Conan's journey away from Makkalet is stalled when he comes across a woman being attacked by burly desert man. Conan leaps to her rescue, but the battle is interrupted by Yezdigerd's men. Conan grabs the girl and escapes on his horse, with the desert man riding behind him. They come across a fortress in the desert, and a gate opens to let them in, slamming shut on the Turanian riders. A horde of armed men greet Conan, who wisely decides surrender is the best option. Conan, the desert man (a mute from Khitai named Turgohl) and the woman, who turns out to be Turghol's slave, Suwaan, are taken to a feast hall where they discover all the men here are outcasts and bandits under the rule of the outlaw Skol Abonur. The mere fact a woman is in the area ignites passions, and a fight breaks out that