Conan joins Captain Hundulph's Free Company of mercenaries in the city of Tantusium, who is in the service of Prince Ivor in the latter's revolt against King Strabonus of Koth.

Ivor is also aided by the amazon band of the warrior woman Drusandra and the sorcerer Agohoth.

Conan proves an effective leader early on, and later, when taken captive, must face down a horror in a dungeon before the revolt builds to its climax.

He rates the book "only adequate" as a battle epic, comparing it unfavorably to Howard's "The Scarlet Citadel".

The narrative is okay and the story is exciting, but Carpenter employs an artificial style in his dialogue that is absolutely leaden.