Conan the Barbarian 176

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-175; next appearance in CB-177).

Minor Characters

 * Tetra (Previous appearance in CB-175; next appearance in CB-177).
 * Delmurio (Previous appearance in CB-175; next appearance in CB-177).
 * Feducio (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Argosian priest of Mitra
 * Redondo (Previous appearance in CBA-10; dies in this issue).
 * Merdine (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Argosian hired guard.
 * Keiv (Previous appearance in Conan the Barbarian 173; next appearance in CB-177).

Locations

 * Argos, likely Messentia

Time Frame

 * Several days

Synopsis
While an amused Conan and Delmurio watch Tetra clear out a tavern in Argos, a local Mitra priest, Feducio, offers them passage on his ship, though a suspicious Conan turns him down. However, that night, Conan goes to investigate the boat, finding it's run by slaves, a point he makes to the allegedly holy man Feducio. Feducio claims they are in fact faithful religious volunteers; in face one is Conan's former crewmate Redondo, who Conan believes is enchanted into serving. He attempts to take Redondo with him, but the man struggles and Conan has to deal with Feducio's guards, pinning Feducio to the ship's mast on his way out. Conan attempts to talk to Redondo to find out why he is so subservient, but when Tetra inadvertently unties him, Redonodo flees screaming of demons. Meanwhile, Feducio has convinced the townspeople that the current torrential rains are caused by demons, preventing a ship with the statue of Mitra from entering the docks, and pointing them in Conan's direction. When Redondo runs into the the square Feducio has him killed as he fears Redondo has shaken his control off, which enrages to the point that he silently approaches Feducio, and the rather sensible townspeople part their ways for him. Conan quickly stabs Feducio and his bodyguard Merdine, and the rains suddenly stop as the black ship with the statue of Mitra appears in the harbor. Three days journey away the monster Keiv, still on the trail of Conan, shambles on...

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 23 - Well of Souls and Other Stories