The Hyborian era again, but this time without Conan, since the action takes place five hundred, or even six hundred years after his reign. Almost all the states of Hyboria fell under the onslaught of the barbarians - the Picts from the western forests and the nomadic Hyrcanians from the East. Only far to the south does the ancient kingdom of Stygia still hold out. But he is also in dire danger - to the south of him, the black king of Zembabwe is gathering a huge army to conquer the country and establish his own Black Empire. However, he does not know that tribes of red-haired Vanir are already moving from the frosty north, whose leader is guided by the ancient God - the Serpent. The story took first place in the Autumn literary short story competition based on the work of R.I. Howard on the Cimmeria website. ru