Fafhrd was a huge, full-bearded barbarian from the Northlands. His weapon was a broadsword. The Gray Mouser was a small, nimble man dressed all in gray. He carried both rapier and dirk. In Lankhmar they were considered brawlers, cutpurses, rogues, and the best fighting-men in all of Nehwon. For this reason, Overlord Glipkerio Kistomerces hired them to guard an important shipment to a neighboring monarch. For once in their lifetimes of adventuring, our heroes looked forward to an easy time — until the mingols, a two-headed dragon, and an army of miniature warriors — appeared to make things interesting.

Fafhrd and Gray Mouser discover how the sadness of The Executioner creates a macabre dance from the point of view of the choreographer. Beauties and beasts explain the dual nature of all life’s creatures. And trapped in The Shadowland, our dogmatic duo find the duality of swords and needles, maps and territories, girls and demons, and gods.