"The Keeper of the Emerald Flame" by Lin Carter Originally appeared in The Might Swordsmen 1970. Plot: Dorgand Thul and his men are in pursuit of Thongor and his bandits. The soldiers come acrossa skull on a pole bearing a sinister red mark. They turn back, knowing that Thongor is approaching the cursed lands of Shan Chan Thuu, the Keeper of the Emerald Flame and are as good as dead. Thongot sees his pursuers retreat but continues on toward the legendary castle of the sorcerer, thinking of his abandoned treasure. That night they camp in a old ruin where Thongor notices someone lurking near-by. he captures the spy. It proves to be a jungle girl named Zoroma. She is a member of a jungle tribe who is looking for her missing lover. Thongor and his men go to Shan Chan Thuu's black citadel, taking Zoroma with them. The castle is immense, ancient and probably a vestige of the Dragon Kings who once ruled Lemuria. They don't find any treasure and camp down for the night. in the night one man goes missing. Thongor finds his blood and guts scattered over the walls of a certain room. Another man disappears the next night and the thieves think of leaving. The third night Zoroma disappears and Thongor follows her trail. he finds the bloody room again and explores it. He finds a hatch in the floor that leads to a secret wizard's labratory. He finds Zoroma there too. She has discovered that her lover died like the other two men. Thongor explores the wizard's treasure which includes a heavy belt with gree crystals on it. Each crystal burns with a living soul. Thongor takes the belt but a skeletal hand grabs his foot. Shan Chan Thuu reveals himself to be an animated mummy. Thongor begins a desperate struggle with the mummified sorcerer which ends with Shan Chan Thuu strangling him. Zoroma snaps out of it (at last!) and dumps a vial of acid on the mummy. He catches on fire and burns up. The emeralds onthe belt lose their magical quality. Thongor leads his men and Zoroma out of the black citadel and towards the jungle and food and water. When Chelim, his lieutenant complains of not finding the treasure, Thongor shares out the gems and coins he took from the vault. Monsters Animated mummy Wizard - Shan Chan Thuu is at least two hundred years old and a lich bound to the emerald flame stones. History: One of two stories Carter wrote for Hans Stefan Santesson's anthologies. The other was "Thieves of Zangabal". The Thongor short stories seem more Conan-esque than the novels which have Edgar Ricve Burroughs type elements as well. Carter goes for a lot of atmosphere in this piece, not so much action or monsters. Chronologically this story takes place before Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria. Thongor is only about 19 years old.
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