Audiobook The Hour of the Dragon

The narrative begins with a forbidden ritual in Nemeida where a sinister alliance of ambitious nobles and a renegade priest awaken Xaltotun, the high priest of Python from the long-fallen empire of Acheron. Armed with forgotten sorcery and the terrifying Heart of Ahriman, Xaltotun sets out to restore Acheron by destroying the younger kingdoms. Conan, now king of Aquilonia, senses the gathering doom but is incapacitated by dark magic on the eve of battle, leading to the catastrophic defeat of his army at Valkia. Captured and imprisoned in the deep pits of Belverus, Conan endures torture and fights monstrous man-eaters before escaping through the daring sacrifice of Zenobia. The core of the plot follows Conan on his desperate quest across borders and continents to recover the lost Heart of Ahriman—the only power capable of neutralizing Xaltotun's sorcery. As Nemedian forces overrun his capital and the people of Tarantia submit to fear, Conan gathers his remaining strength and loyal allies for a final, earth-shaking confrontation.