Conan the Barbarian 106

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-105; next appearance in CB-107).

Minor Characters

 * Amboola (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Kuashite.
 * Queen Tanada of Kush (First appearance; next appearance in CB-107).
 * Lord Tuthmes of Kush (First appearance; next appearance in CB-107).
 * Afari (First and only appearance to date).
 * Muru (First appearance; next appearance in CB-107); Kordafan sorcerer.
 * Shubba (First appearance; next appearance in CB-107); Kushite servant.
 * Diana (First appearance; next appearance in CB-107);Nemedian slave-girl.
 * Falaha (First and only appearance to date); Kushite minister.

Locations

 * Kush

Time Frame

 * Several days

Synopsis
As Conan makes his way to the Kushite capital of Meroe, Amboola awakens in a dungeon. He struggles to remember how he got there, and recalls Queen Tanada accusing him of treason and drugging him. He notices mists coalescing in the dungeon, and sees the snout of a pig form, then turn into a hulking humanoid pig who kills him. The next morning, minister Afari informs Lord Tuthmes that Amboola's partially devoured body has been found, and he suspects the work of a demon. Tuthmes thinks it more likely the Queen had Amboola slaughtered in a fit of rage and tells Afari to punish the guards at the cell for allowing this to happen on their watch. When the placated minister leaves, Tuthmes calls forth a Kordafan sorcerer, Muru, who summoned the beast on Tuthmes's command. Although he doesn't entirely trust Muru, he needs him to foment a rebellion against Tanada. Tuthmes goes into the poverty stricken streets and tells a street dweller, Shubba, to spread the word that Tanada had Amboola killed. Soon the underclass both within and outside the city walls hear of Tanada's alleged actions. The next morning, Tanada rides through the marketplace and is attacked by the citizenry. Conan happens to be passing by, and seeing the attack on Tanada, leaps to her defense and easily fends off the weakened and undisciplined men. Tanada has the captain of her guard killed immediately for dereliction of duty and hires Conan on the spot. Some days later, Shubba brings Tuthmes Diana, a Nemedian slave Tuthmes plans to gift to the queen. To ensure her obedience, Tuthmes takes Diana to the cellar and shows her the caged pig-beast. The next morning, Diana is given to the minister Falaha, who takes her to Queen Tanada. Immediately suspicious, Tanada has Diana chained and threatens to whip her unless she speaks of Tuthmes's plans. Fear of the pig-monster stays her tongue but just before Tanada can administer punishment, she is stopped by an impertinent Conan...

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 13 - Whispering Shadows and Other Stories