Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire, Book 3)
Chapter 23
by Mark, Lawrence,In Chapter 21 of *Emperor of Thorns*, the protagonist, feverish and wounded, engages in a haunting conversation with Fexler, a ghostly remnant of the Builders. Set five years earlier in the ruins of Iberico, the dialogue reveals Fexler’s faction’s preference for Orrin of Arrow, a peacemaker projected to rule the empire. The protagonist, skeptical and weakened, questions Fexler’s motives, even as he deals with the unsettling presence of the Dead King, who manifests through corpses. The tension between survival and Fexler’s cryptic agenda sets the tone for the chapter.
Fexler unveils a deeper conflict rooted in the Builders’ legacy: a “wheel” they set in motion, altering the fabric of reality by empowering human will to shape the world. This manipulation has led to thinning barriers between life and death, energy and matter, giving rise to magic-like abilities. However, the unchecked use of these powers accelerates the world’s decay. The Dead King is presented as a symptom of this unraveling, a force of will exacerbating the crisis. The protagonist’s physical suffering mirrors the world’s deterioration, emphasizing the stakes.
Fexler explains that the Builders’ “ghosts” are divided: some seek to preserve humanity to maintain their networks, while others advocate for humanity’s eradication to halt the wheel’s destructive turn. The protagonist mocks the latter, highlighting the irony of the Builders’ unfinished destruction. Fexler, however, hints at a third path, distinct from subjugation or annihilation. Before he can elaborate, his presence flickers, and he urgently instructs the protagonist to take a control ring to Vyene, beneath the throne, suggesting a pivotal but unfinished plan.
The chapter ends abruptly as Fexler vanishes mid-sentence, leaving the protagonist with cryptic instructions and the yellow pills to treat his sepsis. The exchange underscores themes of legacy, unintended consequences, and the precarious balance between control and chaos. Fexler’s disappearance amplifies the mystery, setting the stage for the protagonist’s next steps in a world teetering on the brink of collapse.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the “wheel” that Fexler discusses with the protagonist, and how does it relate to the current state of their world?
Answer:
The “wheel” symbolizes a fundamental shift in the rules governing reality, initiated by Fexler’s generation of Builders. It represents an adjustment in quantum emphasis, where human will directly influences the environment—bypassing machinery. However, this wheel was set into perpetual motion, leading to thinning barriers between concepts like life/death and mind/matter. The protagonist’s world now experiences magic (e.g., necromancy, elemental oaths) as symptoms of this breakdown. Each use of such powers accelerates the wheel’s turn, widening fractures in reality. Fexler implies this is irreversible, culminating in existential threats like the Dead King, a manifestation of unchecked willpower exploiting these fractures.2. Why do some Builder “ghosts” advocate for humanity’s destruction, and how does Fexler’s stance differ?
Answer:
Some Builder ghosts view humanity as the catalyst for the world’s unraveling due to their use of will-based magic, which exacerbates the wheel’s destructive turning. They believe eliminating humans would halt further damage, allowing reality to stabilize. Fexler, however, proposes a “third way” beyond subjugation or annihilation. While he acknowledges the threat, he hints at an alternative—possibly involving the control ring beneath Vyene’s throne—to mitigate the crisis without extreme measures. His stance reflects a nuanced understanding of humanity’s role, balancing preservation with intervention, unlike his peers who see eradication as the only solution.3. Analyze the protagonist’s attitude toward Orrin of Arrow and Fexler’s projections. What does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
The protagonist dismisses Orrin as a “peacemaker” favored by Builder projections, mocking the idea that Fexler would need him to intervene. His skepticism (“I’d bet on Orrin too if I had a stake”) underscores his cynicism toward systems of power and predestined outcomes. Despite his physical agony, he prioritizes autonomy—questioning Fexler’s motives and resisting passive acceptance of fate. This reveals his defiant self-reliance and distrust of external authority, even when facing existential threats. His focus on immediate survival (“keep moving”) contrasts with Fexler’s long-term calculations, highlighting his pragmatic, adversarial worldview.4. How does the chapter frame the relationship between technology (the Builders’ machines) and magic (will-based powers)?
Answer:
The chapter presents magic as an unintended consequence of the Builders’ technological ambition. Their “greatest works” sought to replace machinery with direct human will, but this birthed a runaway metaphysical process. Magic emerges from the fractures created by this experiment, blurring lines between science and sorcery. For instance, necromancy and elemental oaths are side effects of the wheel’s turning. The Builders’ machines now house “ghosts” who debate how to manage these forces, framing magic as a corrupted form of their original innovation—a dangerous fusion of human desire and destabilized natural laws.5. What thematic lesson might readers infer from the protagonist’s remark, “It doesn’t pay to start a job and not finish it”?
Answer:
The protagonist’s sardonic comment critiques the Builders’ hubris and shortsightedness. Their incomplete manipulation of reality’s rules unleashed chaos, mirroring broader themes of unintended consequences and ethical responsibility. The line suggests that half-measures in wielding power—whether technological or magical—invite disaster. It also reflects his worldview: decisive action (like dismembering corpses to prevent reanimation) is preferable to passive reliance on projections. Thematically, it warns against tampering with fundamental forces without considering long-term repercussions, tying to the chapter’s exploration of decay, control, and the costs of progress.
Quotes
1. “‘Projections favour Orrin, but some of us prefer to bet on longer odds for greater rewards,’ Fexler said.”
This quote captures the tension between statistical predictions and human agency. Fexler, representing the “ghosts in the machines,” acknowledges the logical choice (Orrin) while hinting at a more ambitious gamble on Jorg - a key turning point where the chapter reveals the protagonist might be part of a larger, riskier plan.
2. “‘The physicists called it an adjustment of quantum emphasis… So man could control his environment directly through the force of his desire, rather than through machinery.’”
This is the chapter’s most important worldbuilding revelation, explaining the metaphysical foundation of magic in this universe. The concept of will altering reality becomes crucial to understanding both the Dead King’s emergence and the impending catastrophe Fexler describes.
3. “‘The more they are used, the easier they become, and the wider the world is broken open. And this Dead King of yours is just another symptom.’”
A critical insight into the story’s central conflict - magic is both power and existential threat. The quote elegantly connects personal stakes (Jorg’s Dead King problem) with the larger cosmological crisis, showing how individual actions accelerate universal decay.
4. “‘Many of them favour supporting new civilization… A growing number… feel that the only way to stop the wheel turning… is to destroy all mankind.’”
This presents the chapter’s central dilemma in stark terms - the Builders’ ghosts are divided between preserving humanity as tools or exterminating them as threats. The moral quandary reflects on themes of power, responsibility, and the costs of progress.
5. “‘Take the control ring to Vyene. Beneath the throne there—’”
Fexler’s abrupt, unfinished final instruction serves as both cliffhanger and mission catalyst. The truncated revelation hints at a third path between the previous binary options, leaving readers (and Jorg) with more questions than answers while propelling the story forward.