Conan Stories · Chapter
VII: On to Yimsha explained
Conan, freed from Khemsa's spell, rides to gather his Afghuli warriors but is falsely accused of betraying their captive chiefs to the governor.
What happens
Conan, freed from Khemsa's spell, rides to gather his Afghuli warriors but is falsely accused of betraying their captive chiefs to the governor. Repudiated, he turns back alone toward Yimsha to rescue the Devi Yasmina. He encounters the dying Khemsa, who gives him a magical girdle and warns him of the Master's powers. Conan then meets Kerim Shah, and they form a temporary alliance to confront the Seers of Yimsha.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Valerius’s emotional peak occurs as he shifts from physical agony to a stunned, weeping despair over Taramis’s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Supernatural and Ancient Evil
Khemsa's dying gift of a magical girdle and his warnings about the Master's transmutations underscore the pervasive supernatural threat.
- Honor and Loyalty
Conan is falsely accused of betrayal by his own men, highlighting themes of loyalty and honor among the hill tribes.
- Survival and Individualism
Conan decides to proceed alone to Yimsha after being repudiated, emphasizing his self-reliance and determination.
Characters to notice
- Conan
Freed from Khemsa's spell, he rides to rally his Afghuli warriors but is falsely accused of betrayal. He decides to continue to Yimsha alone to rescue Yasmina.
- Khemsa
Found dying on the trail, he gives Conan his magical girdle and warns him about the Master's transmutations before expiring.
- Kerim Shah
Encountered on the mountain path, he forms a temporary alliance with Conan to rescue Yasmina from the Seers.
- Yasmina
The Devi has been taken by the Seers to their castle on Yimsha; Conan and Kerim Shah aim to rescue her.
Key passages
“As mists vanish before a strong wind, the cobwebs vanished from Conan’s brain.”
Conan's mind cleared instantly, as if a fog had lifted.
Describes Conan's recovery from Khemsa's spell.
“I’m going on to Yimsha alone. I’ll have the Devi back if I have to tear down that damned mountain with my bare hands.”
Conan declares he will rescue Yasmina even if he must destroy the mountain itself.
Shows Conan's fierce determination.
“We both want the Devi. You know my reason; King Yezdigerd desires to add her kingdom to his empire, and herself in his seraglio.”
Kerim Shah explains that King Yezdigerd wants to conquer Yasmina's kingdom and take her as a concubine.
Reveals the political motives behind the alliance.
