Having once more left his homeland of Cimmeria, Conan has signed on with the mercenary company of Amalric the Lion, learning about how civilized men wage war. In combat against Corinthia, Amalric's company turned the tide for Koth. But when the King's magistrate refused to pay the mercenaries, claiming that the coffers had been depleted by war, the sellswords sacked the city before heading South in search of further employment.

A chance encounter with the remnants of a force from Khoraja brings news that the city's king has been captured. The mercenaries ride back to Khoraja with the company to enlist with the Queen who now rules in her husband's absence. But this sets them on a path that will lead them headlong into Natohk, the desert sorcerer who has forged disparate desert tribes into an army.