Om vi antar att vi tar officiell filmförteckning som kanon, är svaret att Conan befriades i första hand för att Red Beard (AKA Toghrul) blev alltmer orolig för Conans aggression och oberoende ande och kände att han planerade att döda honom vid första tillfället
För rekordet kämpade Conan för flera årstider efter att ha studerat med warmaster.
“I hated myself. Never have I told this tale before, for the deed is one of the few of which I am ashamed. True, the woman was dying, and the death I dealt her was perhaps more merciful than letting her die slowly; but still, the deed was vile and cowardly to a Cimmerian. Then I bethought me of Toghrul, who had made me thus to despise myself. All my hatred focused on him, and I swore that one day I would repay him for my shame.”
och
Approval lit the dark eyes of the general. “The Pit has not broken the spirit of your champion, O Toghrul. Neither has it sapped his will. Beware lest this young tiger some day turn and rend you!”
“He wears chains so that he cannot,” said Toghrul, chuckling.
Conan said nothing more; but a strange volcanic fire smouldered briefly in his fierce blue eyes.
Notera att i filmen Red Beard befriar honom frivilligt medan Conan i boken (som verkar vara baserad på det tidigare Milius-skriptet) släpper undan Toghruls kopplingar efter en jordbävning.
Below him, at the foot of the little hill, Conan saw the Pit master’s head protruding from a wide crack in the earth. He saw that the earth had opened beneath the Hyrkanian’s feet and swallowed him to his shoulders. Wedged in the crack, the man was unable to free himself.
“Pull me out!” implored the Pit master.
“Why should I?”
“I’ll pay gold! I’ll give you your freedom! Only save me now!”
“My freedom, eh?” Conan threw back his head and laughed—his first good laugh since the Vanir had captured him, ten long years ago. “That I already have. Stay there, swine! If the earth swallows you down, good riddance to you!”
Conan turned and walked away.