After some time away, Conan finally returns to Harakht and his beloved Belit, but learns that due to a prophetic dream by the high priest Mer-Ath, Belit has been condemned to imprisonment. However, Belit managed to escape with Mer-Ath's wife Neftha as a hostage. Mer-Arh intends to hold Conan captive to coerce Belit. Conan attempts to flee but is stopped by a large black slave. Conan is chained in the dungeons, and the slave, Zula, is placed in the same chamber to rankle Conan. Meanwhile, to the east, Belit and Neftha approach the gates of Luxur. Neftha takes Belit to a temple of Set, where the pirate queen hopes to learn of her father, rumored to have been taken by King Ctesphon. The two women are put into a magically induced sleep in which Belit has visions of pythons. Back in Harakht, Co