Conan the Barbarian, Vol. 1

As a giant bear moves to attack him, Conan realizes it is some kind of illusion. The beat dissipates into a black mist which unfortunately renders Conan unconscious, and he awakens tied to a litter and carried by the Aesir, who still seem to be serving the dwarves. One Aesir with a black panther tail attached to his helmet, berates and strikes Conan. The arrive in the tented city Buryat hidden in the deep grass and populated by the dwarves. They are brought past a pyramid with a golden sphere placed to the court of Aosoka. An intrigued Asokoa has Conan released to be placed, with Erfu, in an arena to fight a bear. Conan rushes the animal and, using a chain, squeezes its spine until it breaks. Asokoa and the crowd thinks that Erfu's magic is responsible and the apprentice sorcerer is names official executioner of the throne (since the bear itself was the previous one), Erfu and Conan are given regal quarters and are soon visited by Tossa, an Aesirean woman who sees through Erfu's ruse and has decided Conan shall be her mate. When she leaves she is confronted by a panther, and when Conan leaps to her rescue is shocked to see the panther turn into the Aesir who beat him on the road. Conan kills the Aesir and Tossa decides Conan has won her by right of conquest and to Conan's annoyance goes to wait for him in his bedchamber.