As the Picts west of the kingdom of Aquilonia gather to attack the frontier fort of Velitrium, Conan's Aquilonian scouting party is ambushed by a massive Pict war party, and then by venomous snakes conjured by the shaman Sagyetha, nephew of the late Zogar Sag. Conan and Flavius, one of his fellow captains, escape the rout and hide at a Pictish council site to discern the enemy's plans. As multiple tribes gather at the site, Conan discovers his men were betrayed by one of their own, Edric, who is working for Lucian, an Aquilonian viscount, the temporary governor of Conajohara, and Conan's general. Lucian has promised to deliver the province of Schonia to the Picts, in return for the delivery of Valannius pay chest from the destroyed Fort Tuscelan (to pay off his heavy gambling debts) and the elimination of Thasperas, the governor of Schonia and his primary rival.
Once Edric is gone and the Picts are busy with their war rituals, Conan and Flavius retreat to Velitrium and report the plot to their fellow captains Laodamas and Glyco. The four of them ambush Edric's party carrying the chest, capture the money and traitorous scout and make him confess. Even though Laodamas remains sceptical, Conan confronts and exposes Lucian, who flees. Taking command, Conan rallies his men and leads them into the wild against the encroaching Picts. After a skirmish, Conan tells his men to hold their position while he sneaks behind enemy lines. Although bitten by a snake, he takes Sagyetha by surprise, decapitates him, and takes the head back to his own lines to use it to demoralize the Pict warriors.
In the midst of the final charge, Conan passes out from the venom, but his men are victorious. As Conan wakes, he finds himself promoted to general of Conajohara's garrison and invited to a feast at King Numedides' court.
