"The Vale of Lost Women" by Robert E. Howard (1967)

Originally appeared in Magazine of Horror #15, 1967.

Plot: Livia, an Ophirian noblewoman is captured by Bajujh and the Bakalahs, who murder her brother before her. Livia sees a strange white chief visting her captors. She manages to escape her hut long enough to take to him. He is Conan, a Cimemrian who is war chief of the Bamulas. She offers her virinity if he will save her from Bajujh. Conan betrays his host and the Bakalahs are vanished by surprise. During the fight, Livia escapes, not wanting to be sexual toy to any man. He falls off her horse but wanders into a valley where noone will venture, the Vale of Lost Women. There she finds small, brown females with the eyes of demons. They drug her and place her on an altar. From the starry depths of space comes a bat-like monsterto devour her soul and make her another of the lost women. Conan shows up in time to defeatthe demon, which flees back into space. Livia offers up her virginity again but Conan refuses her. She is too soft, not worthy of being his mate.

Monsters:

The Lost Woman - appear to be normal human women except for their eyes which flash in the dark and show their soulless condition.

The Devil of the Outer Darkness - is a minor creature from the Abyss, who can be vanquished with steel.

History: This story was finished in Howard's time but didn't see print until 1967. There is every chance it was rejected by Weird Tales because of its sexual implications. Alternatively, Livia seems the main character and Conan secondary. Also, it take far too long to get going. An odd tale within the Conan canon.

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