The Assassin and the Desert
Chapter Ten
by Maas, Sarah J.Celaena awakens in the desert with a pounding headache, disoriented and far from the assassins’ fortress. She discovers her belongings packed on her horse, Kasida, but her sword is missing. A note from Ansel explains the Master chose to send her away discreetly rather than publicly dismiss her, providing a letter of approval but no clear reason for her abrupt expulsion. Confused and hurt, Celaena questions what she might have done wrong, feeling betrayed after beginning to see the assassins as her newfound family.
As Celaena rides north toward Xandria, she reflects on her rejection, wondering if her perceived selfishness or her fight with Ansel led to her dismissal. The pain of exclusion stings more than physical wounds, leaving her emotionally raw. Her journey is interrupted when she spots Lord Berick’s army marching toward the assassins’ fortress. Though she considers warning them, she decides against it, rationalizing that the Master must have anticipated the attack and deliberately sent her away to keep her safe—or because he no longer wanted her involved.
Upon reaching Xandria, Celaena finds the city quieter than during her previous visit. She books passage on a ship to Amier, planning her return to Rifthold. With hours to spare before departure, she wanders the empty streets, her thoughts lingering on the fortress and the impending battle. Despite her resentment, she struggles with guilt over abandoning the assassins, even as she reminds herself they made their choice by casting her out.
The chapter closes with Celaena’s unresolved tension between self-preservation and loyalty. Her physical journey mirrors her emotional turmoil—exiled, directionless, and grappling with feelings of inadequacy. The Master’s cryptic dismissal and the looming conflict underscore her isolation, leaving her to navigate both the desert and her fractured sense of belonging alone.
FAQs
1. Comprehension: Why was Celaena suddenly alone in the desert at the beginning of the chapter?
Answer:
Celaena awoke in the desert because Ansel and the Master had drugged her and sent her away from the assassins’ fortress. According to Ansel’s letter, the Master believed this abrupt departure would be less shameful than publicly dismissing her before her training period ended. Though Celaena received Kasida (her horse) and the Master’s letter of approval, her sword was missing, leaving her confused and hurt by their sudden rejection. This event marks a significant emotional blow, as Celaena had begun to feel a sense of belonging with the Silent Assassins.2. Analytical: How does Celaena’s reaction to the soldiers marching toward the fortress reveal her internal conflict?
Answer:
When Celaena spots Lord Berick’s army heading toward the assassins’ fortress, she initially rationalizes not warning them, believing the Master’s dismissal means they don’t need her help. However, her hesitation and the “difficult” decision to ride away underscore her unresolved feelings—betrayal wars with lingering loyalty. The chapter highlights her struggle between self-preservation (“they’d made that clear enough”) and unacknowledged care for the community she’d grown attached to, emphasizing her emotional complexity.3. Critical Thinking: Evaluate the Master’s decision to send Celaena away secretly. Was it justified, or did it lack transparency?
Answer:
The Master’s choice to remove Celaena covertly avoids public humiliation but fails to provide closure or explanation. While his intent might have been compassionate (Ansel notes it was “easier” this way), the lack of transparency deepens Celaena’s distress, as she obsessively replays possible offenses. This method reflects a paternalistic approach—prioritizing efficiency over emotional impact—which ultimately undermines trust. A conversation might have mitigated her feelings of rejection, suggesting the Master’s strategy, though pragmatic, was ethically shortsighted.4. Application: How might Celaena’s experiences in this chapter influence her future interactions with groups or allies?
Answer:
This chapter’s events could make Celaena more guarded in forming attachments, as her trust was rewarded with abrupt exclusion. However, her palpable grief (“realizing that hurt far worse than [Arobynn’s] beating”) also reveals a capacity for loyalty, hinting that future alliances might be harder for her to forge but more deeply valued. The lesson here—that belonging can be fleeting—may lead her to either distance herself from groups or seek more explicit assurances of acceptance, shaping her behavior in later narratives.5. Analytical: What symbolic role does Kasida play in this chapter?
Answer:
Kasida, the horse gifted to Celaena, symbolizes both connection and loss. As her sole companion in exile, Kasida mirrors Celaena’s sadness (“seemed as sad as she was to leave”) and becomes a tangible remnant of her time with the assassins. The horse’s loyalty contrasts with the Master’s rejection, serving as a silent witness to Celaena’s vulnerability. Kasida’s presence also enables her survival, embodying the duality of gifts: practical utility (transport) and emotional weight (a tie to a severed bond).
Quotes
1. “I’m sorry it had to end this way. The Master said it would be easier to let you go like this, rather than shame you by publicly asking you to leave early. Kasida is yours—as is the Master’s letter of approval, which is in the saddlebag. Go home.”
This quote marks the pivotal moment when Celaena discovers she has been abruptly exiled from the Silent Assassins. Ansel’s note reveals the Master’s decision to send her away without explanation, sparking Celaena’s internal crisis about belonging and rejection.
2. “Where she might learn something more than deceit and how to end lives. But she’d been wrong. Somehow, realizing that hurt far worse than the beating Arobynn had given her.”
This reflection captures Celaena’s emotional devastation at realizing her sense of belonging was an illusion. The contrast between her hope for growth and the harsh reality of her expulsion underscores the chapter’s theme of betrayal and self-doubt.
3. “If the Master didn’t want anything to do with her, then she certainly didn’t need to warn them. Especially since he probably knew. And he had a fortress full of assassins.”
This quote reveals Celaena’s conflicted morality as she rationalizes not warning the assassins about the approaching army. It showcases her wounded pride and the tension between self-preservation and loyalty, marking a key character moment.
4. “Still, the muffled thump of Kasida’s steps away from the fortress became more and more difficult to bear.”
This poignant closing line of the desert scene illustrates Celaena’s growing unease about her choice to leave. The physical distance mirrors her emotional turmoil, foreshadowing potential consequences of her decision.