Conan, Belit, and her crew successfully raid a Shemite vessel, though Kawaku's bloodlust earns a rebuke from Belit. Meanwhile, N'Yaga's illness gets worse, forcing Belit to return to the palace in Asgalun to retrieve healing herbs. Conan and Belit disguise themselves as weaponmakers to gain entrance to the city, but are mistaken for performers and given an audience with Nim-Karrak, who overthrew Belit's father, and Ptor-Nubis, the representative of the Stygian king. To amuse himself, Ptor-Nubis magically compels Belit to attack Conan before Nim-Karrak puts a halt to the swiftly growing deadly fight. He wishes Belit for himself, and has her taken to his chambers while Conan is conscripted into the army. In his private chambers, Nim-Karrak utterly fails to seduce Belit and realizes who she i