Subotai

Subotai is a small, lean Hyrkanian of the Kerlait tribe, a man whose very appearance speaks of stealth and cunning. He is introduced to the reader as a captive bound in a witch's hut, a prisoner who, despite his misery and rags, rises to face Conan with a dignity that belies his condition. His self-introduction is telling: "I am Subotai, a Hyrkanian of the Kerlait tribe. In happier days, an archer, an assassin, and a thief." This trio of professions defines his character—a man of violence, but also of skill and deception, whose honesty Conan finds immediately to his liking. The Cimmerian, studying the small man, concludes that here is someone who "might throw a lie in your face but would never stab you in the back," a judgment that forms the bedrock of their friendship. Conan locates the keys to Subotai's shackles and frees him by the light of the rising moon, and the little man staggers toward the open door, rubbing his unshackled limbs with a crooked grin.

Identity and Background

Subotai is a Hyrkanian of the Kerlait tribe, a people he describes as "a race of generals." His philosophy of warfare is rooted in deception, a principle he practices through the art of theft. When Conan questions him about his claim to be a man of war, Subotai explains, "The essence of warfare is deception; so I learn the way by practising the art of theft." This fusion of martial and criminal skill makes him an ideal companion for Conan, who is himself a thief by necessity. His destination, as he tells Conan after being freed, is Zamora, specifically the capital Shadizar, which he calls "a city of thieves, and thievery is my business." This declaration sets the stage for their partnership, as Conan, too, is drawn to the city by the witch's cryptic message about the crossroads of the world.

Life and Plot Trajectory

Subotai's journey is inextricably linked to Conan's. After their meeting in the witch's cabin, he accompanies Conan to Zamora, where they become embroiled in the affairs of the Cult of Set. During the raid on the Tower of the Black Serpent, Subotai proves his worth as a scout and a fighter. He is the one who spots the grisly evidence of the cult's practices, hissing, "Erlik's blood, Conan! Look at that!" as they discover the floor beneath a circular opening littered with corpses in various states of decay. He also demonstrates his quick thinking in combat, tossing Conan's sword to him hilt-first just as the great serpent of Set pulls loose from its restraint, allowing Conan to sever the creature's head. When the headless body thrashes like a giant whip, it knocks Conan to the ground and sends Subotai flying across the empty altar, but the two battered adventurers gather up their scattered gear and make their way back into the carrion-littered hall, their partnership unbroken.

Key Actions and Objectives

Subotai's most dramatic act of loyalty comes after Conan's crucifixion on the Tree of Woe. Riding as only a Hyrkanian could ride, he gallops to the blasted tree where Conan hangs, crying out, "Erlik! What have they done to you?" With shaking hands, he fumbles in his saddlebag for a tweezer of the sort used to pull stones from horses' hooves, then clamber up the tree trunk to extract the nails from Conan's hands, which are swollen to twice their normal size. While the barbarian bites his lip to stifle his groans, Subotai wrenches and strains until the nails come free, then saws with his dagger at the ropes binding Conan's legs and arms. This rescue is a testament to his courage and resourcefulness, as he risks his own life to save his friend. Later, during the infiltration of the Mountain of Power, Subotai's stomach turns at the sight of human bodies hung from meat hooks beside a great cauldron, victims of the beast-men who serve the serpent god. He retches at the horror, a visceral reaction that humanizes him amidst the carnage.

Relationships and Conflict

The bond between Subotai and Conan is the central relationship of Subotai's life in the narrative. It is a friendship forged in shared danger and mutual respect, a comradeship that transcends their differences in size, origin, and temperament. Subotai's loyalty is unwavering, from the moment Conan frees him to the final battle against Thulsa Doom. He is present at the climactic moment when Conan's sword clove the snake head from the cult leader's body, and he stands with Conan as the beast-men melt away and the former followers of Doom weep for their lost Paradise. Yet their friendship is also tested by circumstance. After the fall of Thulsa Doom, Subotai rides off without a word, and when Conan catches up with him, the Hyrkanian explains his departure with a shrug: "They told me that the Queen had offered you a place beside her on the throne. I thought you'd be too busy with your... er... royal duties to have time for an old comrade-in-arms." This moment reveals a quiet insecurity beneath Subotai's crooked grin, a fear that Conan's rise would leave him behind.

Change and Ending

Subotai's story ends not with a grand battle but with a quiet reunion on the road. As summer dons the russet dress of autumn, Conan, brave in new garments and bright mail with a scarlet cloak floating from his shoulders, gallops a black stallion beside Zamora's fields of ripening grain. He catches up with the small Hyrkanian riding a shaggy steppe pony, and they dismount to talk. Subotai reveals that he took no more than his fair share of the Queen's reward for the Serpent's Eye, and Conan, looking faintly embarrassed, admits he did the same before leaving the city. When Subotai asks, "You mean you turned the lady's offer down?" the question hangs in the air, a testament to the choices that have shaped their paths. Subotai's decision to ride off, and Conan's decision to follow, reaffirms their bond even as it acknowledges the distance that power and ambition might have created between them. He remains, to the end, a man of the road, a thief and a warrior whose greatest treasure is not gold but the friendship of a Cimmerian.

Narrative Role and Evaluation

Subotai serves as Conan's foil and his conscience, a figure whose cunning complements Conan's strength and whose honesty grounds the barbarian's more impulsive nature. He is a master of deception, a practitioner of the art of theft, yet his loyalty is never in question. In a narrative dominated by the clash between Conan and Thulsa Doom, Subotai provides a human counterpoint, a reminder of the bonds of friendship that exist outside the cycles of vengeance and power. His presence in the story elevates it beyond a simple tale of revenge, adding depth and warmth to Conan's journey. The image of the small Hyrkanian, with his beady black eyes and crooked smile, riding his shaggy steppe pony beside Conan's black stallion, is a fitting emblem of their partnership—two outcasts from different worlds, united by a shared code of honor and a refusal to betray one another.