Conan Stories · Chapter
IX: The Castle of the Wizards explained
Conan and his party, including Kerim Shah and Irakzai warriors, ascend Mount Yimsha to confront the Black Seers.
What happens
Conan and his party, including Kerim Shah and Irakzai warriors, ascend Mount Yimsha to confront the Black Seers. They face supernatural attacks—a rabid dog, a steel-beaked hawk, and rolling clouds of smoke—before reaching the castle. Conan breaches the golden-bound teak door, but an invisible crystal barrier traps them inside. Following Khemsa's dying advice, they descend a ramp along a gold vein to survive a deadly rosy mist, then fight green-robed acolytes in a brutal melee. They emerge onto a green jade gallery before the castle's main entrance.
Themes in this chapter
Supernatural and Ancient Evil
The Black Seers wield unnatural powers, including animated dogs, enchanted hawks, and deadly magical mists, embodying ancient evil.
Survival and Individualism
Conan's pragmatic approach—using Khemsa's advice and brute force—highlights his survival instinct in a hostile supernatural environment.
Characters to notice
- Conan
Leads the assault on the Black Seers' castle, using Khemsa's advice to navigate the deadly mist and fighting acolytes.
- Kerim Shah
Accompanies Conan, kills the steel-beaked hawk with his bow, and follows Conan down the gold vein ramp.
- Khemsa
Referenced via Conan's memory of his dying advice about the gold vein.
Key passages
“He cast but a single glance upward at the higher tiers of the great pyramidal structure towering above him. He reached a hand for the bronze prong that jutted like a handle from the door—then checked himself, grinning hardly. The handle was made in the shape of a serpent, head lifted on arched neck; and Conan had a suspicion that that metal head would come to grisly life under his hand.”
Conan briefly looked up at the towering castle, then reached for the bronze serpent-shaped door handle but stopped, suspecting it might magically animate and attack him.
Conan's caution and suspicion of magical traps are demonstrated as he avoids a potentially deadly handle.