The Assassin and the Desert
Chapter Nine
by Maas, Sarah J.Celaena struggles to concentrate during her training with the Master, haunted by Ansel’s accusation that she is spoiled and selfish. Distracted, she nearly misses an asp creeping toward her during their rooftop session. The Master senses her turmoil and encourages her to speak, but Celaena hesitates, feeling her conflict with Ansel is too trivial for his attention. As they sit in silence, the weight of her unspoken fears grows, culminating in her admission that she is terrified to return home because everything has changed—and she isn’t sure she wants things to return to how they were before.
The Master responds with silent empathy, then shifts the lesson by demonstrating a series of fluid, asp-like movements. Celaena joins him, mimicking his motions until she achieves a breakthrough, feeling the “rightness” of the forms as dawn breaks. This moment of clarity and connection with the Master contrasts sharply with her earlier turmoil, offering her a temporary reprieve from her anxieties. The physical discipline becomes a metaphor for her emotional journey—learning to adapt and embrace change rather than resist it.
Returning to her room, Celaena braces for another confrontation with Ansel but finds her absent. When Ansel later wakes her, their reconciliation begins awkwardly, with both apologizing for their harsh words. Ansel reveals Celaena is her first true friend, hinting at her own loneliness beneath her outward confidence. Their toast to friendship takes a dark turn, however, as Celaena notices Ansel’s sorrowful expression and the strange taste of the wine—realizing too late that she has been poisoned.
The chapter ends with Celaena collapsing into unconsciousness, the betrayal casting a shadow over their earlier reconciliation. This abrupt conclusion leaves unanswered questions about Ansel’s motives and the consequences of her actions, setting the stage for future conflict. The juxtaposition of Celaena’s emotional vulnerability and physical mastery underscores the complexity of her character, while the poisoning introduces a dramatic twist that disrupts the tentative peace between the two friends.
FAQs
1. How does Celaena’s internal conflict about returning home manifest in this chapter, and what does this reveal about her character development?
Answer:
Celaena’s admission that she’s “scared to go home” because “everything will be different” reveals significant emotional growth. While part of her clings to the past (“the world will go back to the way it was”), she acknowledges she doesn’t actually want this regression, which terrifies her. This internal conflict shows her evolving self-awareness—she recognizes that Arobynn’s punishment marked a permanent shift in her life, yet struggles to reconcile this with her identity. The Master’s silent compassion during this vulnerable moment underscores the depth of her transformation from the “spoiled and selfish” persona Ansel criticized earlier in the chapter.2. Analyze the symbolic significance of the asp in Celaena’s training session with the Master. How does this connect to broader themes in the chapter?
Answer:
The asp serves as both a literal and metaphorical guide for Celaena’s development. Initially, she mindlessly mimics its movements until the snake nearly strikes her—mirroring how her surface-level understanding of her situation (like her feud with Ansel) leaves her vulnerable. Later, the Master’s fluid movements embody the asp’s qualities: calculated power, restraint, and lethal precision. When Celaena finally internalizes these traits at dawn (“she became the asp”), it symbolizes her achieving harmony between physical skill and emotional awareness. This parallels her confession about change—she must learn to embody transformation like the snake sheds its skin, rather than fear it.3. What does the reconciliation scene between Celaena and Ansel reveal about their friendship, and how does the chapter’s ending subvert this moment?
Answer:
Their reconciliation initially portrays genuine vulnerability—Ansel admits Celaena is her first “true friend,” while Celaena softens her usual arrogance to apologize. Their toast (“to being the most fearsome… girls”) showcases their playful bond. However, subtle foreshadowing (Ansel’s nervous glances, wearing armor) hints at deception. The abrupt poisoning subverts the emotional honesty of their moment, revealing Ansel’s earlier sorrow wasn’t just about Celaena’s departure but her betrayal. This twist reframes their entire dynamic: Ansel’s apology may have been strategic, while Celaena’s rare trust becomes her weakness, echoing her fear that “everything changed” irreversibly.4. How does the Master’s teaching style impact Celaena’s breakthrough in this chapter?
Answer:
The Master employs silent, patient guidance that forces Celaena to engage in self-reflection rather than rely on direct instruction. His nonverbal cues (“Talk”) create space for her confession about home, while his physical demonstration atop the merlon models the asp’s qualities she’d failed to grasp through imitation alone. By making her observe and internalize lessons (both martial and emotional) rather than dictating them, he helps her achieve the dawn epiphany where movements “click into place.” This mirrors her emotional journey—just as she must independently realize her fear of change, the Master’s methods require her to actively participate in her own growth.5. Evaluate how the chapter’s structure builds tension toward the final poisoning scene.
Answer:
The chapter carefully layers unease beneath surface resolutions. Early tension from Celaena’s distraction (nearly missing the asp’s approach) foreshadows later vulnerability. Her heartfelt talk with the Master and reconciliation with Ansel create false security, emphasized by lyrical descriptions of dawn (“bathed in red light”). Subtle clues—Ansel’s armor, repeated door-glances, the oddly formal toast (“fond memories”)—hint at danger without disrupting the calm tone. The abrupt poisoning exploits this contrast: the serene training sequence and heartfelt apology make the betrayal more shocking, mirroring Celaena’s realization that trust, like the wine, was poisoned beneath its appealing surface.
Quotes
1. “I’m scared to go home… Because everything will be different. Everything is already different.”
This vulnerable admission from Celaena captures the chapter’s central theme of confronting change and personal growth. It marks a turning point where she acknowledges her fear of returning to a life that can never be the same after her transformative experiences.
2. “I’m not sure I want it to go back to the way it was before… I think that’s what scares me the most.”
This profound realization shows Celaena’s internal conflict about her personal evolution. The quote is significant as it demonstrates her awareness that growth often means leaving comfortable but limiting circumstances behind.
3. “Again and again, until she became the asp, until the sun broke over the horizon, bathing them in red light.”
This poetic passage represents Celaena’s mastery breakthrough during her training with the Master. The imagery symbolizes her complete immersion in and understanding of the assassin’s art, marking a key moment of personal and professional development.
4. “I have lots of friends here, but you’re the first true friend I’ve had. I’ll be sorry to see you go.”
Ansel’s bittersweet confession adds emotional depth to their relationship, foreshadowing the betrayal to come. This moment of genuine connection makes the subsequent poisoning more shocking and tragic.
5. “As she swallowed a large mouthful of wine, she had two thoughts… the wine tasted strange.”
This cliffhanger ending quote is crucial as it sets up the chapter’s dramatic conclusion and major plot twist. The sudden shift from reconciliation to betrayal creates powerful tension that propels the story forward.