The Ibis-priest Karanthes gives a fire-red gem to Conan. He implies that it is a reward, but then he reveals that the jewel will be of further assistance to them when the time comes. Conan and Red Sonja depart and pursue the man-creature.

Once outside the temple, Conan’s paramour Belit discovers the two of them in private conversation and misconstrues what she has heard. The Queen of The Black Coast shows her jealous nature once more and bickers with Sonja. They almost fight (meeowwwrrr!) but Conan intercedes and explains the situation to Belit. The Shemite hellcat joins them on the chase of the beast. Riding on horseback for hours across the deserts outside Messentia, they soon come across a glorious palace. Conan remarks that such a palace in the middle of the desert is uncommon. 

The Cimmerian and his female companions are soon confronted by a group of guards. One makes Red Sonja uncomfortable and she makes him pay for it in swift Sonja style.  Belit realizes that there is more to Red Sonja than she assumed based on Sonja’s actions toward the guardsmen. Conan and his warrior-women learn that these guardsmen are members of The Black Legion of Valusia of King Kull’s court. They are shocked at the news because as far as they knew, Valusia and King Kull have been dead and gone for thousands of years (before 10,000 BC!).

When Conan and company meet King Kull in his court, Kull’s pict advisor, Gonar,  urges King Kull to battle Conan. Eventually the two fight and it goes on for some time. (Marvel Comics writer Roy Thomas portrays both of Robert E. Howard’s creations as men equal in battle, giving a slight edge to Conan). While they fight, Belit and Red Sonja make the peace, with Sonja telling Belit : “We are NOT rivals–save in your eyes! Conan has been my friend–my comrade–even my foeman at times–but neither he nor any other man has ever been my lover!” 

Meanwhile, in their sword fight,  Conan almost splits Kull’s skull open but his mighty blow is blocked by Kull’s royal crown. King Kull reveals at that moment that a magical red jewel has been missing from his royal crown and since its disappearance, the king and his men found themselves in the desert with part of his palace. Conan realizes he is in possession of the fire-red jewel Kull is speaking of and he returns it. The king promptly places it in its place in his royal crown, despite Gonar’s objections.

We soon learn why Gonar objects – upon replacing the jewel in his royal crown, Gonar is revealed to be an agent of Thoth-Amon in disguise! In fact the false Gonar is really the priest who transformed into the flying, winged monster that  Conan, Belit, and Red Sonja had pursued into the desert. The visage of Thoth-Amon appears to express his disappointment in his agent’s failed plan. As Thoth-Amon’s minion attempts to turn into the flying bat-like creature, Conan kills the priest with an arrow and the stolen rolled up page from The Book of Skelos bursts into fire!  The palace, the Valusians, and King Kull disappear into the past.

Belit, Conan, and Red Sonja return to Karanthes for their pay, but receive none as they failed to return the stolen rolled up page of magic (well, I guess they didn’t have fire insurance back in 10,000 BC). As Red Sonja rides away, Belit finally realizes that the Hyrkanian really isn’t interested in being Conan’s love, but what are Conan’s thoughts and feelings? 

Silently, Conan takes a last glimpse at Red Sonja as he watches her ride away…….Cimmerian, barbarian, librarian, octogenarian, sometimes men want what they cannot have!

On a scale of 1-10, I’d give this an 8, although I wish it was annual and inked by DeZuniga or Alacala. Copies were available on eBay for less than $10.