The shadow kingdom

"The Shadow Kingdom" by Robert E. Howard is a fantasy novelette first published in August 1929. When Kull, a barbarian from Atlantis, conquers the ancient kingdom of Valusia and claims its throne, he discovers something far more dangerous than rival warriors. An alliance with the mysterious Brule the Spear-Slayer reveals a terrifying conspiracy: serpent-like beings lurk in the shadows, using magic to steal identities and rule from behind masks of deception. Kull must question everything—including his own reality. (This is an automatically generated summary.)