The Assassin and the Desert: A Throne of Glass Novella
Chapter Five
by Maas, Sarah J.In this chapter, Celaena Sardothien endures a harsh desert journey, lying on her cloak and trying to imagine comfort amidst the sand and exposure. Her discomfort is compounded by the relentless sun, insufficient food, and the pervasive grit of the environment. Despite her roughing-it attitude, she expresses her frustration at the lack of luxury, highlighting her familiarity with hardship but also her desire for comfort. Her interactions with Ansel reveal her curiosity about the desert’s history and the land’s cursed past, setting a tone of tension between her resilience and her longing for normalcy.
The conversation with Ansel delves into the region’s dark history, particularly the rise and fall of the Crochan Kingdom and the destructive Ironteeth Clans. Ansel recounts tales of the once-beautiful Crochan land, overrun by witches with ethereal beauty and dangerous iron teeth. She explains how the Ironteeth Clans overthrew the Crochan Dynasty, leaving a land cursed with barren, muddy, and lifeless terrain, until the land regained fertility after their departure eastward. This history underscores the perilous relationship between the land, its witches, and the ongoing conflicts that have shaped the region.
Ansel shares a chilling story from her childhood about her sister and a mysterious tower where a witch with metal teeth appeared. Her tale recounts a summer solstice event where her sister and friends encountered an otherworldly portal and a sinister old woman who abducted a girl named Maddy. The story culminates in the discovery of a child’s bones and the terrifying realization of the witch’s presence. This narrative emphasizes the danger and mystery surrounding witches and their dark magic, leaving Celaena haunted by the possibility of similar threats lurking in the shadows.
As the chapter concludes, Ansel expresses her desire to hunt witches and build an army of assassins to defend the realm, criticizing the current passivity of her people and their reliance on foreign courts. Celaena’s sarcastic response underscores her skepticism, but the underlying tone reveals her acknowledgment of the dangerous power witches possess. Ansel’s dreams of glory contrast with her reality, and her conviction that witches can be defeated by decapitation offers a grim but hopeful perspective. Meanwhile, Celaena remains awake, haunted by the stories, contemplating the lurking darkness of magic and the perilous landscape they traverse.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What are some of the dangers Celaena faces while traveling through the desert, and how does her attitude reflect her experience with rough conditions?
Answer:
Celaena faces physical discomforts such as sand infiltrating her clothing and the threat of dangerous creatures like scorpions, which she humorously fears might wake her with one in her hair. Her attitude reveals that she is accustomed to harsh conditions, as she mentions she is “plenty used to roughing it,” but she still finds the experience unpleasant. Her comments about the sand being luxurious only if she were from the Western Wastes highlight her resilience and familiarity with adversity, while also acknowledging her discomfort. This mix of toughness and vulnerability underscores her background as a seasoned fighter used to difficult environments.2. Question 2
Describe the history and significance of the Ironteeth Clans and the Crochan Kingdom as explained by Ansel. How do these histories contribute to the chapter’s atmosphere and themes?
Answer:
The Ironteeth Clans are depicted as fierce witches with iron teeth and dangerous fingernails, who overthrew the Crochan Kingdom five hundred years ago. The Crochan Queen cast a spell that cursed the land, making it barren and inhospitable for those under the Ironteeth banner, but the land has since become fertile again as the Ironteeth Clans moved east. This history of destruction, conquest, and curses adds an ominous tone to the chapter, emphasizing themes of power, legacy, and the lingering effects of past conflicts. It also deepens the sense of danger associated with witches and the land’s cursed past, creating a foreboding atmosphere that influences the characters’ perceptions and fears.3. Question 3
How does Ansel’s personal story about the tower and her sister Maddy enhance the chapter’s exploration of witchcraft and the supernatural?
Answer:
Ansel’s story about sneaking to the tower on the summer solstice and witnessing the old woman with metal teeth dragging Maddy into the shadows introduces a chilling account of witchcraft and supernatural phenomena. The narrative of Maddy’s disappearance and the discovery of the child’s bones underscores the danger and mystery surrounding witches, especially those with ethereal or malevolent powers. It also illustrates how encounters with witches can haunt individuals, shaping their fears and perceptions. This personal anecdote enriches the chapter’s overall tone of suspense and horror, highlighting the real threats posed by witches and the sinister history linked to their magic.4. Question 4
What does Ansel’s conversation about the role of assassins and her ambitions reveal about her character and her worldview?
Answer:
Ansel’s discussion about the potential of the Silent Assassins and her desire to lead them into defending and glorifying their realm reveal her ambition, pride, and a sense of patriotism. She sees the assassins as a powerful force that could bring greatness to their land if used strategically. Her disdain for the current state of her people—sitting in an oasis and serving foreign courts—indicates her frustration with perceived complacency and her desire for active greatness. Her ideas reflect a worldview that values strength, independence, and the pursuit of glory, positioning her as a character driven by a desire for power and recognition.5. Question 5
In what ways does the chapter use setting and storytelling to build suspense and deepen the mystery surrounding the witches and the tower?
Answer:
The chapter employs the desolate desert setting, with its harsh sands and dangerous creatures, to create a tense and foreboding atmosphere. Celaena’s discomfort and the vivid descriptions of the sand and potential threats set a tone of vulnerability. Ansel’s storytelling about the tower, the summer solstice, and the old woman with metal teeth adds layers of supernatural mystery and horror. The recounting of Maddy’s disappearance and the bones found in the tower heighten the sense of danger and unresolved secrets. Together, the setting and storytelling evoke curiosity and fear, emphasizing the sinister history of the witches and the peril that lies in exploring such haunted sites.
Quotes
1. “The last thing she needed was to wake up with a scorpion in her hair. Or worse.”
This opening line vividly illustrates Celaena’s discomfort and the harshness of her environment, setting the tone for her struggle to adapt to the desert’s brutality. It highlights the chapter’s focus on survival amid adversity.
2. “The Ironteeth Clans have iron teeth, sharp as a fish’s. Actually, their iron fingernails are more dangerous; those can gut you in one swipe.”
This description emphasizes the terrifying nature of the Ironteeth witches, establishing them as formidable and deadly antagonists. It introduces the concept of the witches’ supernatural and physical threat, crucial to understanding the chapter’s mythic world.
3. “The only way to kill a witch is to cut off her head. Besides, I don’t think an Ironteeth witch stands much of a chance against us.”
Ansel’s declaration encapsulates her confidence in the assassins’ lethal prowess and her belief in their superiority over witches. It reflects her warrior mindset and underscores the chapter’s theme of resilience against dark forces.
4. “They might be vicious, but they’re not invincible. And if I had an army of my own… I’d hunt down all the witches. They wouldn’t stand a chance.”
This quote reveals Ansel’s ambition and her desire for power, portraying her as a character driven by a longing to eradicate evil. It highlights her strategic mindset and the chapter’s exploration of themes of strength and vengeance.
5. “The land has been fertile ever since the Ironteeth Clans journeyed east… toward your lands.”
This statement links the destruction wrought by the witches to the current state of the land, illustrating the deep historical impact of their reign. It provides context for the chapter’s mythic history and the ongoing tension between humans and witches.