Prince of Thorns
Chapter 35
by Mark, Lawrence,The chapter opens with Jorg and Makin surveying the aftermath of their escape from Castle Red, discussing the unseen threat of death and the moral weight of their actions. Makin expresses unease about Jorg’s youth and his seemingly innate ability to manipulate situations, questioning whether Jorg truly understands the consequences of his choices. Their conversation is interrupted by a cataclysmic explosion as Mount Honas erupts, obliterating the castle and sending a devastating shockwave toward them. The brothers are cut down by the blast, leaving Jorg momentarily adrift in a void.
Jorg finds himself in a surreal, ethereal space where he encounters familiar adversaries: Sageous, Chella, and the ghostly child Jane. They debate Jorg’s role in the unfolding chaos, with Sageous questioning who empowers him. Chella, a necromancer Jorg thought dead, taunts him, while Jane, seemingly trapped in a broken state, communicates cryptically with Jorg. The scene underscores Jorg’s defiance and his growing awareness of the forces manipulating him, as well as his unresolved conflicts with these spectral figures.
Jane’s presence becomes central as she reveals her fractured reality, appearing both whole and broken simultaneously. She implores Jorg to protect Gog and Gorgoth, hinting at their significance. Her words carry a prophetic tone, urging Jorg to reflect on his motivations and the unseen influences guiding him. Chella’s venomous reaction and departure highlight the tension between Jorg and his enemies, while Sageous remains intrigued by Jorg’s unexplained power.
The chapter closes with Jane’s fading presence and her cryptic advice about Jorg’s past and the “hand upon his shoulder.” As the smoke envelops him, Jorg is left grappling with the implications of her words and the devastation around him. The encounter leaves him with more questions than answers, setting the stage for his continued journey amid the ruins of his choices and the looming threats of those who seek to control or destroy him.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the “Builders’ Sun” mentioned in the chapter, and how does it impact the characters?
Answer:
The “Builders’ Sun” refers to a catastrophic explosion that destroys Mount Honas and Castle Red, likely a remnant of advanced ancient technology (referred to as “Builders” in the book’s universe). This event demonstrates the destructive power of lost civilizations and serves as a turning point in the chapter. The explosion kills most of Jorg’s companions (like Rike) and forces supernatural entities like Chella and Sageous to reveal themselves in the ether. It also showcases Jorg’s eerie calm in the face of annihilation, as he spreads his arms to welcome the destruction rather than flee, highlighting his fatalistic worldview.2. Analyze the relationship dynamics between Jorg and Makin in this chapter. How does their dialogue reveal their conflicting perspectives?
Answer:
The exchange between Jorg and Makin reveals a tension between Jorg’s youthful ruthlessness and Makin’s weary morality. Makin critiques Jorg for lacking life experience (“You need to have made more transactions in life to know the worth of the coin”), implying Jorg treats lives too lightly. Jorg, however, deflects with dark humor about their violent companions (Rike and Row) and questions Makin’s guilt over “past sins.” Their near-equal height (with Jorg still growing) symbolizes Jorg’s rapid maturation into a leader, but Makin’s exhaustion (“web of fine lines around his eyes”) contrasts with Jorg’s relentless energy. This foreshadows their diverging paths.3. How does the chapter use supernatural elements (Chella, Sageous, Jane) to explore themes of power and mortality?
Answer:
The necromancer Chella and the mysterious Sageous represent corrupt, ageless power—Chella clings to undeath, while Sageous manipulates events like a game. Their shock at Jorg hearing them (“He hears us?”) suggests he’s breaking rules of their realm. In contrast, Jane (the “monsters’ glowing child”) accepts mortality, shown when her illusion flickers to reveal her broken body trapped in rubble. Her plea to “find better reasons” for victories challenges Jorg’s nihilism. The “ether” becomes a battleground where Jorg asserts willpower (“I painted their image on the smoke”), hinting at his latent supernatural agency beyond brute violence.4. Interpret the symbolic meaning of the chapter’s closing lines: “Look to the hand upon your shoulder. The strings that lead you…”
Answer:
Jane’s cryptic warning implies Jorg is being manipulated by unseen forces—possibly Sageous, the Silent Sister, or others in the “Hundred War.” The “hand” could literalize a puppeteer’s control, while “strings” evoke fate or destiny. This connects to earlier hints (Sageous asking, “Who stands behind you, boy?”). It also mirrors Jorg’s earlier gesture of placing his gauntlet on Makin’s shoulder, suggesting both camaraderie and manipulation. The lines force Jorg (and readers) to question whether his actions are truly his own, deepening the novel’s themes of agency versus external control in a brutal world.
Quotes
1. “This death walks softly, Makin. An invisible hand with fatal fingers.”
This quote captures Jorg’s chilling perspective on the unseen destruction they face, illustrating his poetic yet ruthless worldview. It sets the tone for the chapter’s themes of mortality and unseen threats.
2. “I think you need to have lived more to truly know a man’s heart. You need to have made more transactions in life to know the worth of the coin you spend so freely.”
Makin challenges Jorg’s youthful arrogance, questioning whether intelligence can replace lived experience. This exchange reveals the tension between Jorg’s precociousness and his lack of true wisdom.
3. “What burns so bright cannot endure. The light failed, leaving us in shadow, the kind of darkness that precedes a squall.”
This vivid description of the mountain’s destruction serves as both literal event and metaphor for the transient nature of power. The poetic imagery marks a pivotal moment in the chapter’s action.
4. “You can win the victories you seek, Jorg. But only if you find better reasons to want them.”
Jane’s parting advice cuts to the core of Jorg’s character flaw - his destructive motivations. This represents a key thematic moment about purpose and redemption in the narrative.
5. “Look to the lost years, Jorg. Look to the hand upon your shoulder. The strings that lead you…”
Jane’s cryptic final words hint at unseen forces manipulating Jorg’s life, introducing a mystery about fate and control that resonates through the story. This serves as both conclusion and foreshadowing.