# I: Death Strikes a King explained — Conan Stories

> Chapter companion for Conan Stories by Robert E. Howard.

## What happens

King Bhunda Chand of Vendhya is dying from sorcery, not poison. His sister, the Devi Yasmina, is helpless as he suffers. Meanwhile, Kerim Shah and Khemsa discuss the magical means of the king's death, involving a lock of hair used by the Black Seers of Yimsha. The king briefly regains consciousness and begs Yasmina to kill him to save his soul, which she does with a jeweled dagger.

## Themes in this chapter

### Supernatural and Ancient Evil

The king's death is caused by sorcery from the Black Seers of Yimsha, using a lock of hair and astrological alignment to draw his soul from his body.

### Power and Corruption

Kerim Shah serves King Yezdigerd of Turan, revealing the political machinations behind the king's assassination.

### Fate and Destiny

The stars dictate the timing of the king's death, and his soul's fate hangs in the balance, ultimately saved by Yasmina's fatal act.

## Character check-ins

### Yasmina

The Devi Yasmina, sister of King Bhunda Chand, is present at his deathbed, desperate and anguished. She ultimately kills him at his command to save his soul.

### Kerim Shah

A nobleman posing as a prince from Iranistan, revealed to serve King Yezdigerd of Turan. He discusses the king's death with Khemsa.

### Khemsa

A man in a brown camelhair robe and green turban, servant of the Black Seers of Yimsha. He explains the sorcery used to kill Bhunda Chand.

### Bhunda Chand

The dying king of Vendhya, killed by sorcery. He briefly regains consciousness and commands his sister to kill him to prevent his soul from being trapped.

## Key lines

> The king of Vendhya was dying. Through the hot, stifling night the temple gongs boomed and the conchs roared.

King Bhunda Chand of Vendhya lay dying as temple gongs and conch shells sounded through the oppressive night.

_Sets the scene of the king's death and the city's reaction._

> I tell you it is not poison! ... it is sorcery—black, ghastly magic—

Yasmina insists the king's illness is not poison but dark sorcery.

_Reveals the supernatural cause of the king's condition._

> Only a lock of hair. By which a soul is drawn from its body and across gulfs of echoing space.

Khemsa explains that a lock of hair was used to pull the king's soul from his body across vast distances.

_Key exposition on the mechanics of the sorcery._

> Quick—kill me, before they can trap my soul forever!

The king begs Yasmina to kill him to prevent his soul from being imprisoned.

_Climactic moment where Yasmina is forced to kill her brother._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-death-strikes-a-king
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters