Claw the Unconquered #3 (1975)

Claw comes upon a maiden in desperate need of help as she is attacked by a group of lizard like creatures. Claw engages the lizards In swordplay and kills the leader. Once the leader is dead, the other lizard creatures flee in fear. Claw then uses a tree vine to rescue the maiden he first saw. She is stuck in a muddy mire and he pulls her out with the help of his horse. As the maiden emerges, Claw is shocked to see a lady centauress emerge from the swamp. She introduces herself as Elathia and she announces that she is on her way to the Wall of Weeping Mists to pillage the tomb of a long dead sorcerer. She asks for Claws help and offers to share her plunder with him if he will lend hiw sword to the quest. Claw indicates that he has no interest in gold but Elathia mentions that the tomb also contains knowledge. Claw agrees to help the lady centaur. The two figures are unaware that they are being observed through a crystal ball by none other than King Occulas and the wizard known as Miftung. They are both hopeful that the wizards latest project will result in the death of Claw. The evening starts to set and Claw is suddenly attacked by a slug like creature with its tentacle arms. Claw skillfully uses the blades to free himself and disposes of the monster. The two continue on their journey as Elathia reveals the true nature for her quest. She explains that she was part of a herd of Thlayra happily grazing in the grasslands. One day a wizard appeared and informed Elathia that she was not really a centaur but rather a human as a result of a spell that had been cast upon her at birth. Elathia was fascinated by the fact that she was a human at heart and was no longer content to be a centaur. The wizard went on to explain that obtaining an ancient Runespear in the tomb of the sorcerer that had enchanted her would change her back to human form. Elathia parted from the other centaurs and struck out on her own in search of the spear. After a long journey, the pair finally arrives at the Wall of Weeping Mists. Claw uses his athletic skills to scale the tomb by himself and he spots the legendary spear floating over the wizards coffin. He manages to obtain the spear and brings it back down to Elathia. Elathia grabs hold of it and reveals that the wizard had made her promise to kill Claw in exchange for the enchanted spear that would turn her back to a human. She attacks Claw but the barbarian skillfully avoids the blade and manages to impale Elathia with it. The Centaur lays dying but she takes solace in the fact that at least she will turn back to her original human form in death. Claw looks upon her dead body and it is revealed that she is still a centaur. She was never human, she had only been the victim of a brutal wizard that had lied to her to use the poor creature for his own purposes. In the meantime, Occulus and Miftung look on through their crystal ball and see that their plan has failed. Occulus swears that he will see Claw dead even if he has to destroy a world in the process.