Prince of Thorns
Chapter 28
by Mark, Lawrence,The chapter follows Jorg and his companions as they navigate the eerie, Builder-made tunnels of Mount Honas, where necromancers are drawn to the ancient death magic at the mountain’s heart. The group, including Jane, Gorgoth, and the Nuban, traverses decaying corridors filled with remnants of forgotten technology. Tensions rise as Jorg taunts Jane, whose prophetic abilities unsettle him, and he briefly experiences a vision through her touch, warning him to flee when he meets an unnamed “her.” The atmosphere is oppressive, blending dread with the grotesque beauty of the underground world.
Jorg’s interactions with his companions reveal his complex morality and manipulative nature. He dismisses Father Gomst’s distress at being traded to the leucrota, mocking the priest’s faith. The Nuban’s silent disapproval prompts Jorg to justify his actions, hinting at his internal struggle between cruelty and the lingering influence of those he respects. The dynamic between Jorg and Jane is particularly charged, as her fear of him and his violent impulses underscore his reputation as the “Dark Prince.”
The group reaches a vast underground lake, where Jane and most of her leucrota kin remain. Gorgoth leads Jorg and the others deeper into the mountain, where they encounter two leucrota children—malnourished and marked by their species’ traits. Gorgoth insists the children are destined for the necromancers, claiming they lack the strength to survive. Makin and Jorg react differently: Makin pities them, while Jorg mocks Gorgoth, indifferent to their fate. The scene highlights the brutality of the leucrota’s world and Jorg’s ambivalence toward suffering.
The chapter closes with the children devouring scraps of food, their animalistic behavior contrasting with their human-like vulnerability. Gorgoth explains that leucrota develop their monstrous traits over time, implying the children are doomed. The encounter leaves a lingering sense of unease, reinforcing the themes of predation and survival in a world where morality is often secondary to power. Jorg’s detachment and the group’s moral divisions foreshadow further conflict as they approach the necromancers’ domain.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Mount Honas to necromancers, and how does this relate to the chapter’s exploration of dark magic?
Answer:
Mount Honas holds a powerful attraction for necromancers due to the “death at the heart of the mountain” and its “old magics,” which facilitate their ability to command the dead (as explained by Jane). This establishes the mountain as a hub of dark energy and sets the tone for the chapter’s themes of corruption and forbidden power. The leucrotas’ caves—devoid of natural beauty but filled with Builder-stone remnants—further contrast the wonder of Jorg’s childhood memories with the grim reality of their current quest, emphasizing the decay and danger associated with necromantic forces.2. Analyze the dynamic between Jorg and the Nuban in this chapter. How does their interaction reveal Jorg’s internal conflict?
Answer:
The Nuban’s silent disapproval of sacrificing Father Gomst forces Jorg to justify his actions, exposing his underlying moral unease. When the Nuban calls the trade “wrong,” Jorg deflects with dark humor (“your new congregation might look fouler”), but his subsequent attempt to rationalize Gomst’s fate (“He’s free to walk home”) reveals a need for the Nuban’s validation. The chapter notes that the Nuban’s silences make Jorg “want to say a little more,” highlighting Jorg’s suppressed guilt and the tension between his ruthless persona and lingering humanity.3. What symbolic meaning might Jane’s prophecy (“When you meet her, run”) carry, and how does it connect to broader themes in the narrative?
Answer:
Jane’s cryptic warning foreshadows a future confrontation with a dangerous female figure, possibly tied to Jorg’s fractured memories (“a hole in your mind”). The prophecy’s vagueness mirrors the chapter’s themes of uncertainty and hidden threats, while its imperative tone (“run”) suggests that even Jorg’s cunning may fail against this unknown force. The vision’s delivery—through physical pain and involuntary speech—also reinforces the idea that truth often comes at a cost, tying into the novel’s exploration of power’s consequences.4. Contrast the descriptions of the Builder-stone tunnels with Jorg’s memory of Paderack’s caverns. How does this juxtaposition develop the setting’s tone?
Answer:
Jorg recalls Paderack’s caverns as a “cathedral hall of such pillared wonder that it beggared the grace of God,” a place of awe-inspiring natural beauty. In stark contrast, the leucrotas’ caves are “ugly,” filled with cracked Builder-stone and rust stains, their artificiality emphasizing decay. This juxtaposition underscores the loss of wonder in Jorg’s world, replacing organic majesty with the remnants of a forgotten, mechanistic past. The tunnels’ “level floors” and “parallel lines” of rust feel oppressive, mirroring the chapter’s descent into moral ambiguity.5. Why does Gorgoth insist the leucrota children are “dead already,” and how does this reflect the chapter’s treatment of sacrifice?
Answer:
Gorgoth claims the children lack “the strength of the leucrota,” implying they’re unworthy of survival—a chilling justification for sacrificing them to necromancers. This rationalization parallels Jorg’s earlier dismissal of Gomst’s humanity (“speak to Gorgoth for Christ”), revealing how both characters devalue life to serve their goals. The boys’ feral hunger and skeletal frames evoke pity, contrasting with Gorgoth’s cold pragmatism. The scene forces readers to question what makes a life expendable, tying into the chapter’s larger ethical dilemmas.
Quotes
1. “It doesn’t do to love a brother.”
This haunting internal reflection from Jorg reveals his emotional armor and the psychological scars of his past. It encapsulates the chapter’s theme of hardened morality in a brutal world, showing how Jorg suppresses vulnerability as weakness.
2. “Your choices are keys to doors I cannot see beyond.”
Jane’s cryptic prophecy to Jorg represents a pivotal moment of foreshadowing. This quote underscores the chapter’s exploration of fate versus free will, hinting at consequential decisions ahead while maintaining the story’s mysterious atmosphere.
3. “When you meet her, run. Just run. Nothing else.”
This chilling warning delivered through Jane’s vision creates dramatic tension and mystery. The quote’s urgent simplicity makes it particularly memorable while hinting at future dangers, serving as a narrative hook for coming chapters.
4. “They’re dead already… The strength of the leucrota isn’t in them.”
Gorgoth’s cold assessment of the leucrota children reveals the harsh realities of this world’s social hierarchy. This quote powerfully illustrates the chapter’s examination of what constitutes humanity and worth in a brutal, magical society.