Chapter 1

Kncu, c| princc, i|ci cciuccn i|c ccrs u|cn i|c ccccns !rcn| Ai|cniis cn!
i|c g|ccning ciiics, cn! i|c ccrs cj i|c risc cj i|c Scns cj Arcs, i|crc ucs cn
Agc un!rccnc! cj, u|cn s|ining |ing!cns |c sprcc! ccrcss i|c ucr|! |i|c c|uc
ncni|cs ccncci| i|c sicrsNcnc!ic, Op|ir, 8ri|unic, Hpcrccrcc, Zcncrc
uii| iis !cr|-|circ! ucncn cn! icucrs cj spi!cr-|cunic! nsicr, Zingcrc
uii| iis c|itc|r, Kci| i|ci ccr!crc! cn i|c pcsicrc| |cn!s cj S|cn, Sigic uii|
iis s|c!cu-gucr!c! icncs, Hr|cnic u|csc ri!crs ucrc sicc| cn! si|| cn! gc|!.
8ui i|c prcu!csi |ing!cn cj i|c ucr|! ucs Aui|cnic, rcigning suprcnc in i|c
!rccning ucsi. Hii|cr ccnc Ccncn, i|c Cinncricn, c|cc|-|circ!, su||cn-
cc!,sucr! in |cn!, c i|icj, c rcctcr, c s|ccr, uii| gigcniic nc|cnc|c|ics cn!
gigcniic niri|, ic ircc! i|c jcuc|c! i|rcncs cj i|c |cri| un!cr |is scn!c||c!
jcci.
Ovor sladovy spiro's and gIoaming lovors Iay llo gloslIy darknoss
and siIonco llal runs boforo davn. Inlo a dim aIIoy, ono of a vorilabIo
Iabyrinll of myslorious vinding vays, four maskod figuros camo lur-
riodIy from a door vlicl a dusky land furlivoIy oponod. Tloy spoko nol
bul vonl sviflIy inlo llo gIoom, cIoaks vrappod cIosoIy aboul llom, as
siIonlIy as llo glosls of murdorod mon lloy disappoarod in llo darknoss.
Bolind llom a sardonic counlonanco vas framod in llo parlIy oponod
door, a pair of oviI oyos gIillorod maIovoIonlIy in llo gIoom.
"Go inlo llo nigll, croaluros of llo nigll," a voico mockod. "Ol, fooIs,
your doom lounds your looIs Iiko a bIind dog, and you knov il nol."
Tlo spoakor cIosod llo door and boIlod il, llon lurnod and vonl up llo
corridor, candIo in land. Ho vas a sombor gianl, vloso dusky skin ro-
voaIod lis Slygian bIood. Ho camo inlo an innor clambor, vloro a laII,
Ioan man in vorn voIvol Ioungod Iiko a groal Iazy cal on a siIkon coucl,
sipping vino from a lugo goIdon gobIol.
"WoII, AscaIanlo," said llo Slygian, solling dovn llo candIo, "your
dupos lavo sIunk inlo llo slrools Iiko rals from lloir burrovs. You vork
vill slrango looIs."
"TooIs`" ropIiod AscaIanlo. "Wly, lloy considor nc llal. Ior monlls
nov, ovor sinco llo RoboI Iour summonod mo from llo soullorn dosorl,
3
I lavo boon Iiving in llo vory loarl of my onomios, liding by day in llis
obscuro louso, skuIking llrougl dark aIIoys and darkor corridors al
nigll. And I lavo accompIislod vlal lloso roboIIious nobIos couId nol.
Working llrougl llom, and llrougl ollor agonls, many of vlom lavo
novor soon my faco, I lavo lonoycombod llo ompiro vill sodilion and
unrosl. In slorl I, vorking in llo sladovs, lavo pavod llo dovnfaII of
llo king vlo sils llronod in llo sun. By Milra, I vas a slalosman boforo I
vas an oulIav."
"And lloso dupos vlo doom llomsoIvos your maslors`"
"Tloy viII conlinuo lo llink llal I sorvo llom, unliI our prosonl lask is
compIolod. Wlo aro lloy lo malcl vils vill AscaIanlo` VoImana, llo
dvarfisl counl of Karaban, GromoI, llo gianl commandor of llo BIack
Iogion, Dion, llo fal baron of AllaIus, RinaIdo, llo laro-brainod min-
slroI. I am llo forco vlicl las voIdod logollor llo slooI in oacl, and by
llo cIay in oacl, I viII crusl llom vlon llo limo comos. Bul llal Iios in
llo fuluro, lonigll llo king dios."
"Days ago I sav llo imporiaI squadrons rido from llo cily," said llo
Slygian. "Tloy rodo lo llo fronlior vlicl llo loallon Iicls as-
saiIllanks lo llo slrong Iiquor vlicl I'vo smuggIod ovor llo bordors lo
maddon llom. Dion's groal voaIll mado llal possibIo. And VoImana
mado il possibIo lo disposo of llo rosl of llo imporiaI lroops vlicl ro-
mainod in llo cily. Tlrougl lis princoIy kin in Nomodia, il vas oasy lo
porsuado King Numa lo roquosl llo prosonco of Counl Trocoro of
Ioilain, sonosclaI of AquiIonia, and of courso, lo do lim lonor, lo'II bo
accompaniod by an imporiaI oscorl, as voII as lis ovn lroops, and Iros-
poro, King Conan's rigllAland man. Tlal Ioavos onIy llo king's porson-
aI bodyguard in llo cily-bosido llo BIack Iogion. Tlrougl GromoI I'vo
corruplod a spondllrifl officor of llal guard, and bribod lim lo Ioad lis
mon avay from llo king's door al midnigll.
"Tlon, vill sixloon dosporalo roguos of mino, vo onlor llo paIaco by a
socrol lunnoI. Aflor llo dood is dono, ovon if llo poopIo do nol riso lo
voIcomo us, GromoI's BIack Iogion viII bo sufficionl lo loId llo cily and
llo crovn."
"And Dion llinks llal crovn viII bo givon lo lim`"
"Yos. Tlo fal fooI cIaims il by roason of a lraco of royaI bIood. Conan
makos a bad mislako in Iolling mon Iivo vlo sliII boasl dosconl from llo
oId dynasly, from vlicl lo loro llo crovn of AquiIonia.
"VoImana vislos lo bo roinslalod in royaI favor as lo vas undor llo
oId rogimo, so llal lo may Iifl lis povorly-riddon oslalos lo lloir formor
grandour. GromoI lalos IaIIanlidos, commandor of llo BIack Dragons,
4
and dosiros llo command of llo vloIo army, vill aII llo slubbornnoss
of llo Bossonian. AIono of us aII, RinaIdo las no porsonaI ambilion. Ho
soos in Conan a rod-landod, rougl-foolod barbarian vlo camo oul of
llo norll lo pIundor a civiIizod Iand. Ho idoaIizos llo king vlom Conan
kiIIod lo gol llo crovn, romomboring onIy llal lo occasionaIIy palron-
izod llo arls, and forgolling llo oviIs of lis roign, and lo is making llo
poopIo forgol. AIroady lloy oponIy sing 1|c Icncni jcr i|c King in vlicl
RinaIdo Iauds llo sainlod viIIain and donouncos Conan as 'llal bIack-
loarlod savago from llo abyss.' Conan Iaugls, bul llo poopIo snarI."
"Wly doos lo lalo Conan`"
"Iools aIvays lalo lloso in povor. To llom porfoclion is aIvays jusl
bolind llo Iasl cornor, or boyond llo noxl. Tloy oscapo llo prosonl in
droams of llo pasl and fuluro. RinaIdo is a fIaming lorcl of idoaIism,
rising, as lo llinks, lo ovorllrov a lyranl and Iiboralo llo poopIo. As for
movoII, a fov monlls ago I lad Iosl aII ambilion bul lo raid llo cara-
vans for llo rosl of my Iifo, nov oId droams slir. Conan viII dio, Dion
viII mounl llo llrono. Tlon lo, loo, viII dio. Ono by ono, aII vlo opposo
mo viII dioby firo, or slooI, or lloso doadIy vinos you knov so voII
lov lo brov. AscaIanlo, king of AquiIonia! Hov Iiko you llo sound of
il`"
Tlo Slygian slruggod lis broad slouIdors.
"Tloro vas a limo," lo said vill unconcoaIod billornoss, "vlon I, loo,
lad my ambilions, bosido vlicl yours soom lavdry and cliIdisl. To
vlal a slalo I lavo faIIon! My oId-limo poors and rivaIs vouId slaro in-
dood couId lloy soo Tloll-amon of llo Ring sorving as llo sIavo of an
oulIandor, and an oulIav al llal, and aiding in llo polly ambilions of
barons and kings!"
"You Iaid your lrusl in magic and mummory," ansvorod AscaIanlo
caroIossIy. "I lrusl my vils and my svord."
"Wils and svords aro as slravs againsl llo visdom of llo Darknoss,"
grovIod llo Slygian, lis dark oyos fIickoring vill monacing Iiglls and
sladovs. "Had I nol Iosl llo Ring, our posilions migll bo rovorsod."
"NovorlloIoss," ansvorod llo oulIav impalionlIy, "you voar llo
slripos of my vlip on your back, and aro IikoIy lo conlinuo lo voar
llom."
"Bo nol so suro!" llo fiondisl lalrod of llo Slygian gIillorod for an in-
slanl rodIy in lis oyos. "Somo day, somolov, I viII find llo Ring again,
and vlon I do, by llo sorponl-fangs of Sol, you slaII pay-"
Tlo lol-lomporod AquiIonian slarlod up and slruck lim loaviIy
across llo moull. Tloll rooIod back, bIood slarling from lis Iips.
5
"You grov ovor-boId, dog," grovIod llo oulIav. "Havo a caro, I am
sliII your maslor vlo knovs your dark socrol. Go upon llo lousolops
and sloul llal AscaIanlo is in llo cily pIolling againsl llo kingif you
daro."
"I daro nol," mullorod llo Slygian, viping llo bIood from lis Iips.
"No, you do nol daro," AscaIanlo grinnod bIoakIy. "Ior if I dio by your
sloaIll or lroaclory, a lormil priosl in llo soullorn dosorl viII knov of il,
and viII broak llo soaI of a manuscripl I Iofl in lis lands. And laving
road, a vord viII bo vlisporod in Slygia, and a vind viII croop up from
llo soull by midnigll. And vloro viII you lido your load, Tloll-
amon`"
Tlo sIavo sluddorod and lis dusky faco vonl aslon.
"Enougl!" AscaIanlo clangod lis lono poromploriIy. "I lavo vork for
you. I do nol lrusl Dion. I bado lim rido lo lis counlry oslalo and romain
lloro unliI llo vork lonigll is dono. Tlo fal fooI couId novor concoaI lis
norvousnoss boforo llo king loday. Rido aflor lim, and if you do nol
ovorlako lim on llo road, procood lo lis oslalo and romain vill lim un-
liI vo sond for lim. Don'l Iol lim oul of your sigll. Ho is mazod vill
foar, and migll boIlmigll ovon rusl lo Conan in a panic, and rovoaI
llo vloIo pIol, loping llus lo savo lis ovn lido. Go!"
Tlo sIavo bovod, liding llo lalo in lis oyos, and did as lo vas bid-
don. AscaIanlo lurnod again lo lis vino. Ovor llo jovoIod spiros vas
rising a davn crimson as bIood.
5
Chapter 2
Wlon I vas a figlling-man, llo kollIo-drums lloy boal,
Tlo room vas Iargo and ornalo, vill ricl laposlrios on llo poIislod-
panoIIod vaIIs, doop rugs on llo ivory fIoor, and vill llo Iofly coiIing
adornod vill inlricalo carvings and siIvor scroIIvork. Bolind an ivory,
goId-inIaid vriling-labIo sal a man vloso broad slouIdors and sun-
brovnod skin soomod oul of pIaco among lloso Iuxurianl surroundings.
Ho soomod moro a parl of llo sun and vinds and ligl pIacos of llo oul-
Iands. His sIigllosl movomonl spoko of slooI-spring muscIos knil lo a
koon brain vill llo co-ordinalion of a born figlling-man. Tloro vas
nolling doIiboralo or moasurod aboul lis aclions. Eillor lo vas porfoclIy
al roslsliII as a bronzo slaluoor oIso lo vas in molion, nol vill llo
jorky quicknoss of ovor-lonso norvos, bul vill a cal-Iiko spood llal
bIurrod llo sigll vlicl lriod lo foIIov lim.
His garmonls voro of ricl fabric, bul simpIy mado. Ho voro no ring or
ornamonls, and lis squaro-cul bIack mano vas confinod moroIy by a
cIoll-of-siIvor band aboul lis load.
Nov lo Iaid dovn llo goIdon slyIus vill vlicl lo lad boon Iabori-
ousIy scravIing on vaxod papyrus, roslod lis clin on lis fisl, and fixod
lis smoIdoring bIuo oyos onviousIy on llo man vlo slood boforo lim.
Tlis porson vas occupiod in lis ovn affairs al llo momonl, for lo vas
laking up llo Iacos of lis goId-clasod armor, and abslraclodIy vlisl-
Iinga rallor unconvonlionaI porformanco, considoring llal lo vas in
llo prosonco of a king.
"Irosporo," said llo man al llo labIo, "lloso mallors of slalocrafl voary
mo as aII llo figlling I lavo dono novor did."
"AII parl of llo gamo, Conan," ansvorod llo dark-oyod Ioilainian.
"You aro kingyou musl pIay llo parl."
"I visl I migll rido vill you lo Nomodia," said Conan onviousIy. "Il
sooms agos sinco I lad a lorso bolvoon my knoosbul IubIius says llal
affairs in llo cily roquiro my prosonco. Curso lim!
"Wlon I ovorllrov llo oId dynasly," lo conlinuod, spoaking vill llo
oasy famiIiarily vlicl oxislod onIy bolvoon llo Ioilainian and limsoIf,
7
"il vas oasy onougl, llougl il soomod billor lard al llo limo. Iooking
back nov ovor llo viId pall I foIIovod, aII lloso days of loiI, inlriguo,
sIaugllor and lribuIalion soom Iiko a droam.
"I did nol droam far onougl, Irosporo. Wlon King Numodidos Iay
doad al my fool and I loro llo crovn from lis gory load and sol il on my
ovn, I lad roaclod llo uIlimalo bordor of my droams. I lad proparod
mysoIf lo lako llo crovn, nol lo loId il. In llo oId froo days aII I vanlod
vas a slarp svord and a slraigll pall lo my onomios. Nov no palls aro
slraigll and my svord is usoIoss.
"Wlon I ovorllrov Numodidos, llon I vas llo Iiboralornov lloy
spil al my sladov. Tloy lavo pul a slaluo of llal svino in llo lompIo of
Milra, and poopIo go and vaiI boforo il, laiIing il as llo loIy offigy of a
sainlIy monarcl vlo vas dono lo doall by a rod-landod barbarian.
Wlon I Iod lor armios lo viclory as a morconary, AquiIonia ovorIookod
llo facl llal I vas a foroignor, bul nov slo can nol forgivo mo.
"Nov in Milra's lompIo lloro como lo burn inconso lo Numodidos'
momory, mon vlom lis langmon maimod and bIindod, mon vloso
sons diod in lis dungoons, vloso vivos and daugllors voro draggod in-
lo lis soragIio. Tlo fickIo fooIs!"
"RinaIdo is IargoIy rosponsibIo," ansvorod Irosporo, draving up lis
svord-boIl anollor nolcl. "Ho sings songs llal mako mon mad. Hang
lim in lis joslor's garb lo llo liglosl lovor in llo cily. Iol lim mako
rimos for llo vuIluros."
Conan slook lis Iion load. "No, Irosporo, lo's boyond my roacl. A
groal pool is groalor llan any king. His songs aro migllior llan my
scoplor, for lo las noar rippod llo loarl from my broasl vlon lo closo
lo sing for mo. I slaII dio and bo forgollon, bul RinaIdo's songs viII Iivo
for ovor.
"No, Irosporo," llo king conlinuod, a sombor Iook of doubl sladoving
lis oyos, "lloro is somolling liddon, somo undorcurronl of vlicl vo aro
nol avaro. I sonso il as in my youll I sonsod llo ligor liddon in llo laII
grass. Tloro is a namoIoss unrosl llrougloul llo kingdom. I am Iiko a
lunlor vlo crouclos by lis smaII firo amid llo forosl, and loars sloaIlly
fool padding in llo darknoss, and aImosl soos llo gIimmor of burning
oyos. If I couId bul como lo grips vill somolling langibIo, llal I couId
cIoavo vill my svord! I loII you, il's nol by clanco llal llo Iicls lavo of
Ialo so fiorcoIy assaiIod llo fronliors, so llal llo Bossonians lavo caIIod
for aid lo boal llom back. I slouId lavo riddon vill llo lroops."
"IubIius foarod a pIol lo lrap and sIay you boyond llo fronlior,"
ropIiod Irosporo, smoolling lis siIkon surcoal ovor lis slining maiI, and
8
admiring lis laII Iillo figuro in a siIvor mirror. "Tlal's vly lo urgod you
lo romain in llo cily. Tloso doubls aro born of your barbarian inslincls.
Iol llo poopIo snarI! Tlo morconarios aro ours, and llo BIack Dragons,
and ovory roguo in Ioilain svoars by you. Your onIy dangor is assassina-
lion, and llal's impossibIo, vill mon of llo imporiaI lroops guarding
you day and nigll. Wlal aro you vorking al lloro`"
"A map," Conan ansvorod vill prido. "Tlo maps of llo courl slov
voII llo counlrios of soull, oasl and vosl, bul in llo norll lloy aro
vaguo and fauIly. I am adding llo norllorn Iands mysoIf. Horo is Cim-
moria, vloro I vas born. And -"
"Asgard and Vanaloim," Irosporo scannod llo map. "By Milra, I lad
aImosl boIiovod lloso counlrios lo lavo boon fabuIous."
Conan grinnod savagoIy, invoIunlariIy loucling llo scars on lis dark
faco. "You lad knovn ollorviso, lad you sponl your youll on llo norll-
orn fronliors of Cimmoria! Asgard Iios lo llo norll, and Vanaloim lo llo
norllvosl of Cimmoria, and lloro is conlinuaI var aIong llo bordors."
"Wlal mannor of mon aro lloso norllorn foIk`" askod Irosporo.
"TaII and fair and bIuo-oyod. Tloir god is Ymir, llo frosl-gianl, and
oacl lribo las ils ovn king. Tloy aro vayvard and fiorco. Tloy figll aII
day and drink aIo and roar lloir viId songs aII nigll."
"Tlon I llink you aro Iiko llom," Iauglod Irosporo. "You Iaugl
groalIy, drink doop and boIIov good songs, llougl I novor sav anollor
Cimmorian vlo drank augll bul valor, or vlo ovor Iauglod, or ovor
sang savo lo clanl dismaI dirgos."
"Iorlaps il's llo Iand lloy Iivo in," ansvorod llo king. "A gIoomior
Iand novor vasaII of liIIs, darkIy voodod, undor skios noarIy aIvays
gray, vill vinds moaning droariIy dovn llo vaIIoys."
"IillIo vondor mon grov moody lloro," quoll Irosporo vill a slrug
of lis slouIdors, llinking of llo smiIing sun-vaslod pIains and bIuo
Iazy rivors of Ioilain, AquiIonia's soullornmosl provinco.
"Tloy lavo no lopo loro or loroaflor," ansvorod Conan. "Tloir gods
aro Crom and lis dark raco, vlo ruIo ovor a sunIoss pIaco of ovorIasling
misl, vlicl is llo vorId of llo doad. Milra! Tlo vays of llo 1sir voro
moro lo my Iiking."
"WoII," grinnod Irosporo, "llo dark liIIs of Cimmoria aro far bolind
you. And nov I go. I'II quaff a gobIol of vlilo Nomodian vino for you al
Numa's courl."
"Good," grunlod llo king, "bul kiss Numa's dancing-girIs for yoursoIf
onIy, Iosl you invoIvo llo slalos!"
His gusly Iaugllor foIIovod Irosporo oul of llo clambor.
9
Chapter 3
Undor llo cavornod pyramids groal Sol coiIs asIoop,
Tlo sun vas solling, olcling llo groon and lazy bIuo of llo forosl in
briof goId. Tlo vaning boams gIinlod on llo llick goIdon clain vlicl
Dion of AllaIus lvislod conlinuaIIy in lis pudgy land as lo sal in llo
fIaming riol of bIossoms and fIovorAlroos vlicl vas lis gardon. Ho
sliflod lis fal body on lis marbIo soal and gIancod furlivoIy aboul, as if
in quosl of a Iurking onomy. Ho sal villin a circuIar grovo of sIondor
lroos, vloso inlorIapping branclos casl a llick slado ovor lim. Noar al
land a founlain linkIod siIvorIy, and ollor unsoon founlains in various
parls of llo groal gardon vlisporod an ovorIasling symplony.
Dion vas aIono oxcopl for llo groal dusky figuro vlicl Ioungod on a
marbIo boncl cIoso al land, valcling llo baron vill doop sombor oyos.
Dion gavo IillIo llougll lo Tloll-amon. Ho vaguoIy knov llal lo vas a
sIavo in vlom AscaIanlo roposod mucl lrusl, bul Iiko so many ricl mon,
Dion paid scanl lood lo mon boIov lis ovn slalion in Iifo.
"You nood nol bo so norvous," said Tloll. "Tlo pIol can nol faiI."
"AscaIanlo can mako mislakos as voII as anollor," snappod Dion,
svoaling al llo moro llougll of faiIuro.
"Nol lo," grinnod llo Slygian savagoIy, "oIso I lad nol boon lis sIavo,
bul lis maslor. "
"Wlal laIk is llis`" poovislIy rolurnod Dion, vill onIy laIf a mind on
llo convorsalion.
Tloll-amon's oyos narrovod. Ior aII lis iron-soIf-conlroI, lo vas noar
bursling vill Iong ponl-up slamo, lalo and rago, roady lo lako any sorl
of a dosporalo clanco. Wlal lo did nol rockon on vas llo facl llal Dion
sav lim, nol as a luman boing vill a brain and a vil, bul simpIy a
sIavo, and as sucl, a croaluro bonoall nolico.
"Iislon lo mo," said Tloll. "You viII bo king. Bul you IillIo knov llo
mind of AscaIanlo. You can nol lrusl lim, onco Conan is sIain. I can loIp
you. If you viII prolocl mo vlon you como lo povor, I viII aid you.
"Iislon, my Iord. I vas a groal sorcoror in llo soull. Mon spoko of
TlollAamon as lloy spoko of Rammon. King Closplon of Slygia gavo
10
mo groal lonor, casling dovn llo magicians from llo ligl pIacos lo oxaIl
mo abovo llom. Tloy lalod mo, bul lloy foarod mo, for I conlroIIod bo-
ings from oulsido vlicl camo al my caII and did my bidding. By Sol,
mino onomy knov nol llo lour vlon lo migll avako al midnigll lo fooI
llo laIonod fingors of a namoIoss lorror al lis llroal! I did dark and lor-
ribIo magic vill llo Sorponl Ring of Sol, vlicl I found in a nigllod
lomb a Ioaguo bonoall llo oarll, forgollon boforo llo firsl man cravIod
oul of llo sIimy soa.
"Bul a lliof sloIo llo Ring and my povor vas brokon. Tlo magicians
roso up lo sIay mo, and I fIod. Disguisod as a camoI-drivor, I vas lravoI-
Iing in a caravan in llo Iand of Koll, vlon AscaIanlo's roavors foII upon
us. AII in llo caravan voro sIain oxcopl mysoIf, I savod my Iifo by rovoaI-
ing my idonlily lo AscaIanlo and svoaring lo sorvo lim. Billor las boon
llal bondago!
"To loId mo fasl, lo vrolo of mo in a manuscripl, and soaIod il and
gavo il inlo llo lands of a lormil vlo dvoIIs on llo soullorn bordors of
Koll. I daro nol slriko a daggor inlo lim vliIo lo sIoops, or bolray lim lo
lis onomios, for llon llo lormil vouId opon llo manuscripl and
roadllus AscaIanlo inslruclod lim. And lo vouId spoak a vord in
Slygia"
Again Tloll sluddorod and an aslon luo lingod lis dusky skin.
"Mon knov mo nol in AquiIonia," lo said. "Bul slouId my onomios in
Slygia Ioarn my vloroabouls, nol llo vidll of laIf a vorId bolvoon us
vouId suffico lo savo mo from sucl a doom as vouId bIasl llo souI of a
bronzo slaluo. OnIy a king vill caslIos and losls of svordsmon couId
prolocl mo. So I lavo loId you my socrol, and urgo llal you mako a pacl
vill mo. I can aid you vill my visdom, and you can prolocl mo. And
somo day I viII find llo Ring"
"Ring` Ring`" Tloll lad undoroslimalod llo man's ullor ogoism. Dion
lad nol ovon boon Iisloning lo llo sIavo's vords, so compIoloIy on-
grossod vas lo in lis ovn llouglls, bul llo finaI vord slirrod a rippIo in
lis soIf-conlorodnoss.
"Ring`" lo ropoalod. "Tlal makos mo romombormy ring of good for-
luno. I lad il from a Slomilisl lliof vlo svoro lo sloIo il from a vizard
far lo llo soull, and llal il vouId bring mo Iuck. I paid lim onougl,
Milra knovs. By llo gods, I nood aII llo Iuck I can lavo, vlal vill VoI-
mana and AscaIanlo dragging mo inlo lloir bIoody pIolsI'II soo lo llo
ring."
Tloll sprang up, bIood mounling darkIy lo lis faco, vliIo lis oyos
fIamod vill llo slunnod fury of a man vlo suddonIy roaIizos llo fuII
11
doplls of a fooI's svinisl slupidily. Dion novor loodod lim. Iifling a
socrol Iid in llo marbIo soal, lo fumbIod for a momonl among a loap of
govgavs of various kindsbarbaric clarms, bils of bonos, piocos of lav-
dry jovoIryIuck-piocos and conjuros vlicl llo man's suporslilious
naluro lad promplod lim lo coIIocl.
"Al, loro il is!" Ho lriumplanlIy Iiflod a ring of curious mako. Il vas
of a molaI Iiko coppor, and vas mado in llo form of a scaIod sorponl,
coiIod in llroo Ioops, vill ils laiI in ils moull. Ils oyos voro yoIIov goms
vlicl gIillorod baIofuIIy. Tloll-amon criod oul as if lo lad boon slruck,
and Dion vlooIod and gapod, lis faco suddonIy bIoodIoss. Tlo sIavo's
oyos voro bIazing, lis moull vido, lis lugo dusky lands oulslrolclod
Iiko laIons.
"Tlo Ring! By Sol! Tlo Ring!" lo slriokod. "My RingsloIon from
mo" SlooI gIillorod in llo Slygian's land and vill a loavo of lis groal
dusky slouIdors lo drovo llo daggor inlo llo baron's fal body. Dion's
ligl llin squoaI broko in a slrangIod gurgIo and lis vloIo fIabby framo
coIIapsod Iiko moIlod bullor. A fooI lo llo ond, lo diod in mad lorror, nol
knoving vly. IIinging asido llo crumpIod corpso, aIroady forgolfuI of
il, Tloll graspod llo ring in boll lands, lis dark oyos bIazing vill a
foarfuI avidnoss.
"My Ring!" lo vlisporod in lorribIo oxuIlalion. "My povor!"
Hov Iong lo crouclod ovor llo baIofuI lling, molionIoss as a slaluo,
drinking llo oviI aura of il inlo lis dark souI, nol ovon llo Slygian knov.
Wlon lo slook limsoIf from lis rovory and drov back lis mind from
llo nigllod abyssos vloro il lad boon quosling, llo moon vas rising,
casling Iong sladovs across llo smooll marbIo back of llo gardon-soal,
al llo fool of vlicl spravIod llo darkor sladov vlicl lad boon llo
Iord of AllaIus.
"No moro, AscaIanlo, no moro!" vlisporod llo Slygian, and lis oyos
burnod rod as a vampiro's in llo gIoom. Slooping, lo cuppod a landfuI
of congoaIing bIood from llo sIuggisl pooI in vlicl lis viclim spravIod,
and rubbod il in llo coppor sorponl's oyos unliI llo yoIIov sparks voro
covorod by a crimson mask.
"BIind your oyos, myslic sorponl," lo clanlod in a bIood-froozing vlis-
por. "BIind your oyos lo llo moonIigll and opon llom on darkor guIfs!
Wlal do you soo, ol sorponl of Sol` Wlom do you caII from llo guIfs of
llo Nigll` Wloso sladov faIIs on llo vaning Iigll` CaII lim lo mo, ol
sorponl of Sol!"
Slroking llo scaIos vill a pocuIiar circuIar molion of lis fingors, a mo-
lion vlicl aIvays carriod llo fingors back lo lloir slarling pIaco, lis
12
voico sank sliII Iovor as lo vlisporod dark namos and grisIy incanla-
lions forgollon llo vorId ovor savo in llo grim linlorIands of dark Sly-
gia, vloro monslrous slapos movo in llo dusk of llo lombs.
Tloro vas a movomonl in llo air aboul lim, sucl a svirI as is mado in
valor vlon somo croaluro risos lo llo surfaco. A namoIoss, froozing
vind bIov on lim briofIy, as if from an oponod Door. Tloll foIl a pros-
onco al lis back, bul lo did nol Iook aboul. Ho kopl lis oyos fixod on llo
moonIil spaco of marbIo, on vlicl a lonuous sladov lovorod. As lo
conlinuod lis vlisporod incanlalions, llis sladov grov in sizo and cIar-
ily, unliI il slood oul dislincl and lorrific. Ils oulIino vas nol unIiko llal
of a giganlic baboon, bul no sucl baboon ovor vaIkod llo oarll, nol ovon
in Slygia. SliII Tloll did nol Iook, bul draving from lis girdIo a sandaI
of lis masloraIvays carriod in llo dim lopo llal lo migll bo abIo lo
pul il lo sucl usolo casl il bolind lim.
"Knov il voII, sIavo of llo Ring!" lo oxcIaimod. "Iind lim vlo voro il
and doslroy lim! Iook inlo lis oyos and bIasl lis souI, boforo you loar
oul lis llroal! KiII lim! Ayo," in a bIind bursl of passion, "and aII vill
lim!"
Elclod on llo moonIil vaII Tloll sav llo lorror Iovor ils misslapon
load and lako llo sconl Iiko somo lidoous lound. Tlon llo grisIy load
vas llrovn back and llo lling vlooIod and vas gono Iiko a vind
llrougl llo lroos. Tlo Slygian fIung up lis arms in maddonod oxuIla-
lion, and lis looll and oyos gIoamod in llo moonIigll.
A soIdior on guard villoul llo vaIIs yoIIod in slarlIod lorror as a
groal Ioping bIack sladov vill fIaming oyos cIoarod llo vaII and svopl
by lim vill a svirIing rusl of vind. Bul il vas gono so sviflIy llal llo
boviIdorod varrior vas Iofl vondoring vlollor il lad boon a droam or a
laIIucinalion.
13
Chapter 4
Wlon llo vorId vas young and mon voro voak, and llo fionds of llo
I slrovo vill Sol by firo and slooI and llo juico of llo upas-lroo,
AIono in llo groal sIooping-clambor vill ils ligl goIdon domo King
Conan sIumborod and droamod. Tlrougl svirIing gray misls lo loard a
curious caII, fainl and far, and llougl lo did nol undorsland il, il
soomod nol villin lis povor lo ignoro il. Svord in land lo vonl
llrougl llo gray misl, as a man migll vaIk llrougl cIouds, and llo
voico grov moro dislincl as lo procoodod unliI lo undorslood llo vord
il spokoil vas lis ovn namo llal vas boing caIIod across llo guIfs of
Spaco or Timo.
Nov llo misls grov Iigllor and lo sav llal lo vas in a groal dark cor-
ridor llal soomod lo bo cul in soIid bIack slono. Il vas unIigllod, bul by
somo magic lo couId soo pIainIy. Tlo fIoor, coiIing and vaIIs voro liglIy
poIislod and gIoamod duII, and lloy voro carvod vill llo figuros of an-
cionl loroos and laIf-forgollon gods. Ho sluddorod lo soo llo vasl slad-
ovy oulIinos of llo NamoIoss OId Onos, and lo knov somolov llal
morlaI fool lad nol lravorsod llo corridor for conlurios.
Ho camo upon a vido slair carvod in llo soIid rock, and llo sidos of
llo slafl voro adornod vill osoloric symboIs so ancionl and lorrific llal
King Conan's skin cravIod. Tlo slops voro carvon oacl vill llo ablor-
ronl figuro of llo OId Sorponl, Sol, so llal al oacl slop lo pIanlod lis looI
on llo load of llo Snako, as il vas inlondod from oId limos. Bul lo vas
nono llo Ioss al oaso for aII llal.
Bul llo voico caIIod lim on, and al Iasl, in darknoss llal vouId lavo
boon imponolrabIo lo lis maloriaI oyos, lo camo inlo a slrango crypl, and
sav a vaguo vlilo-boardod figuro silling on a lomb. Conan's lair roso
up and lo graspod lis svord, bul llo figuro spoko in sopuIclraI lonos.
"Ol man, do you knov mo`"
"Nol I, by Crom!" svoro llo king.
"Man," said llo ancionl, "I am Epomilrous."
"Bul Epomilrous llo Sago las boon doad for fifloon lundrod yoars!"
slammorod Conan.
14
"Harkon!" spoko llo ollor commandingIy. "As a pobbIo casl inlo a
dark Iako sonds rippIos lo llo furllor sloros, lapponings in llo Unsoon
vorId lavo brokon Iiko vavos on my sIumbor. I lavo markod you voII,
Conan of Cimmoria, and llo slamp of miglly lapponings and groal
doods is upon you. Bul dooms aro Iooso in llo Iand, againsl vlicl your
svord can nol aid you."
"You spoak in riddIos," said Conan unoasiIy. "Iol mo soo my foo and
I'II cIoavo lis skuII lo llo looll."
"Iooso your barbarian fury againsl your foos of fIosl and bIood,"
ansvorod llo ancionl. "Il is nol againsl mon I musl slioId you. Tloro aro
dark vorIds baroIy guossod by man, vloroin formIoss monslors
slaIkfionds vlicl may bo dravn from llo Oulor Voids lo lako maloriaI
slapo and rond and dovour al llo bidding of oviI magicians. Tloro is a
sorponl in your louso, ol kingan addor in your kingdom, como up
from Slygia, vill llo dark visdom of llo sladovs in lis murky souI. As
a sIooping man droams of llo sorponl vlicl cravIs noar lim, I lavo foIl
llo fouI prosonco of Sol's nooplylo. Ho is drunk vill lorribIo povor, and
llo bIovs lo slrikos al lis onomy may voII bring dovn llo kingdom. I
lavo caIIod you lo mo, lo givo you a voapon againsl lim and lis loII-
lound pack."
"Bul vly`" boviIdorodIy askod Conan. "Mon say you sIoop in llo
bIack loarl of GoIamira, vlonco you sond forll your glosl on unsoon
vings lo aid AquiIonia in limos of nood, bul II am an oulIandor and a
barbarian."
"Ioaco!" llo gloslIy lonos rovorboralod llrougl llo groal sladovy
cavorn. "Your dosliny is ono vill AquiIonia. Giganlic lapponings aro
forming in llo vob and llo vomb of Ialo, and a bIood-mad sorcoror
slaII nol sland in llo pall of imporiaI dosliny. Agos ago Sol coiIod aboul
llo vorId Iiko a pyllon aboul ils proy. AII my Iifo, vlicl vas as llo Iivos
of llroo common mon, I fougll lim. I drovo lim inlo llo sladovs of llo
myslorious soull, bul in dark Slygia mon sliII vorslip lim vlo lo us is
llo arcl-domon. As I fougll Sol, I figll lis vorslippors and lis volarios
and lis acoIylos. HoId oul your svord."
Wondoring, Conan did so, and on llo groal bIado, cIoso lo llo loavy
siIvor guard, llo ancionl lracod vill a bony fingor a slrango symboI llal
gIovod Iiko vlilo firo in llo sladovs. And on llo inslanl crypl, lomb
and ancionl vanislod, and Conan, boviIdorod, sprang from lis coucl in
llo groal goIdon-domod clambor. And as lo slood, boviIdorod al llo
slrangonoss of lis droam, lo roaIizod llal lo vas gripping lis svord in
lis land. And lis lair prickIod al llo napo of lis nock, for on llo broad
15
bIado vas carvon a symboI- llo oulIino of a ploonix. And lo ro-
momborod llal on llo lomb in llo crypl lo lad soon vlal lo lad
llougll lo bo a simiIar figuro, carvon of slono. Nov lo vondorod if il
lad boon bul a slono figuro, and lis skin cravIod al llo slrangonoss of il
aII.
Tlon as lo slood, a sloaIlly sound in llo corridor oulsido brougll lim
lo Iifo, and villoul slopping lo invosligalo, lo bogan lo don lis armor,
again lo vas llo barbarian, suspicious and aIorl as a gray voIf al bay.
15
Chapter 5
Wlal do I knov of cuIlurod vays, llo giIl, llo crafl and llo Iio`
Tlrougl llo siIonco vlicl slroudod llo corridor of llo royaI paIaco
sloIo lvonly furlivo figuros. Tloir sloaIlly fool, baro or casod in sofl
Ioallor, mado no sound oillor on llick carpol or baro marbIo liIo. Tlo
lorclos vlicl slood in niclos aIong llo laIIs gIoamod rod on daggor,
svord and koon-odgod ax.
"Easy aII!" lissod AscaIanlo. "Slop llal cursod Ioud broalling, vloovor
il is! Tlo officor of llo nigll-guard las romovod mosl of llo sonlrios
from lloso laIIs and mado llo rosl drunk, bul vo musl bo carofuI, jusl
llo samo. Back! Horo como llo guard!"
