Conan, Belit, and Zula finally reach the shore and reconnect with the Tigress. Zula is quickly accepted into the fold and amuses the sailors with hypnotism tricks while Conan and Belit celebrate their homecoming in their own way. The next morning, the crew is called awake to the sounds of M'Gora, who had gone ashore to scout Asgalun, racing towards the ship while pursued by swamp rats. Conan quickly comes to his rescue and M'Gora explains how, while scouting ahead to Asgalun, he and his scouting party joined the cavalry of the Kushite Imbalayo. After traveling to Asgalun, he discovered that king Nim-Karrak was held a virtual prisoner by his Stygian guards, indicating the Stygian strength in this Shemite town, though a troop of Hyrkanians has recently arrived to stem the march of Stygian in