Nermesa Klandes abandoned a life of opulence to join the Aquilonian army, and serve the great King Conan. Earning rank and respect through his courage and loyalty, he was made an officer in the elite warrior band known as the Black Dragons.

But when his first assignment ends in bloodshed, it marks the beginning of the young knight’s most perilous test. Caravans from Aquilonia’s neighbors are being set upon and slaughtered by an unknown enemy. Assigned to ride with a caravan, Nermesa is pulled into a diabolical plot of dark magic and demonic powers that threatens to shake Aquilonia to its very foundations—and bring King Conan to his knees...

Fall into darkness

 Nermesa chopped apart his inhuman adversaries without pause. Much to his distress, though, his arm grew heavy, his legs weary. Yet, there was still no end in sight to the demon’s woodland horde.
 He struggled up a ridge, the upward path slowing his pace, enabling the monstrous imps to gain on him. Several grabbed hold of his legs, his torso, and wrapped around his helmet, obscuring his vision. Unable to see exactly where he was going, Nermesa waved his weapon about wildly.
 Then, his left foot touched not earth but air. He toppled forward, still in the clutches of his inhuman adversaries. Nermesa frantically swung the sword, determined to fight until the end.
 His helmet slipped from his head. A moment later, Nermesa’s skull impacted against something harder than it...