Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire, Book 3)
Chapter 24
by Mark, Lawrence,The chapter opens with Chella, a necromancer, standing before the unsettling presence of the Dead King, Artur Elgin, whose grotesque mannerisms unsettle her. She introduces Kai Summerson, another necromancer seeking service, but the Dead King fixates on her past failure to recruit Jorg of Ancrath. Despite Chella’s dismissive view of Jorg as merely lucky, the Dead King insists on bringing him to court, though his motives remain unclear. The tension is palpable as Chella navigates the Dead King’s unnerving scrutiny, revealing her discomfort with his authority and the lingering shame of her earlier mission.
The Dead King shifts his attention to Kai, probing his past as a sky-sworn necromancer who feared losing himself to the winds. Through their exchange, the Dead King emphasizes the power of will and conviction, suggesting that fear is the true barrier to mastery. Kai’s admission of fear contrasts with the Dead King’s belief in self-command, which he claims anchors necromancers to their flesh and even binds the dead to the world. The interaction underscores the Dead King’s manipulative prowess, as he exploits Kai’s regrets and hints at a darker purpose for him, commanding him to embrace death on wings.
Chella remains alone with the Dead King, who reveals his ambition to rule beyond his current dominion, aspiring to remake the empire as a stepping stone to greater power. He questions why the Hundred have not united against him, concluding it’s due to their lack of fear. The Dead King outlines the tactical advantages of his undead legions—their ability to thrive without breath or food—but admits these alone are insufficient for his grand designs. His childlike greed and pride emerge as he hints at new strategies, positioning Chella as a key instrument in his plans.
The chapter concludes with the Dead King assigning Chella a mysterious mission, accompanied by two lichkin, Thantos and Keres, and an unnamed escort. His cryptic instructions suggest she will serve as a weapon to destabilize the empire, though the specifics remain shrouded in menace. The Dead King’s chilling authority and Chella’s reluctant obedience highlight the chapter’s themes of power, fear, and ambition, setting the stage for a darker conflict to come.
FAQs
1. How does the Dead King’s physical description reflect his character and power?
Answer:
The Dead King’s unsettling physicality—particularly the grinding of his jawbone and the glitter of his eyes—serves as a visceral representation of his unnatural power and menace. These grotesque details (like the “sick click and crunch of a dead man’s jaw”) emphasize his liminal state between life and death, while also unnerving even Chella, who is accustomed to horrors. His corpse-like qualities (white fingers, driftwood throne) and the auditory hallucinations of drowning sailors further reinforce his connection to death and domination. The chapter suggests his physical decay mirrors his moral corruption, as he wields fear and manipulation like weapons.2. Analyze Kai Summerson’s internal conflict regarding his sky-sworn abilities. How does the Dead King exploit this?
Answer:
Kai’s admission that “fear kept me on the ground” reveals his regret over not fully embracing his sky-sworn potential due to self-preservation. The Dead King strategically probes this wound, framing Kai’s fear as a failure of willpower (“your command of what you are”). By suggesting that true power lies in overcoming fear—linking it to necromantic resurrection (“reels in the silver cord”)—he manipulates Kai’s shame into renewed loyalty. This interaction highlights the Dead King’s psychological tactics: he identifies vulnerabilities (e.g., Kai’s white knuckles, his “passion” when confessing) and reframes them as opportunities for servitude (“show me death on wings”).3. What does the Dead King’s ambition reveal about the nature of power in the story’s world?
Answer:
The Dead King’s monologue about ruling “all that does not live” exposes power as an insatiable, almost childlike hunger (“a child’s greed and child’s pride”). His desire to transcend titles like “Lord of Brettan” for dominion over death itself suggests power is both expansive and existential. The chapter contrasts his supernatural advantages (e.g., troops that “don’t breathe”) with very human ambitions, implying that even the undead are driven by familiar cravings for control. His critique of the living Hundred’s infighting further positions power as a zero-sum game where unity is impossible without shared fear.4. How does Chella’s perspective shape our understanding of the Dead King’s court?
Answer:
Chella’s visceral reactions—her skin crawling, her relief at escaping his stare—offer a human lens to the court’s horrors. As “the only living thing” present, her observations highlight the unnaturalness of the Dead King’s realm: the wraith-light that ages Kai, the lichkin she cannot fully perceive, and the throne made of drowned sailors’ driftwood. Her internal monologue also reveals the court’s political dynamics, such as the Dead King’s habit of punishing failures (servants sent to the lichkin) and his obsession with Jorg Ancrath. Her survival instincts make the Dead King’s menace feel immediate and personal.5. Interpret the significance of the Dead King’s tactical speech about his armies. How does this foreshadow future conflicts?
Answer:
His emphasis on non-breathing, non-eating troops (“any swamp is a stronghold”) underscores the logistical superiority of the undead, but also their limitations (“poor servants at best”). This speech hints at future battles where geography (like the Ken Marshes) will be pivotal. More ominously, his admission that “new strategies” are needed suggests he will employ Chella and the lichkin (Thantos, Keres) in unconventional warfare—likely infiltration or psychological terror, given the metaphor of her as a “weapon” to “pierce the belly of the empire.” This shifts the conflict from brute force to subterfuge, aligning with his theme of willpower over physicality.
Quotes
1. “‘It’s your will, the power of your desire, that counts in this world – in all worlds.’ For a moment the Dead King seemed almost tender, something more awful than anger coming from Artur Elgin’s dead lips. ‘The force of your conviction can anchor mind to flesh if your sense of who you are, your command of what you are, is stronger than the wind.’”
This quote encapsulates the Dead King’s philosophy of power and identity, revealing his belief that sheer willpower can transcend physical and metaphysical limitations. It’s a pivotal moment where he mentors Kai Summerson, blending horror with twisted wisdom.
2. “‘The empire will be a start. Remade, it can be a step from which to take everything. I am not called king of here or king of there, they call me Dead King, lord of all that does not live.’”
Here the Dead King unveils his boundless ambition, framing his current dominion as merely a stepping stone. This declaration exposes his childlike greed and cosmic-scale aspirations, marking a turning point in understanding his motivations.
3. “‘They have not united because they don’t fear me.’ Artur Elgin rose from the Dead King’s throne. ‘The returned cannot breed, they rot, they know more of hunger than of caution, they can stand against armies only where the ground favours them.’”
This strategic analysis reveals the Dead King’s self-awareness about his forces’ limitations and his enemies’ psychology. It’s significant for showing his tactical mind at work, explaining why his conquest isn’t more advanced despite his power.
4. “‘My troops have two tactical advantages. They don’t breathe and they don’t eat. That means that any swamp, lake, or sea, is a stronghold and that I need not maintain supply lines.’”
A concise military insight that defines the Dead King’s unconventional warfare capabilities. This quote crystallizes the practical realities of commanding undead armies, contrasting with earlier philosophical musings about willpower.
5. “‘Choosing a strategy is like deciding upon a weapon. And a weapon needs a point if it is to pierce the foe, neh? You, Chella, are going to pierce the belly of the empire for me.’”
The chapter’s ominous conclusion, where the Dead King transitions from philosophy to action. This metaphor-rich command reveals Chella’s new role as his living weapon, blending strategic thinking with poetic menace.