Prince of Thorns
Chapter 12: — Four years earlier
by Mark, Lawrence,The chapter opens with Prince Jorg and his tutor, Lundist, descending into the dungeons of the Tall Castle, where they are met with the harrowing screams of a prisoner. Lundist expresses discomfort with the visit, citing the King’s disapproval, but Jorg dismisses his concerns, determined to confront the source of the suffering. The oppressive atmosphere and the tutor’s hesitation highlight Jorg’s defiance and his willingness to challenge authority, even as the screams evoke traumatic memories of his mother’s death, suggesting a deeper psychological wound driving his actions.
Upon entering the dungeon, Jorg encounters two ordinary-looking warders torturing a Nuban prisoner, whose black skin and scarred body starkly contrast with the banality of his tormentors. The warders justify their brutality with religious and racial prejudice, claiming the Nuban is a heathen deserving punishment. Jorg, disguised as a curious servant, engages them in conversation, feigning indifference while subtly probing their motives. The scene underscores the casual cruelty of the torturers and Jorg’s calculated detachment, though the Nuban’s silent, unwavering gaze hints at an unspoken tension between them.
The Nuban’s dignified demeanor and cryptic responses intrigue Jorg, who questions the warders about the prisoner’s crimes. Their vague answers—claiming he is dangerous simply for being caught—reveal the arbitrary nature of his suffering. Lundist interjects, explaining the prisoners are bandits captured by the king’s army, but Jorg’s focus remains on the Nuban. The prince’s curiosity shifts to a challenge as he observes the man’s scars and shackles, culminating in a pivotal moment where he removes a pin from the Nuban’s manacle, demanding proof of his danger.
The chapter climaxes with Jorg’s audacious act of freeing the Nuban’s wrist, defying both the warders and Lundist’s warnings. This gesture symbolizes Jorg’s rejection of blind authority and his desire to test the Nuban’s claimed lethality. The Nuban’s calm affirmation of his danger and Jorg’s provocative command—“Show me”—set the stage for a confrontation, blending themes of power, rebellion, and the search for truth. The chapter leaves the reader anticipating the consequences of Jorg’s reckless defiance and the Nuban’s next move.
FAQs
1. What motivates young Jorg to visit the dungeon despite Lundist’s objections, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Jorg is driven by a combination of curiosity and defiance. He frames his decision as a learning opportunity, telling Lundist “I thought you wanted me to learn by my mistakes?” This shows his intellectual justification for the visit. However, his persistence despite the screams and Lundist’s warnings reveals a deeper psychological motivation - he’s confronting trauma from witnessing his mother’s death, as hinted when he mentions “the hooks in my flesh” during the screams. The chapter reveals Jorg as willful, intellectually sharp (using logic to counter Lundist), and deeply affected by past trauma, which manifests in reckless behavior.2. How does the author use contrasts in describing the torturers to create a disturbing effect?
Answer:
The author creates cognitive dissonance by contrasting the torturers’ ordinary appearances with their brutal actions. Berrec and Grebbin are described as looking like friendly ale-drinkers or fathers teaching pitch-ball, not the “terrifying men with cruel faces” Jorg expected. This ordinariness makes their cruelty more horrifying - Berrec’s “disturbingly tender touch” while discussing burning the prisoner highlights this. The contrast between their mundane conversation about payment and the horrific torture underscores how normalized violence is in this society, making the scene more unsettling than if they were stereotypical villains.3. Analyze the significance of the Nuban’s character and his interaction with Jorg. What thematic elements does this introduce?
Answer:
The Nuban serves as both a mirror and catalyst for Jorg. His calm demeanor under torture contrasts with Jorg’s inner turmoil, while his simple declaration “Yes” when asked if he’s dangerous intrigues Jorg. Their interaction introduces themes of power dynamics and moral ambiguity. The Nuban’s scars and torture marks symbolize hidden stories and resilience, while Jorg’s decision to free his wrist shows his rejection of societal norms (like torturing “heathens”) and desire to test truths for himself. This moment foreshadows their future relationship and Jorg’s complex morality that develops throughout the story.4. How does the chapter use sensory details to create atmosphere and emotional impact?
Answer:
The author employs visceral sensory details to immerse readers in the dungeon’s horror. Olfactory descriptions like “the sweet stench of roasted meat” combine with auditory elements (the guttural screams) to create overwhelming disgust. Visual details like the Nuban’s “skin blacker than ink” with “red flesh erupting like new-ploughed furrows” make the torture graphically real. The “white-hot poker” casting ugly shadows on Berrec’s face recalls Jorg’s traumatic memories through visual similarity to “lightning lit faces.” These sensory elements work together to create an atmosphere of palpable dread that mirrors Jorg’s psychological state.5. What does the chapter reveal about the society’s attitudes toward justice and prisoners?
Answer:
The society exhibits a deeply corrupt and arbitrary justice system. Berrec’s statement that the Nuban’s crime was “getting caught” reveals the arbitrary nature of punishment. The warders’ casual attitude toward torture (discussing payment while burning a man) shows institutionalized cruelty. Religious prejudice is evident in calling Nubans “heathens” and using Father Gomst’s words to justify torture. The planned public execution serves as entertainment (“going to the executions tomorrow”), demonstrating how violence is both spectacle and social control. These elements paint a picture of a brutal feudal society where power, not justice, determines punishment.
Quotes
1. “It should be called the Deep Castle, really. It took us a while to reach the dungeons. We heard the shrieks from a level up, through walls of Builder-stone.”
This opening quote establishes the ominous atmosphere of the chapter and hints at the dark revelations to come. The description of the castle’s depth and the distant screams foreshadow the psychological and physical depths Jorg will confront in the dungeon.
2. “I’ll tell you it was the hook-briar which held me fast. I’ll show you the scars. But in the night, before the dreams come, a voice whispers to me that it was fear that held me back, terror that rooted me in the briar, safe while I watched them die.”
This powerful introspection reveals Jorg’s traumatic past and his internal conflict about his mother’s death. The quote shows his struggle between constructed narratives (the hook-briar) and painful truths (his fear), marking a key moment of character development.
3. “I think I found their ordinariness more of a shock. The shorter of the two looked a touch simple, but in a friendly way. Mild I’d call him.”
This observation about the torturers’ normal appearance contrasts sharply with their brutal actions, delivering a profound commentary on human nature and the banality of evil. It challenges Jorg’s (and the reader’s) expectations about cruelty.
4. “He’s got the devil in him,” Berrec said at last. “All them Nubans have. Heathens, the lot of them.”
This quote exemplifies the racist justification for torture in the story world, showing how prejudice serves as license for cruelty. It’s particularly significant as it immediately precedes Jorg’s pivotal decision to intervene.
5. “I pulled the pin from the manacle on his right wrist. ‘Show me.’”
This terse conclusion represents a major turning point where Jorg takes decisive action against injustice. The two-word challenge (“Show me”) encapsulates his complex character - both a test of the Nuban and a rejection of the torturers’ worldview.