# XVI: The Hall of the Kings of Bohemia explained — The Secret of Sarek

> Chapter companion for The Secret of Sarek by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

Don Luis Perenna recounts the origins of the God-Stone and the prophecy of Brother Thomas, revealing how Vorski, a megalomaniacal criminal, interprets the prophecy as a divine mandate to commit murder and seize power. The chapter details Vorski's escape from an internment camp, his first wife Elfride's role in aiding him, and the tribe's ancient migration with the God-Stone. Don Luis exposes the prophecy as a meaningless medieval poem that Vorski twisted into a justification for his atrocities.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fate and Prophecy

The chapter centers on Brother Thomas's prophecy, which Vorski interprets as a predetermined destiny, driving his actions.

### Evil and Manipulation

Vorski manipulates the prophecy to justify murder and theft, revealing his criminal lunacy and manipulation of others.

### Identity and Secrecy

Vorski assumes the identity of Lauterbach after killing him, and Elfride hides in secrecy for years to aid his escape.

## Character check-ins

### Don Luis Perenna

Narrates the chapter, revealing the history of the God-Stone and Vorski's manipulation of the prophecy.

### Count Alexis Vorski

The Superhun who escapes internment, kills a servant to fake his death, and uses Brother Thomas's prophecy as a justification for murder.

### Elfride Vorski

Vorski's first wife and accomplice, who hides in Sarek's cells and orchestrates his escape.

### Stéphane Maroux

Present during Don Luis's narration, one of the victims of Vorski's schemes.

### Captain Patrice Belval

Laughs at Don Luis's dramatic storytelling, but is also a listener to the revelations.

### Véronique d'Hergemont

Mentioned as Vorski's second wife, kidnapped and sought by Vorski.

## Key lines

> The peasants still show the cavity left by the stone in the side of a hill. " 'The king's son is yourself,' his mother used to say. 'And, if you find the missing stone, you will escape the dagger that threatens you and will yourself become a king.'

Locals point to a hole in a hillside where a stone was removed. Vorski's mother told him he was the king's son and that finding the stone would save him from assassination and make him king.

_This sets up the prophecy that Vorski believes applies to him._

> In the beginning it appears like this: Vorski is imprisoned in an internment-camp near Pontivy in Brittany. He no longer calls himself Vorski, but Lauterbach.

Vorski, using the alias Lauterbach, is held in a camp near Pontivy, Brittany.

_Describes Vorski's situation after his earlier escape and murder of Lauterbach._

> In Sarek's isle, in year fourteen and three, There will be shipwrecks, terrors, grief and crimes, Death-chambers, arrows, poison there will be And woe, four women crucified on tree! For thirty coffins victims thirty times.

Brother Thomas's prophecy predicts disasters on Sarek island in 1914, including shipwrecks, murders, and four women crucified, with thirty victims for thirty coffins.

_The prophecy that Vorski uses as his guide for atrocities._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xvi-the-hall-of-the-kings-of-bohemia
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters