After several months of Conan's rule, a drought and plague have hit the Bamulas, and the shaman blame Conan. Conan knocks a witch-man aside, which brings down the wrath of the suspicious tribe upon his head, and he flees, heading north to Kush. After days of crossing the forests and eventual savanna, and fighting off wild animals, Conan finds an ancient stone fortress in partial ruins in which he seeks shelter from a storm. He doesn't notice a creature made of mists and shadows hover above and he falls asleep to the sounds of thunder as a band of Stygians, seeking slaves in the Black Kingdoms, also arrive. The being, made of hundreds of spirits begin to coalesce into a physical form in order to kill Conan, but is distracted by the crowd of men. Conan is awakened by thunder and notes the am