Valeria remained only an episode in Conan’s life, like all the other women, except for the one he made queen of Aquilonia. A lonely barbarian wandered around the world and finally returned to his native Cimmeria. There the news reached him that the Aquilonians, whom the bitter lesson of the Venarium fortress had taught nothing, were again expanding their possessions to the west, invading the forests inhabited by the Pictish tribes, or, as they were called, the Pictish Wilds. This means that there was bloodshed ahead again and a lot of work for such skilled warriors as Conan.