Conan the Barbarian 164

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-45; next chronological appearance in first story of ST-4).

Minor Characters

 * Veden Kamal (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue).
 * Maheeva

Locations

 * Zamorian steppes

Time Frame
Several weeks

Synopsis
Conan has been followed for some days by young Veden Kamal, who wants revenge on Conan for killing his brothers. His inept stalking ends when he finally makes a move on a fully knowledgeable Conan, who lays him out with one blow. When Conan dismisses him, telling to come back when he's a warrior, the boy asks to be Conan's apprentice. No fool, Conan declines until Veden reveals he can help Conan find the Jewelled Sword of Tem. Vedem leads Conan to the imprisoned wizard Maheeva, who directs the two to an Aesgaardian mountain pass and cavern. After several days journey and encountering savage monkey-men in the snowy hills, the two find the the cavern and inside a river flowing in the icy mountains. They take a beached canoe and follow the foul-smelling river past dinosaurs frozen in the ice until they find the ancient Temple of the Dark Angels. Conan breaks the door down and sees two women frozen in the ice, along with a the sword. Conan chips away at the ice, and Veden takes the sword, suddenly turning on Conan in order to get his revenge. The power of the sword begins to wear Conan down, but an explosion occurs as the Dark Angels awaken. The two evil women attempt to destroy the sword and the two men, blasting Veden into charred flesh, and Conan grabs the sword and slits the throat of one of the women. The other blasts Conan into the river, but he emerges and plunges the sword into her. The two immortal women crawl back into their tomb to be refrozen, saying they will return when another comes to claim the sword, but Conan throws it into the river. He leaves behind a crippled and nearly dead Veden, he begs Conan to kill him, but Conan ignores his pleas and floats away.

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 21 - Blood of the Titan and Other Stories