Prince of Thorns
Chapter 17
by Mark, Lawrence,Prince Jorg returns to the Tall Castle after four years, struck by how unchanged everything appears despite his own transformation. The familiar corridors and grandeur of the palace evoke a mix of nostalgia and resentment, as he anticipates a confrontation with his father, King Olidan. Instead, he is met with indifference—his father has retired, and Jorg is directed to meet Sageous, the king’s enigmatic advisor. The prince’s frustration mounts as he senses he is being manipulated, culminating in a tense exchange with a guardsman named Robart, whom he threatens to assert control over the situation.
Jorg’s encounter with Sageous in the library reveals the heathen’s unsettling power. Despite his unassuming appearance—dressed in a simple cloth and covered in intricate tattoos—Sageous exudes a quiet dominance. His gaze paralyzes Jorg, stripping him of his aggression and leaving him vulnerable. The prince’s attempts to provoke or intimidate Sageous falter, as the advisor remains unfazed, even amused. Jorg’s internal struggle is palpable; he yearns to act violently but finds himself physically and mentally subdued by Sageous’s influence.
The dynamic between Jorg and Sageous underscores the chapter’s tension. Sageous’s ability to disarm Jorg’s defiance hints at a deeper psychological game, one that the prince is ill-equipped to win. Their conversation reveals Sageous’s role as a manipulator, possibly controlling King Olidan as well. Jorg’s threats and bravado crumble in the face of Sageous’s calm authority, leaving him feeling powerless and exposed. The advisor’s cryptic remarks about dreams and identity suggest a looming psychological battle, foreshadowing further conflict.
The chapter closes with Jorg succumbing to an overwhelming fatigue, seemingly induced by Sageous’s subtle gestures. As he struggles to stay conscious, the heathen’s words about dreams and self-discovery linger, implying that Jorg’s true test lies ahead. The encounter leaves the prince physically drained and mentally unsettled, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of his psyche and the forces manipulating him. The chapter masterfully blends tension, intrigue, and psychological warfare, highlighting Jorg’s vulnerability despite his outward defiance.
FAQs
1. How does the protagonist, Prince Jorg, react to returning to his childhood home after four years away? What does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Prince Jorg experiences a mix of nostalgia, resentment, and alienation upon returning to the Tall Castle. He notes how everything remains unchanged—the corridors, decorations, and even the guards—while he himself has transformed. This contrast highlights his growth and the psychological distance he feels from his past. His internal monologue reveals a conflicted personality: he both craves recognition (“Did I want him to fear me?”) and resents being treated as insignificant (“I felt vaguely cheated”). This duality suggests a young man struggling with identity, power, and belonging, torn between his royal heritage and the hardened persona he’s developed during his absence.2. Analyze the power dynamics between Prince Jorg and Sageous in their library confrontation. How does Sageous assert control, and how does Jorg resist?
Answer:
Sageous exerts psychological and possibly supernatural control over Jorg, immobilizing him with his gaze and manipulating his emotions (“the heathen had taken the fire from me”). His calm demeanor, cryptic language, and physical markings (tattoos resembling mathematical scripts) suggest arcane influence. Jorg resists through violent impulses—fantasizing about decapitating Sageous and attempting to draw his sword—but finds his body disobeying (“my hand fell away like a dead thing”). This clash reveals Sageous as a cerebral manipulator who undermines Jorg’s physical aggression, forcing the prince into a mental battle where his usual tactics fail. The tension underscores Jorg’s vulnerability despite his bravado.3. What significance does the library hold for Prince Jorg, and how does his perception of it change?
Answer:
The library symbolizes Jorg’s intellectual roots and lost innocence. He recalls it as a grand, almost sacred space where he engaged with philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle as a child (“Memory dwarfed reality”). However, upon returning, he dismisses it as “small and dusty,” even boasting, “I’ve burned more books than this!” This shift reflects his transformation from a scholarly boy to a hardened warrior who now values action over knowledge. Yet, the library remains a battleground for control (his confrontation with Sageous), suggesting that intellectual and spiritual conflicts still define him, despite his attempts to reject his past.4. How does the chapter explore themes of power and manipulation? Provide examples from Jorg’s interactions with Robart and Sageous.
Answer:
Power is depicted as both physical and psychological. Jorg asserts dominance over Robart through intimidation, throttling him and framing their relationship as a choice between “hate” or “serve.” This brute force contrasts with Sageous’s subtler manipulation—using words, symbols, and eye contact to paralyze Jorg (“I could see nothing but the heathen’s eyes”). While Jorg relies on overt threats, Sageous employs suggestion and implied control over King Olidan. The chapter suggests that raw violence (Jorg’s strength) is limited against refined manipulation (Sageous’s cunning), foreshadowing a larger struggle between these modes of power.5. Critical Thinking: Why might the author have chosen to introduce Sageous as a tattooed, scholarly figure? How does this contrast with Jorg’s expectations of authority?
Answer:
Sageous’s appearance—tattooed, minimally clothed, and surrounded by books—subverts traditional depictions of power (e.g., armored kings or warriors). His “mild” eyes and scholarly aura disorient Jorg, who expects to confront overt authority (like his father on the throne). The tattoos, resembling “the flowing script of the mathmagicians,” hint at esoteric knowledge, positioning Sageous as a bridge between magic and intellect. This contrast forces Jorg to confront an adversary who cannot be overpowered physically, challenging his worldview. The choice underscores the novel’s theme that true power often lies beyond brute force, in realms of mind and mysticism.
Quotes
1. “Four years and everything was the same, except me.”
This opening line powerfully sets the tone for Jorg’s return to his childhood home, highlighting how his transformative experiences have changed him while the castle remains frozen in time. It introduces the central theme of personal evolution versus institutional stagnation.
2. “There are turning points, Robart. Forks in the path we follow through our lives. Times that we look back to and say, ‘If only.’ This is one of those times.”
This threat to the guard demonstrates Jorg’s strategic mind and understanding of pivotal moments. It reveals his philosophy of life as a series of consequential choices while showing his manipulative nature in forcing others to recognize these crossroads.
3. “In my mind the library walls stretched to the very heavens, thick with books, pregnant with the written word… Memory dwarfed reality: the place looked small now, small and dusty.”
This contrast between childhood memory and adult perception beautifully captures the novel’s recurring theme of disillusionment. The library’s shrinkage symbolizes Jorg’s lost innocence and expanded worldview through his harsh experiences.
4. “Dreams tell a man who he is.”
Sageous’s cryptic statement during their psychic confrontation represents the chapter’s mystical elements and foreshadows Jorg’s coming internal struggles. The line encapsulates the book’s exploration of identity and subconscious drives.
5. “I struggled to keep my eyes open… On Sageous’s neck, just to the left of his Adam’s apple, amid all the tight-packed scrawl, was a lett…”
This cliffhanger ending creates suspense while demonstrating Sageous’s hypnotic power over Jorg. The unfinished thought leaves readers anticipating revelations about both characters’ true natures and the significance of the mysterious tattoo.