Prince of Thorns
Chapter 32
by Mark, Lawrence,The chapter opens with Jorg and his band of brothers fleeing up the Great Stair, pursued by vengeful ghosts. The eerie, half-formed spirits exude a chilling coldness, but Jorg defiantly laughs at them, wielding a dark power that seems to repel their advance. Makin, unable to see the ghosts, drags Jorg to safety as the spirits erupt into spectral flames, their screams echoing behind them. The group eventually stops to rest in a cavernous bowl carved by an ancient river, exhausted but alive, though the threat of Castle Red’s overwhelming forces looms above them.
Makin voices the group’s doubts about their odds against Castle Red’s defenders, but Jorg responds with characteristic bravado, mocking their lack of faith in his luck and leadership. He delivers a sharp warning against dissent, reinforcing his authority with a veiled threat. The brothers, though wary, fall into line, and they resume their ascent, leaving the Great Stair behind for the structured halls of the Builders. Jorg navigates the labyrinthine corridors with uncanny precision, relying on a mental map from the Builders’ book, further solidifying his mystique among his followers.
Their journey leads them to a massive, gleaming steel door blocking access to a vault—an imposing obstacle that even Jorg seems momentarily stumped by. When Rike challenges him about how to open it, Jorg deflects with a crude joke, masking his uncertainty. The scene underscores Jorg’s blend of arrogance and adaptability, as well as the tension between his calculated plans and the unpredictable challenges they face. The door symbolizes both the literal and figurative barriers standing between Jorg and his ambitions.
The chapter closes with a brief reflection on Liar, one of the brothers, whose name originated from a violent encounter with Jorg. This anecdote reinforces the brutal, loyalty-forged-through-fear dynamic that defines Jorg’s band. The chapter as a whole highlights Jorg’s ruthless charisma, his supernatural encounters, and the precarious balance of power within his group as they press onward toward their dangerous objective.
FAQs
1. How does Jorg demonstrate his unique relationship with fear and supernatural threats in this chapter?
Answer:
Jorg exhibits an unconventional response to fear by laughing at the advancing ghosts rather than fleeing. His laughter isn’t born from bravery but from defiance—he acknowledges their power to harm him yet mocks their threat, declaring, “A man should at least know how to stay dead!” This reaction suggests a complex relationship with mortality and control, as his words seemingly compel the spirits to halt and ignite in pale flames. The chapter implies Jorg’s dark power (possibly linked to consuming “dead heart-meat”) grants him authority over the supernatural, contrasting sharply with Makin’s visceral terror (e.g., Makin’s pallor and inability to see the ghosts).
2. Analyze the brothers’ dynamics and Jorg’s leadership style during the ascent. How does he maintain authority despite their doubts?
Answer:
Jorg employs psychological manipulation and performative confidence to quell the brothers’ skepticism. After the grueling climb, Makin voices practical concerns about their odds against Castle Red’s forces (e.g., “twice a dozen men against nine hundred”). Jorg responds with theatrical rhetoric, framing his past successes as inexplicable “luck” or “royal magic” to cultivate mystique. He reinforces loyalty through intimidation, threatening expulsion from the “family” for dissent, and physically asserting dominance (e.g., clapping Rike’s head). His map-guided navigation of the Builder halls further cements his strategic prowess, as he stages discoveries like a “magic show” to awe the brothers.
3. What symbolic or thematic significance does the Great Stair hold in this chapter?
Answer:
The Great Stair represents both a physical and metaphorical threshold. Its treacherous ascent mirrors the brothers’ journey into danger and the unknown, with the “screams of ghosts” below evoking past traumas or sins. The Stair also serves as a liminal space where Jorg’s supernatural authority manifests—his confrontation with the ghosts here underscores his role as a disruptor of natural order. Later, leaving the Stair for the Builders’ structured halls marks a transition from chaos to calculated strategy, reflecting Jorg’s dual nature: wild unpredictability and precise, almost scholarly, planning (e.g., his mental map of “scorched plasteek”).
4. How does the chapter use contrasts to characterize Jorg and his followers?
Answer:
Sharp contrasts highlight Jorg’s singularity among the brothers. While they scramble fearfully up the Stair (“teach a lizard plenty about climbing”), Jorg lingers to face the ghosts, showcasing his eerie calm. Makin’s palpable fear (“looked like a dead thing himself”) contrasts with Jorg’s mocking laughter. Physical descriptions further differentiate them: Red Kent’s exhaustion, Burlow’s collapse, and Elban’s crude humor paint the brothers as grounded, mortal figures, while Jorg’s “dark power” and theatricality (e.g., courtly flourishes) position him as almost otherworldly. Even Gorgoth and Gog observe him with detached fascination, emphasizing his isolation as a leader.
5. What does the encounter with the steel door reveal about Jorg’s problem-solving approach?
Answer:
The impenetrable steel door exposes Jorg’s reliance on improvisation and bluffing. Despite his meticulous map-reading, he admits internally, “I hadn’t the slightest idea” how to open it. Yet externally, he masks uncertainty with bravado, deflecting Rike’s challenge with a violent quip (“knocking it down with your head”). This moment encapsulates his leadership style: combining genuine strategic skill (navigating the Builder halls) with performative confidence to maintain control. The door itself symbolizes unforeseen obstacles, and Jorg’s response—ridicule followed by unresolved tension—hints at the fragility of his authority when brute force or charm fails.
Quotes
1. “I laughed at them. Not because I thought they had no power to harm me, but because they had. I laughed to show them what I cared for their threat. I laughed to hurt them.”
This quote showcases Jorg’s defiant, almost nihilistic bravery when facing supernatural threats. It reveals his core philosophy of confronting danger with mockery rather than fear, establishing his reckless charisma that binds the brotherhood to him.
2. “Young Jorg, he’s apt to throw it all away on a whim, gamble the brotherhood on wild chance… but somehow, just somehow, it keeps turning out a-right!”
Jorg’s self-aware monologue captures his reputation for dangerous gambles that somehow succeed. This moment crystallizes the chapter’s tension about whether his luck/madness can overcome impossible odds against Castle Red’s forces.
3. “Then that is what you will fecking well do, and the first brother that doubts my fecking luck, will be the first to leave this little family of ours.”
This threat demonstrates Jorg’s iron grip on his men, blending leadership with intimidation. The quote marks a pivotal transition from discussion to action as they ascend toward their objective.
4. “Lines danced in my mind. Rectangles, squares, precise corridors, all etched into scorched plasteek… I knew where we were.”
This passage reveals Jorg’s hidden strategic depth beneath his madcap exterior. The sudden clarity of his Builder knowledge contrasts with his earlier performative uncertainty, showing his calculated theatricality.
5. “I named him Liar the day I put a knife through his hand. The knife came out, but the name stuck.”
The closing anecdote exemplifies Jorg’s brutal yet poetic way of establishing order within his band. It encapsulates the chapter’s themes of violence-as-communication and the dark camaraderie binding these outlaws.