Prince of Thorns
Chapter 30
by Mark, Lawrence,The chapter opens with a tense confrontation between the protagonist and a necromancer, marked by swift, violent exchanges. The protagonist wields a legendary sword, but the necromancer evades his attacks with unnatural speed. A thrown skull injures her, revealing her grotesque, writhing flesh. Meanwhile, the protagonist’s companions—Makin, Gorgoth, and others—begin to shake off their daze and prepare for battle. The necromancer taunts them, her voice eerie and distorted, as the atmosphere grows increasingly hostile and surreal.
The battle escalates as the necromancer summons an army of reanimated skeletons, plunging the environment into freezing mist and darkness. The protagonists fight desperately, their weapons growing heavy with cold as the undead advance relentlessly. Casualties mount, including Roddat and Brother Jobe, their deaths described with brutal clarity. The cold becomes unbearable, sapping strength and resolve, yet the group presses on, driven by survival instinct and camaraderie. Rike and Gorgoth stand out in the chaos, their raw power providing fleeting moments of advantage.
Amid the chaos, the protagonist realizes the necromancer is the key to ending the onslaught. Breaking away from the group, he ventures into the darkness, driven by hatred and determination. Disoriented and weaponless, he relies on his senses to track her, eventually stumbling upon a hidden chamber. There, he discovers the Nuban—a companion—captured by the necromancer, who is draining his life force. The scene is chilling, underscored by the necromancer’s unnatural strength and the Nuban’s helpless struggle.
The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, with the protagonist confronting the necromancer as she pauses her assault on the Nuban. The tension is palpable, leaving the reader anticipating the next move in their deadly duel. The necromancer’s power and malevolence are fully displayed, while the protagonist’s resolve is tested to its limits. The setting—a shadowy, claustrophobic chamber—adds to the sense of impending doom, setting the stage for a decisive confrontation in the next chapter.
FAQs
1. What tactics does the protagonist use to combat the necromancer and her skeletons, and how effective are they?
Answer:
The protagonist employs a combination of direct combat, psychological taunts, and strategic targeting of the necromancer herself. Initially, he attacks the necromancer with his family blade, though she evades him. He then rallies his companions, including Rike and Gorgoth, to fight the skeletons. Recognizing the necromancer as the source of the undead threat, he breaks away from the main battle to confront her directly, using the scent of cloves to locate her. While his tactics keep the group alive temporarily, the skeletons’ endless numbers and the necromancer’s evasion make his efforts only partially effective until he isolates her.2. How does the author create a sense of dread and supernatural horror in this chapter?
Answer:
The author builds horror through vivid sensory descriptions and unnatural imagery. The necromancer’s decaying, worm-like flesh and the “sound of wet rags flapping in the wind” evoke visceral disgust. The oppressive cold, the torch guttering out, and the mist that swallows sound create a claustrophobic atmosphere. The skeletons’ relentless advance and the deaths of companions like Roddat—whose flesh dies where ghostly fingers touch—heighten the stakes. The darkness is so absolute it “rips out all memory of colour,” emphasizing the characters’ helplessness against an otherworldly foe.3. Analyze the significance of the Nuban’s role in this chapter. How does his fate impact the protagonist?
Answer:
The Nuban serves as both a foil and a catalyst for the protagonist. His disciplined approach (loading his crossbow methodically) contrasts with the protagonist’s impulsive aggression. When the Nuban breaks off to hunt the necromancer alone, he demonstrates initiative but also falls victim to her, found paralyzed with her mouth at his neck. This discovery likely fuels the protagonist’s rage and desperation, reinforcing his resolve to stop the necromancer. The Nuban’s fate underscores the necromancer’s power and the personal cost of failure, deepening the protagonist’s emotional stakes.4. What does the protagonist’s internal mantra—“I’m not going to die here”—reveal about his character and the themes of the story?
Answer:
The repeated mantra highlights the protagonist’s defiance and survival instinct, core traits of his character. Despite overwhelming odds, he clings to determination even as his conviction wavers (“It held less conviction each time”). This reflects broader themes of resilience and the will to dominate fate, central to grimdark narratives. His shift to relying on hate (“let your hate lead you”) as motivation reveals a darker theme: in extremis, morality bends to primal instincts. The mantra also underscores the psychological toll of battle, as his mental resolve battles physical exhaustion.5. How does the setting contribute to the conflict in this chapter?
Answer:
The hall of bones and the Builders’ shaft act as a metaphorical and literal battleground. The confined space forces close-quarters combat, amplifying the skeletons’ numerical advantage. The darkness and mist disorient the group, fracturing their cohesion, while the necromancer uses the environment to evade and ambush. The shaft’s “square maw” symbolizes the abyss of death she controls, emphasizing her power. The setting thus becomes an active antagonist, mirroring the necromancer’s influence and forcing the protagonists into a desperate, chaotic struggle for survival.
Quotes
1. “‘That,’ she said, ‘was a mistake.’ ‘So sorry!’ I kept my voice cheerful and lunged at her.”
This exchange captures the protagonist’s dark humor and defiance in the face of danger, setting the tone for the battle with the necromancer. The contrast between her ominous threat and his sarcastic retort highlights their adversarial dynamic.
2. “‘The dead are many, child,’ she said. ‘I’ll let you pass—into their realm.’”
This quote represents the necromancer’s chilling power and the existential threat she poses. It underscores the chapter’s central conflict—the overwhelming tide of undead forces and the characters’ struggle for survival.
3. “When in doubt, let your hate lead you. Normally I’d reject that advice. It makes a man predictable. But there, in that miserable hall of bones, I was past caring. Hate was all I had to keep me warm.”
This introspective moment reveals the protagonist’s raw desperation and moral ambiguity. It marks a turning point where he abandons strategy for primal emotion, driving his reckless charge toward the necromancer.
4. “I listened, listened deep, to a silence as velvet as the dark.”
This beautifully crafted sentence exemplifies the chapter’s atmospheric writing. It captures a pivotal moment of stillness amid chaos, as the protagonist focuses his senses to track the necromancer.
5. “She held the Nuban before her, holding his head to one side and her mouth to the straining cables of his neck.”
This visceral image of the necromancer’s predation creates a climactic sense of horror. It sets up the final confrontation while emphasizing the personal stakes for the protagonist.