Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire, Book 3)
Chapter 26
by Mark, Lawrence,The chapter opens with Jorg and his company arriving in Gottering, a seemingly peaceful town in Attar, only to discover signs of a horrific massacre. The air carries the stench of blood and decay, and the guards soon uncover piles of flayed human skins hidden throughout the town. Jorg examines one of the skins, noting the precision of the flaying, and warns his men that their enemy uses terror as a weapon. The grim discovery sets a foreboding tone, hinting at the presence of a ruthless and skilled adversary.
As the guards gather the victims’ skins in the town square, Jorg and his companions survey the empty streets, finding no immediate threats. Meanwhile, Miana, heavily pregnant, is escorted to the Red Fox Inn, where she appears to be going into labor. Jorg’s unease grows, both from the gruesome scene and the impending birth. Harran initially suggests leaving the town behind, but Jorg reminds him of their duty to protect others who may follow, forcing Harran to order a thorough search and securing of the area.
Jorg converses with Osser Gant about the lichkin, mysterious and deadly creatures that have recently emerged in the Ken Marshes. Osser reveals that there may be seven lichkin in existence, their names recorded by the blinded sisters of the Helskian Order. The discussion underscores the supernatural threat looming over the group, compounded by the eerie silence of the town and the unsettling pile of skins. Jorg’s tension is palpable as he balances the immediate danger with the personal stakes of Miana’s labor.
The chapter closes with Rike returning with loot, drawing Jorg’s amused yet critical attention. Meanwhile, Marten and Katherine attend to Miana inside the inn, while Jorg hesitates to enter, grappling with his fear. The juxtaposition of the grotesque discoveries outside and the intimate, vulnerable moment inside highlights the chapter’s themes of terror, duty, and the weight of leadership. Jorg’s internal conflict and the unresolved threat of the lichkin leave the reader anticipating further confrontation.
FAQs
1. What evidence does Jorg find in Gottering that suggests a horrific event has occurred, and how does he interpret this discovery?
Answer:
Jorg discovers a pile of 190 human skins meticulously flayed from victims across the town, including men, women, and children. The skins are described as “wrinkled” and still faintly warm, with the scent of blood and slaughter permeating the air. He notes the precision of the flaying—akin to a huntsman’s technique for skinning deer—and interprets this as a deliberate act of psychological warfare: “Terror is a weapon, gentlemen, and our enemy understands its use.” This grisly tableau serves both as evidence of mass violence and a calculated message meant to intimidate.2. How does Jorg manipulate Captain Harran into continuing the investigation, and what does this reveal about Jorg’s leadership style?
Answer:
Jorg appeals to Harran’s sense of duty by pointing out that future troops from the Hundred—nobles en route to Vyene—will likely pass through Gottering. He frames the investigation as protection for Harran’s broader responsibilities, not just their immediate party. When Harran initially resists, Jorg strategically questions whether abandoning the town aligns with the guard’s oath to safeguard all members of the Hundred. This reveals Jorg’s manipulative yet pragmatic leadership: he leverages others’ honor and institutional obligations to achieve his goals, even while remaining detached (“A problem that never troubled me”).3. What ominous details about the lichkin are revealed through Osser Gant and Red Kent’s dialogue, and how does this foreshadow potential conflicts?
Answer:
Osser Gant notes that lichkin are a recent phenomenon in the Ken Marshes (5–10 years) and rare—Kent mentions a rumor of only seven existing worldwide. Gant’s warning that victims’ corpses may reanimate (“the corpse might try to kill you, but the man will be long gone”) hints at supernatural danger. The reference to the Helskian Order’s list of seven named lichkin, despite the Vatican’s attempts to suppress seers, suggests an organized threat. This foreshadows a confrontation with entities that combine ancient power with systematic malice, possibly tied to broader political or religious conspiracies.4. Analyze the significance of Miana’s labor beginning in this chapter. How does Jorg’s reaction contrast with his usual demeanor?
Answer:
Miana going into labor forces Jorg to confront a vulnerability he typically avoids: fear. His initial denial (“She can’t wait? Hold it in?”) and reluctance to enter the inn (“I didn’t want to go in”) contrast sharply with his usual ruthless confidence. The scene underscores his growing emotional complexity—earlier, he took pride in fear as a sign of humanity, but now it unsettles him (“Pleasure turning to dismay”). The birth also symbolizes looming change; Jorg’s focus on securing the inn with guards reflects his instinct to control what he cannot fully understand or command.5. What thematic tension arises from the juxtaposition of Gottering’s peaceful appearance and its gruesome reality?
Answer:
The town’s idyllic surface—harvest bunting, birdsong, a child’s abandoned hoop—clashes violently with the horror of the flayed skins, creating a theme of deceptive appearances. This dissonance mirrors the chapter’s exploration of hidden threats: the lichkin’s unseen presence, political manipulations beneath Harran’s honor, and even Jorg’s facade of control masking his fear. The contrast emphasizes that danger often lurks beneath normality, a recurring motif in the narrative. The hoop toy Jorg fiddles with while watching the skin pile grow becomes a potent symbol of innocence both literally and metaphorically “skinned” by cruelty.
Quotes
1. “Terror is a weapon, gentlemen, and our enemy understands its use. Let’s be sure that we also understand this game.”
This quote captures Jorg’s chilling realization of the psychological warfare at play when he examines a flayed human skin. It reflects the chapter’s central theme of power through fear and establishes the grim tone of the encounter with the lichkin’s handiwork.
2. “It seems men have far more to fear than boys.”
A poignant observation from Jorg as he hesitates to enter the inn where Miana is in labor. This reveals his character development and the weight of responsibility that comes with adulthood, contrasting with his earlier reckless persona.
3. “The bishop has a list of seven names written by the sisters of the Helskian Order… Her Holiness called for the sisters of Helsk to be blinded. And they were blinded. But their visions continue.”
This exchange about the lichkin’s origins highlights the novel’s exploration of suppressed knowledge and institutional corruption. The paradoxical image of blinded seers who still receive visions underscores the theme that truth cannot be easily extinguished.
4. “I thought the Pope called for all the seers to be killed. She said the nunneries weren’t built to shelter witches.”
Jorg’s recollection of the Vatican’s brutal decree demonstrates the novel’s critique of religious institutions suppressing inconvenient truths. This historical detail adds depth to the worldbuilding while reinforcing themes of power and information control.