadow was killed by the bite of a scorpion despite the power of his magic ring, and the ring was buried underneath a scorpion shrine in a ruined city. The Crimson Company has been hired to investigate the legendary city, and they find the large crystal scorpion shrine. The scorpion comes to life, of course, but is defeated by Conan, and a passage underground is revealed. The magical ring lies on the floor of the chamber, and Conan, familiar with evil magics, warns against touching it. Murillo agrees, and takes the Company to report their findings, leaving two guards, Dirkov and Coppolus, behind with strict instructions not to touch the ring. After three days, the two guards break down and claim the ring, but both are consumed by a mysterious shadow that grows as it devours each man...

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga 83
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Eight: Brothers of the Blade and Other Stories