Conan Stories · Chapter
III: The Return of the Oracle explained
Conan investigates the murder in the valley, returns to the palace to find the priests of Keshan arriving for a ritual.
What happens
Conan investigates the murder in the valley, returns to the palace to find the priests of Keshan arriving for a ritual. He hides and watches as Muriela, posing as the goddess Yelaya, delivers a message ordering the priests to drive out Thutmekri and entrust the Teeth of Gwahlur to Conan. After the priests leave, Conan is trapped in a tunnel by a falling stone block and a sealed door, but escapes to find Muriela and Gwarunga gone.
Themes in this chapter
Supernatural and Ancient Evil
The ritual invocation of the goddess Yelaya, the mysterious servants of Bît-Yakin, and the trap of the falling stone block evoke ancient and supernatural forces.
Survival and Individualism
Conan relies on his own wits and instincts to navigate the dangers of the palace and the tunnel, acting alone to survive and rescue Muriela.
Characters to notice
- Conan
Investigates the murder scene, returns to the palace, hides and observes the ritual, then is trapped in a tunnel but escapes.
- Muriela
Posing as the goddess Yelaya, delivers the oracle's message to the priests, then collapses from fear and later vanishes.
- Gorulga
High priest of Keshan, leads the ritual and invokes the goddess, accepts the oracle's command.
- Gwarunga
Negro priest who revealed the pool-entrance to Zargheba; Conan sees him in the procession and later finds he has vanished.
- Zargheba
Mentioned as a possible striker of the gong and as the one who expected the priests to come by the main avenue.
Key passages
“Conan wheeled supplely, sweeping the shadows with a fiercely questing stare. There was no sign of the murdered man’s body; only yonder the tall lush grass was trampled and broken down and the sward was dabbled darkly and wetly.”
Conan turned quickly, scanning the shadows. The murdered man's body was gone, but the grass was trampled and stained with blood.
Conan investigates the scene of the murder.
“The little slut’s an actress,”
Conan thinks Muriela is a good actress.
Conan's internal observation of Muriela's performance as the goddess.
“It is the will of the gods that the Stygian and his Shemitish dogs be driven from Keshan!”
The gods command that Thutmekri and his Shemites be expelled from Keshan.
Muriela delivers the oracle's message as instructed by Conan.