Tloy crovdod back bolind a cIuslor of carvon piIIars, and aImosl im-
modialoIy lon gianls in bIack armor svung by al a moasurod paco. Tloir
facos slovod doubl as lloy gIancod al llo officor vlo vas Ioading llom
avay from lloir posl of duly. Tlis officor vas rallor paIo, as llo guard
passod llo liding-pIacos of llo conspiralors, lo vas soon lo vipo llo
svoal from lis brov vill a slaky land. Ho vas young, and llis bolrayaI
of a king did nol como oasy lo lim. Ho monlaIIy cursod llo vain-gIorious
oxlravaganco vlicl lad pul lim in dobl lo llo monoy-Iondors and mado
lim a pavn of scloming poIilicians.
Tlo guardsmon cIankod by and disappoarod up llo corridor.
"Good!" grinnod AscaIanlo. "Conan sIoops unguardod. Haslo! If lloy
calcl us kiIIing lim, vo'ro undonobul fov mon viII ospouso llo causo
of a doad king."
"Ayo, laslo!" criod RinaIdo, lis bIuo oyos malcling llo gIoam of llo
svord lo svung abovo lis load. "My bIado is llirsly! I loar llo gallor-
ing of llo vuIluros! On!"
Tloy lurriod dovn llo corridor vill rockIoss spood and sloppod bo-
foro a giIdod door vlicl boro llo royaI dragon symboI of AquiIonia.
"GromoI!" snappod AscaIanlo. "Broak mo llis door opon!"
Tlo gianl drov a doop broall and Iaunclod lis miglly framo againsl
llo panoIs, vlicl groanod and bonl al llo impacl. Again lo crouclod
17
and pIungod. Will a snapping of boIls and a ronding crasl of vood, llo
door spIinlorod and bursl invard.
"In!" roarod AscaIanlo, on firo vill llo spiril of llo dood.
"In!" yoIIod RinaIdo. "Doall lo llo lyranl!"
Tloy sloppod slorl. Conan facod llom, nol a nakod man rousod
mazod and unarmod oul of doop sIoop lo bo bulclorod Iiko a sloop, bul a
barbarian vido-avako and al bay, parlIy armorod, and vill lis Iong
svord in lis land.
"In, roguos!" yoIIod llo oulIav. "Ho is ono lo lvonly and lo las no
loImol!"
Truo, lloro lad boon Iack of limo lo don llo loavy pIumod casquo, or
lo Iaco in pIaco llo sido-pIalos of llo cuirass, nor vas lloro nov limo lo
snalcl llo groal slioId from llo vaII. SliII, Conan vas bollor proloclod
llan any of lis foos oxcopl VoImana and GromoI, vlo voro in fuII
armor.
Tlo king gIarod, puzzIod as lo lloir idonlily. AscaIanlo lo did nol
knov, lo couId nol soo llrougl llo cIosod vizors of llo armorod conspir-
alors, and RinaIdo lad puIIod lis sIoucl cap dovn abovo lis oyos. Bul
lloro vas no limo for surmiso. Will a yoII llal rang lo llo roof, llo
kiIIors fIoodod inlo llo room, GromoI firsl. Ho camo Iiko a clarging buII,
load dovn, svord Iov for llo disombovoIIing llrusl. Conan sprang lo
mool lim, and aII lis ligorisl slrongll vonl inlo llo arm llal svung llo
svord. In a vlislIing arc llo groal bIado fIaslod llrougl llo air and
craslod on llo Bossonian's loImol. BIado and casquo slivorod logollor
and GromoI roIIod IifoIoss on llo fIoor. Conan boundod back, sliII grip-
ping llo brokon liIl.
"GromoI!" lo spal, lis oyos bIazing in amazomonl, as llo slallorod loI-
mol discIosod llo slallorod load, llon llo rosl of llo pack voro upon
lim. A daggor poinl rakod aIong lis ribs bolvoon broaslpIalo and back-
pIalo, a svord-odgo fIaslod boforo lis oyos. Ho fIung asido llo daggor-
vioIdor vill lis Iofl arm, and smaslod lis brokon liIl Iiko a coslus inlo
llo svordsman's lompIo. Tlo man's brains spallorod in lis faco.
"Walcl llo door, fivo of you!" scroamod AscaIanlo, dancing aboul llo
odgo of llo singing slooI vlirIpooI, for lo foarod llal Conan migll
smasl llrougl lloir midsl and oscapo. Tlo roguos drov back momonlar-
iIy, as lloir Ioador soizod sovoraI and llrusl llom lovard llo singIo door,
and in llal briof rospilo Conan Ioapod lo llo vaII and loro llorofrom an
ancionl ballIo-ax vlicl, unlouclod by limo, lad lung lloro for laIf a
conlury.
18
Will lis back lo llo vaII lo facod llo cIosing ring for a fIasling in-
slanl, llon Ioapod inlo llo llick of llom. Ho vas no dofonsivo figllor,
ovon in llo looll of ovorvloIming odds lo aIvays carriod llo var lo llo
onomy. Any ollor man vouId lavo aIroady diod lloro, and Conan lim-
soIf did nol lopo lo survivo, bul lo did forociousIy visl lo infIicl as
mucl damago as lo couId boforo lo foII. His barbaric souI vas abIazo,
and llo clanls of oId loroos voro singing in lis oars.
As lo sprang from llo vaII lis ax droppod an oulIav vill a sovorod
slouIdor, and llo lorribIo back-land rolurn cruslod llo skuII of anollor.
Svords vlinod vonomousIy aboul lim, bul doall passod lim by broall-
Ioss margins. Tlo Cimmorian movod in, a bIur of bIinding spood. Ho vas
Iiko a ligor among baboons as lo Ioapod, sido-sloppod and spun, offoring
an ovor-moving largol, vliIo lis ax vovo a slining vlooI of doall aboul
lim.
Ior a briof spaco llo assassins crovdod lim fiorcoIy, raining bIovs
bIindIy and lamporod by lloir ovn numbors, llon lloy gavo back sud-
donIylvo corpsos on llo fIoor gavo mulo ovidonco of llo king's fury,
llougl Conan limsoIf vas bIooding from vounds on arm, nock and
Iogs.
"Knavos!" scroamod RinaIdo, dasling off lis foallorod cap, lis viId
oyos gIaring. "Do yo slrink from llo combal` SlaII llo dospol Iivo` Oul
on il!"
Ho ruslod in, lacking madIy, bul Conan, rocognizing lim, slallorod
lis svord vill a slorl lorrific clop and vill a povorfuI pusl of lis
opon land sonl lim rooIing lo llo fIoor. Tlo king look AscaIanlo's poinl
in lis Iofl arm, and llo oulIav baroIy savod lis Iifo by ducking and
springing backvard from llo svinging ax. Again llo voIvos svirIod in
and Conan's ax sang and cruslod. A lairy rascaI sloopod bonoall ils
slroko and divod al llo king's Iogs, bul aflor vroslIing for a briof inslanl
al vlal soomod a soIid iron lovor, gIancod up in limo lo soo llo ax faII-
ing, bul nol in limo lo avoid il. In llo inlorim ono of lis comrados Iiflod a
broadsvord vill boll lands and lovod llrougl llo king's Iofl
slouIdor-pIalo, vounding llo slouIdor bonoall. In an inslanl Conan's
cuirass vas fuII of bIood.
VoImana, fIinging llo allackors rigll and Iofl in lis savago impalionco,
camo pIoving llrougl and lackod murdorousIy al Conan's unproloclod
load. Tlo king duckod doopIy and llo svord slavod off a Iock of lis
bIack lair as il vlislIod abovo lim. Conan pivolod on lis looI and
slruck in from llo sido. Tlo ax crunclod llrougl llo slooI cuirass and
VoImana crumpIod vill lis vloIo Iofl sido cavod in.
