Conan the Barbarian 186

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CBA-10; next appearance in CBA-9).

Minor Characters

 * Miri (First and only appearance to date). Water nymph.
 * Kezan Val (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Pirate.
 * Thamos (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). King of Argos.

Locations

 * Off the coast of Kush

Time Frame

 * Several days

Synopsis
Conan is on a boat being chased by the forces of King Thamos of Argos, who has lost a hand to Conan. The sympathetic captain vows to protect his messenger, but a fierce lightning storm, and the presence of a magical siren, causes the ship to crash off the coast of Kush, and the unconscious survivors are dragged off by pirates who have enslaved the siren. They recognize Conan from his pirating days and Conan challenges Kezan Val, their leader, but as Conan is in chains, Kezan Val shrugs off the challenge and plans to sell Conan to Thanmos. Conan is thrown in the dungeon where Miri approaches offering to free Conan if he in turn will free her. He promises and she breaks the chains that hold him. Conan then marches into the pirates' hall and challenges and swiftly defeats Kezan Val, taking leadership of the pirates, which he renames the Crimson Brotherhood. He tells them to get a ship ready and goes to fee Miri, who promises she will never forget. Kezan Val sneaks away and steals a boat. He finds Thamos's ship and tells him where Conan is hiding, and Thamos thanks him by slitting his throat and throwing him overboard. Soon, Conan's galley finds a small group of vessels which they easily conquer, but too late realize it's a trap as the Argosean fleet appears. An oncoming storm helps Conan's galley flee, but they are still in danger until Miri appears to destroy Thamos's fleet. The remnants of Conan's brotherhood sail away.

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 24 - Blood Dawn and Other Stories