The story begins with Conan in a tavern learning of an exquisite jewel named "The Heart of the Elephant". Daring to defy sudden death, the Cimmerian sets out to steal the jewel. Gaining entrance to the Tower of the Elephant, Conan meets Taurus, the Prince of Thieves. Together they climb the tower-I always felt that Taurus was just little too eager to allow Conan the Cimmerian to join him on his venture. Could it have been that Taurus felt a scuffle with the man would have roused the guards? Or could it have been that Taurus knew Conan could take his life? I like to think that Taurus had almost an immediate respect for the man, being so bold as to take on a task as difficult as this one.
Taurus is killed by what appears to be a large spider, evil and devilishly quick. Conan makes his way past the spider and meets Yag-Kosha, a being with the head of an elephant and the body of a man. Blind and tortured the being tells Conan that his arrival has almost finalized a prophecy that will set Yag free and destroy the wizard Yara. Following instructions and using the jewel, Conan frees Yag and destroys Yara.
It is a bit strange that Conan kept his cool around the alien Yag-Kosha. I would have liked to have had a bit more information on Yara, but really all we know is that he was terrible and evil. I like the story, more in the beginning than in the ending.
