Wolves Beyond the Border

This article is about a short story. For the protagonist and principal character, see Conan the Barbarian.

"Wolves Beyond the Border"
Author	Robert E. Howard
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Conan the Barbarian
Genre(s)	Fantasy short story
Published in	Conan the Usurper
Publication type	Anthology
Publisher	Lancer Books
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Publication date	1967

"Wolves Beyond the Border" is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, a fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard's lifetime. It is a peripheral story in the canon in that while it takes place in Conan's "Hyborian Age" and during Conan's lifetime, Conan does not actually appear, but is merely mentioned. The story was completed by L. Sprague de Camp and in this form first published in the collection Conan the Usurper (1967). It has since been published in its original form in the collection The Conan Chronicles Volume 2: The Hour of the Dragon (Gollancz, 2001) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933) (Del Rey, 2003).

Plot summary

(From the Conan The Usurper version, ISBN 0-441-11459-8)

Set during the time of Conan's conquest of Aquilonia, the foreword and story refer to ongoing battles between the armies of Conan and King Numedides. The Picts see an opportunity however.

Told by a border ranger named Gault Hagar's son, the Gault witnesses a secret Pictish ceremony conducted by Tenayoga, a Ligurean shaman, and witnessed by Lord Valerian, an Aquilonian nobleman.

Gault flees to Fort Kwanyara, thence to the town of Schondara where he meets an old friend, exchanges news on Conan's forces and discovers Lord Valerian. Valerian is imprisoned but escapes.

Gault escapes the attack of a giant ape and with others, follows Valerian to a cabin where they watch him meet with the old shaman and a band of Gunderman guards. The leaders of four Pictish tribes plan to meet together and consult a wizard in the swamp. Gault, Hakon and their rangers attack the cabin setting it alight. The two track those who escaped the carnage to the swamp meeting and are captured.

The tribes agree to attack Schondara and depart, leaving the captives bound to stakes. Gault escapes his bonds, slays the wizard and the pair are just in time to sabotage the Pictish assault and be proclaimed as heroes.

Adaptation

The story was adapted by Roy Thomas and Ernie Chan in Savage Sword of Conan #59.

External links

• Conan the Barbarian at AmratheLion.com

Preceded by "The Vale of Lost Women"	Original Howard Canon (publication order)	Succeeded by "The Hand of Nergal"
Preceded by "Jewels of Gwahlur"	Original Howard Canon (Dale Rippke chronology)	Succeeded by "The Phoenix on the Sword"
Preceded by "The Treasure of Tranicos"	Complete Conan Saga (William Galen Gray chronology)	Succeeded by Conan the Liberator