Conan, Belit, and Zula sail on the River Styx, having commandeered a Stygian vessel and freed the slaces. They pass the hawk-city of Harakht and beach their ship, heading south overland towards Khemi, taking the four sailors as guides. Back in Luxur, Neftha and Thoth-Amon turn their attention away from the escapees, but magically warn the sorcerer Ptor-Nubis of Belit's coming. Days later, while passing through a rocky pass, the ground crumbles beneath them and the Stygian carrying the food pack falls into a chasm. The party scrambles down a rope to find a large cave and a fifteen foot skeleton with a missing leg and partially crushed skull. Belit finds an altar with a secret compartment that contains a jewel encrusted belt, which Conan realizes is the fabled Diadem of the Giant-Kings. Alth