Nahtok, a powerful wizard with the desert tribes of Shem under his command, now looks to expand his motley empire northward into the politically unstable Koth -- where Koth's leaders are more likely to kill each other on the battlefield than join together to face a common foe. The only thing standing in Nahtok's way is the small border kingdom of Khoraja and their battered military forces, now led by the inexperienced Princess Yasmela. Amalric's mercenaries -- with Conan still riding among their numbers -- are charged with reinforcing Yasmela's depleted army, as the conquering Nahtok draws near and Yasmela is haunted by both evil threats and more