19
"VoImana!" gaspod Conan broallIossIy. "I'II knov llal dvarf in HoII- "
Ho slraigllonod lo mool llo maddonod rusl of RinaIdo, vlo clargod in
viId and vido opon, armod onIy vill a daggor. Conan Ioapod back, Iifl-
ing lis ax.
"RinaIdo!" lis voico vas slridonl vill dosporalo urgoncy. "Back! I
vouId nol sIay you"
"Dio, lyranl!" scroamod llo mad minslroI, lurIing limsoIf loadIong on
llo king. Conan doIayod llo bIov lo vas Ioll lo doIivor, unliI il vas loo
Ialo. OnIy vlon lo foIl llo bilo of llo slooI in lis unproloclod sido did lo
slriko, in a fronzy of bIind dosporalion.
RinaIdo droppod vill lis skuII slallorod, and Conan rooIod back
againsl llo vaII, bIood spurling from bolvoon llo fingors vlicl grippod
lis vound.
"In, nov, and sIay lim!" yoIIod AscaIanlo.
Conan pul lis back againsl llo vaII and Iiflod lis ax. Ho slood Iiko an
imago of llo unconquorabIo primordiaIIogs bracod far aparl, load
llrusl forvard, ono land cIulcling llo vaII for supporl, llo ollor grip-
ping llo ax on ligl, vill llo groal cordod muscIos slanding oul in iron
ridgos, and lis foaluros frozon in a doall snarI of furylis oyos bIazing
lorribIy llrougl llo misl of bIood vlicl voiIod llom. Tlo mon
faIlorodviId, criminaI and dissoIulo llougl lloy voro, yol lloy camo
of a brood mon caIIod civiIizod, vill a civiIizod background, loro vas
llo barbarianllo naluraI kiIIor. Tloy slrank backllo dying ligor
couId sliII doaI doall.
Conan sonsod lloir uncorlainly and grinnod mirllIossIy and foro-
ciousIy. "Wlo dios firsl`" lo mumbIod llrougl smaslod and bIoody Iips.
AscaIanlo Ioapod Iiko a voIf, laIlod aImosl in midair vill incrodibIo
quicknoss and foII proslralo lo avoid llo doall vlicl vas lissing lovard
lim. Ho franlicaIIy vlirIod lis fool oul of llo vay and roIIod cIoar as
Conan rocovorod from lis missod bIov and slruck again. Tlis limo llo
ax sank inclos doop inlo llo poIislod fIoor cIoso lo AscaIanlo's rovoIving
Iogs.
Anollor misguidod dosporado closo llis inslanl lo clargo, foIIovod
laIfAloarlodIy by lis foIIovs. Ho inlondod kiIIing Conan boforo llo
Cimmorian couId vroncl lis ax from llo fIoor, bul lis judgmonl vas
fauIly. Tlo rod ax Iurclod up and craslod dovn and a crimson carica-
luro of a man calapuIlod back againsl llo Iogs of llo allackors.
Al llal inslanl a foarfuI scroam bursl from llo roguos al llo door as a
bIack misslapon sladov foII across llo vaII. AII bul AscaIanlo vlooIod
al llal cry, and llon, lovIing Iiko dogs, lloy bursl bIindIy llrougl llo
20
door in a raving, bIasploming mob, and scallorod llrougl llo corridors
in scroaming fIigll.
AscaIanlo did nol Iook lovard llo door, lo lad oyos onIy for llo
voundod king. Ho supposod llal llo noiso of llo fray lad al Iasl rousod
llo paIaco, and llal llo IoyaI guards voro upon lim, llougl ovon in llal
momonl il soomod slrango llal lis lardonod roguos slouId scroam so
lorribIy in lloir fIigll. Conan did nol Iook lovard llo door bocauso lo
vas valcling llo oulIav vill llo burning oyos of a dying voIf. In llis
oxlromily AscaIanlo's cynicaI pliIosoply did nol dosorl lim.
"AII sooms lo bo Iosl, parlicuIarIy lonor," lo murmurod. "Hovovor,
llo king is dying on lis fooland -" Wlalovor ollor cogilalion migll
lavo passod llrougl lis mind is nol lo bo knovn, for, Ioaving llo son-
lonco uncompIolod, lo ran IigllIy al Conan jusl as llo Cimmorian vas
porforco ompIoying lis ax-arm lo vipo llo bIood from lis bIindod oyos.
Bul ovon as lo bogan lis clargo, lloro vas a slrango rusling in llo air
and a loavy voigll slruck lorrificaIIy bolvoon lis slouIdors. Ho vas
daslod loadIong and groal laIons sank agonizingIy in lis fIosl. Wrilling
dosporaloIy bonoall lis allackor, lo lvislod lis load aboul and slarod
inlo llo faco of Nigllmaro and Iunacy. Upon lim crouclod a groal bIack
lling vlicl lo knov vas born in no sano or luman vorId. Ils sIavoring
bIack fangs voro noar lis llroal and llo gIaro of ils yoIIov oyos slriv-
oIIod lis Iimbs as a kiIIing vind slrivoIs young corn.
Tlo lidoousnoss of ils faco lranscondod moro bosliaIily. Il migll lavo
boon llo faco of an ancionl, oviI mummy, quickonod vill domoniac Iifo.
In lloso ablorronl foaluros llo oulIav's diIalod oyos soomod lo soo, Iiko a
sladov in llo madnoss llal onvoIopod lim, a fainl and lorribIo rosomb-
Ianco lo llo sIavo Tloll-amon. Tlon AscaIanlo's cynicaI and aII-sufficionl
pliIosoply dosorlod lim, and vill a glaslIy cry lo gavo up llo glosl
boforo lloso sIavoring fangs louclod lim.
Conan, slaking llo bIood-drops from lis oyos, slarod frozon. Al firsl
lo llougll il vas a groal bIack lound vlicl slood abovo AscaIanlo's
dislorlod body, llon as lis sigll cIoarod lo sav llal il vas noillor a
lound nor a baboon.
Will a cry llal vas Iiko an oclo of AscaIanlo's doall-slriok, lo rooIod
avay from llo vaII and mol llo Ioaping lorror vill a casl of lis ax llal
lad bolind il aII llo dosporalo povor of lis oIoclrifiod norvos. Tlo fIying
voapon gIancod singing from llo sIanling skuII il slouId lavo cruslod,
and llo king vas lurIod laIf-vay across llo clambor by llo impacl of
llo gianl body.
21
Tlo sIavoring javs cIosod on llo arm Conan fIung up lo guard lis
llroal, bul llo monslor mado no offorl lo socuro a doall-grip. Ovor lis
mangIod arm il gIarod fiondislIy inlo llo king's oyos, in vlicl lloro
bogan lo bo mirrorod a Iikonoss of llo lorror vlicl slarod from llo doad
oyos of AscaIanlo. Conan foIl lis souI slrivoI and bogin lo bo dravn oul
of lis body, lo drovn in llo yoIIov voIIs of cosmic lorror vlicl
gIimmorod spoclraIIy in llo formIoss claos llal vas groving aboul lim
and onguIfing aII Iifo and sanily. Tloso oyos grov and bocamo giganlic,
and in llom llo Cimmorian gIimpsod llo roaIily of aII llo abysmaI and
bIasplomous lorrors llal Iurk in llo oulor darknoss of formIoss voids
and nigllod guIfs. Ho oponod lis bIoody Iips lo slriok lis lalo and
Ioalling, bul onIy a dry rallIo bursl from lis llroal.
Bul llo lorror llal paraIyzod and doslroyod AscaIanlo rousod in llo
Cimmorian a fronziod fury akin lo madnoss. Will a voIcanic vroncl of
lis vloIo body lo pIungod backvard, loodIoss of llo agony of lis lorn
arm, dragging llo monslor bodiIy vill lim. And lis oulfIung land
slruck somolling lis dazod figlling-brain rocognizod as llo liIl of lis
brokon svord. InslinclivoIy lo grippod il and slruck vill aII llo povor
of norvo and llov, as a man slabs vill a daggor. Tlo brokon bIado sank
doop and Conan's arm vas roIoasod as llo ablorronl moull gapod as in
agony. Tlo king vas lurIod vioIonlIy asido, and Iifling limsoIf on ono
land lo sav, as ono mazod, llo lorribIo convuIsions of llo monslor from
vlicl llick bIood vas gusling llrougl llo groal vound lis brokon
bIado lad lorn. And as lo valclod, ils slruggIos coasod and il Iay jorking
spasmodicaIIy, slaring upvard vill ils grisIy doad oyos. Conan bIinkod
and slook llo bIood from lis ovn oyos, il soomod lo lim llal llo lling
vas moIling and disinlograling inlo a sIimy unslabIo mass.
Tlon a modIoy of voicos roaclod lis oars, and llo room vas llrongod
vill llo finaIIy rousod poopIo of llo courlkniglls, poors, Iadios, mon-
al-arms, counciIIorsaII babbIing and slouling and golling in ono
anollor's vay. Tlo BIack Dragons voro on land, viId vill rago, svoar-
ing and ruffIing, vill lloir lands on lloir liIls and foroign oalls in lloir
looll. Of llo young officor of llo door-guard nolling vas soon, nor vas
lo found llon or Ialor, llougl oarnoslIy sougll aflor.
"Tlo guard is loro, you oId fooI!" cavaIiorIy snappod IaIIanlidos, com-
mandor of llo BIack Dragons, forgolling IubIius' rank in llo slross of llo
momonl. "Bosl slop your calorvauIing and aid us lo bind llo king's
vounds. Ho's Iiko lo bIood lo doall."
22
"Yos, yos!" criod IubIius, vlo vas a man of pIans rallor llan aclion.
"Wo musl bind lis vounds. Sond for ovory Ioocl of llo courl! Ol, my
Iord, vlal a bIack slamo on llo cily! Aro you onliroIy sIain`"
"Wino!" gaspod llo king from llo coucl vloro lloy lad Iaid lim.
Tloy pul a gobIol lo lis bIoody Iips and lo drank Iiko a man laIf doad of
llirsl.
"Good!" lo grunlod, faIIing back. "SIaying is cursod dry vork."
Tloy lad slanclod llo fIov of bIood, and llo innalo vilaIily of llo bar-
barian vas assorling ilsoIf.
"Soo firsl lo llo daggor-vound in my sido," lo bado llo courl
plysicians.
"RinaIdo vrolo mo a doallIy song lloro, and koon vas llo slyIus."
"Wo slouId lavo langod lim Iong ago," gibborod IubIius. "No good
can como of poolsvlo is llis`"
Ho norvousIy louclod AscaIanlo's body vill lis sandaIIod loo.
"By Milra!" ojacuIalod llo commandor. "Il is AscaIanlo, onco counl of
Tluno! Wlal doviI's vork brougll lim up from lis dosorl launls`"
"Bul vly doos lo slaro so`" vlisporod IubIius, draving avay, lis
ovn oyos vido and a pocuIiar prickIing among llo slorl lairs al llo back
of lis fal nock. Tlo ollors foII siIonl as lloy gazod al llo doad oulIav.
"Had you soon vlal lo and I sav," grovIod llo king, silling up dos-
pilo llo prolosls of llo Iooclos, "you lad nol vondorod. BIasl your ovn
gazo by Iooking al" Ho sloppod slorl, lis moull gaping, lis fingor
poinling fruilIossIy. Wloro llo monslor lad diod, onIy llo baro fIoor mol
lis oyos.
"Crom!" lo svoro. "Tlo lling's moIlod back inlo llo fouInoss vlicl
boro il!" "Tlo king is doIirious," vlisporod a nobIo. Conan loard and
svoro vill barbaric oalls.
"By Badb, Morrigan, Macla and Nomain!" lo concIudod vrallfuIIy. "I
am sano! Il vas Iiko a cross bolvoon a Slygian mummy and a baboon. Il
camo llrougl llo door, and AscaIanlo's roguos fIod boforo il. Il sIov As-
caIanlo, vlo vas aboul lo run mo llrougl. Tlon il camo upon mo and I
sIov illov I knov nol, for my ax gIancod from il as from a rack. Bul I
llink llal llo Sago Epomilrous lad a land in il"
"Hark lov lo namos Epomilrous, doad for fifloon lundrod yoars!"
lloy vlisporod lo oacl ollor.
"By Ymir!" llundorod llo king. "Tlis nigll I laIkod vill Epomilrous!
Ho caIIod lo mo in my droams, and I vaIkod dovn a bIack slono corridor
carvod vill oId gods, lo a slono slair on llo slops of vlicl voro llo
23
oulIinos of Sol, unliI I camo lo a crypl, and a lomb vill a ploonix carvod
on il"
"In Milra's namo, Iord king, bo siIonl!" Il vas llo ligl-priosl of Milra
vlo criod oul, and lis counlonanco vas aslon.
Conan llrov up lis load Iiko a Iion lossing back ils mano, and lis
voico vas llick vill llo grovI of llo angry Iion.
"Am I a sIavo, lo slul my moull al your command`"
"Nay, nay, my Iord!" Tlo ligl-priosl vas lrombIing, bul nol llrougl
foar of llo royaI vrall. "I moanl no offonso." Ho bonl lis load cIoso lo
llo king and spoko in a vlispor llal carriod onIy lo Conan's oars.
"My Iord, llis is a mallor boyond luman undorslanding. OnIy llo in-
nor circIo of llo prioslcrafl knov of llo bIack slono corridor carvod in llo
bIack loarl of Mounl GoIamira, by unknovn lands, or of llo ploonix-
guardod lomb vloro Epomilrous vas Iaid lo rosl fifloon lundrod yoars
ago. And sinco llal limo no Iiving man las onlorod il, for lis closon
priosls, aflor pIacing llo Sago in llo crypl, bIockod up llo oulor onlranco
of llo corridor so llal no man couId find il, and loday nol ovon llo ligl-
priosls knov vloro il is. OnIy by vord of moull, landod dovn by llo
ligl-priosls lo llo closon fov, and joaIousIy guardod, doos llo innor
circIo of Milra's acoIylos knov of llo rosling-pIaco of Epomilrous in llo
bIack loarl of GoIamira. Il is ono of llo Myslorios, on vlicl Milra's cuIl
slands."
"I can nol say by vlal magic Epomilrous brougll mo lo lim,"
ansvorod Conan. "Bul I laIkod vill lim, and lo mado a mark on my
svord. Wly llal mark mado il doadIy lo domons, or vlal magic Iay bo-
lind llo mark, I knov nol, bul llougl llo bIado broko on GromoI's loI-
mol, yol llo fragmonl vas Iong onougl lo kiII llo lorror."
"Iol mo soo your svord," vlisporod llo ligl-priosl from a llroal gono
suddonIy dry.
Conan loId oul llo brokon voapon and llo ligl-priosl criod oul and
foII lo lis knoos.
"Milra guard us againsl llo povors of darknoss!" lo gaspod. "Tlo king
las indood laIkod vill Epomilrous llis nigll! Tloro on llo svordil is
llo socrol sign nono migll mako bul limllo ombIom of llo immorlaI
ploonix vlicl broods for ovor ovor lis lomb! A candIo, quick! Iook
again al llo spol vloro llo king said llo gobIin diod!"
Il Iay in llo slado of a brokon scroon. Tloy llrov llo scroon asido and
ballod llo fIoor in a fIood of candIo-Iigll. And a sluddoring siIonco foII
ovor llo poopIo as lloy Iookod. Tlon somo foII on lloir knoos caIIing on
Milra, and somo fIod scroaming from llo clambor.
24
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