As Conan and Belit fume in the dungeons over the trickery of Akkheba, they are rescued by M'Gora and Kawaku, who have found a secret passage into the cells. While Belit wants to return to the Tigress and make good their escape, Conan wants to return and punish Akkheba and steal enough to make the detour worthwhile. Although Belit, at first, is jealous that Conan only wants to rescue Aluna, she comes around and they return to the city. After fighting and killing several guards they find the priest, who has already sacrificed Aluna, but Akkheba escapes the pair. Continuing their search through the castle's passages, they find a young woman, Astarta, who reveals herself to be Ashtoreth, or at least, the island priests portray the immortal foreigner as such, and they have imprisoned and abused