The Assassin and the Desert
Chapter Five
byMaas, Sarah J.
The chapter opens with Celaena lying on her cloak in the desert, attempting to find comfort despite the harsh environment. She reflects on her discomfort, feeling sand everywhere and wishing for the luxury of her previous life in Rifthold. Her conversation with Ansel reveals their differing attitudes toward hardship; while Celaena is accustomed to rough conditions, she clearly finds this journey challenging. The harshness of the desert setting underscores her vulnerability and the physical toll of their travel, emphasizing the contrast between her past life and her current circumstances.
Ansel shares her background, delving into the history of the Flatlands and the cursed land once ruled by the Crochan witches. She describes the destruction wrought by the Ironteeth Clans five centuries earlier, highlighting their brutal nature with iron teeth and fingernails capable of killing in a single swipe. The history reveals a land scarred by violence, yet also hints at lingering magic and curses, such as the land’s resistance to the Ironteeth and the spells cast by the Crochan Queen to protect the land from the invaders.
The narrative shifts to Ansel recounting her personal experience with witches, particularly a haunting childhood memory of her sister and a mysterious tower. Her story involves a forbidden exploration, a terrifying encounter with an old woman with metal teeth, and the subsequent disappearance of her friend Maddy. The chilling tale of the child’s bones and the old witch leaves a lasting impression on Celaena, illustrating the dangerous and supernatural elements woven into their world’s history. Ansel’s account emphasizes the peril and mystique surrounding witches, especially the Ironteeth, and the fear they evoke.
The chapter concludes with Ansel expressing her desire for a powerful army of assassins to combat witches and defend their realm, contrasting her ambitions with the current complacency of her people. Celaena’s sarcastic remark about her being the “Defender of the Realm” underscores the disparity between Ansel’s noble aspirations and her pragmatic reality. As Ansel falls asleep, Celaena remains awake, haunted by the images of the witch’s dark deeds. The scene transitions to a bustling market in Xandria, illustrating the vibrant, diverse world they inhabit, despite lingering tensions and the scars of past conflicts.
FAQs
1. What historical and mythological background does Ansel provide about the land of the Flatlands and the Ironteeth Clans?
Answer:
Ansel explains that the Flatlands were once part of the Witch Kingdom and were considered beautiful during the reign of the Crochan Queens, who ruled five hundred years ago. However, the Ironteeth Clans, a group of dangerous witches with iron teeth and sharp fingernails, overthrew the Crochan Dynasty and destroyed much of the land’s beauty and stability. According to Ansel, when the Ironteeth Clans destroyed the kingdom, the last Crochan Queen cast a spell that cursed the land, causing crops to fail, animals to die, and waters to turn muddy, effectively turning the land against those associated with the Ironteeth. After their defeat and migration eastward, the land has been fertile again. This background combines elements of historical conflict with mythic curses, illustrating the deep-rooted fear and mystery surrounding the Ironteeth Clans in the chapter.2. How does Ansel’s personal experience with the witch at the tor illustrate the dangers associated with witches in this chapter?
Answer:
Ansel recounts a childhood incident where she and her sister, along with a friend named Maddy, snuck to a tor with a watchtower, believed to hold a portal to another world on the night of the summer solstice. Her fear prevented her from entering the tower, but her sister and Maddy did. Maddy was abducted by an old woman with metal teeth who dragged her into the tower’s stairwell, and despite their efforts, Maddy was never seen again. The bones of a child found later reinforced the terrifying reputation of witches, especially Ironteeth witches, who are depicted as dangerous and predatory. This story exemplifies the lethal threat witches pose, reinforcing the idea that they are powerful, malevolent beings capable of kidnapping and killing, and heightens the sense of peril that surrounds them in the chapter.3. In what ways does Celaena’s attitude toward roughing it in the desert reflect her character and background?
Answer:
Celaena’s complaints about the sand in her clothes and her discomfort in the desert reveal her refined background and her tendency toward sophistication and comfort, despite her claims of being used to roughing it. Her remarks about the sand grinding against her skin and her comments about her luxurious upbringing in Rifthold highlight her familiarity with comfort and her reluctance to accept hardship passively. This attitude underscores her identity as someone who, despite her tough exterior and assassin skills, still values her personal comfort and has a sense of pride. Her questioning whether someone from the Western Wastes would find this luxurious further emphasizes her awareness of her privileged background and her internal conflict between her current situation and her past.4. How does the chapter explore the theme of power and the desire for greatness through Ansel’s ambitions?
Answer:
Ansel’s dialogue reveals her longing for power and her ambition to use her skills and her people— the Silent Assassins—for greater purposes. She expresses frustration that her people, who possess considerable potential, remain passive and unexploited, preferring to serve foreign courts rather than pursue their own greatness. Her desire to assemble an army of assassins to defend unprotected realms and her declaration that she would hunt down witches if she had the means exemplify her hunger for influence, glory, and national pride. This theme highlights a recurring motif: the yearning for power as a way to achieve greatness and make a significant impact, contrasting her aspirations with the current complacency of her people.5. What does the chapter suggest about the nature of fear and curiosity through Celaena and Ansel’s conversation about the witch at the tor?
Answer:
The chapter juxtaposes fear and curiosity, especially through Celaena’s reactions to Ansel’s story. Ansel’s childhood experience with the witch at the tor is rooted in fear—she was terrified and chose to hide rather than confront the unknown. Conversely, Celaena’s curiosity is sparked by the story, as she is haunted by the image of Maddy being dragged away into the shadows. This contrast illustrates how fear can inhibit action but also fuel fascination with the mysterious and dangerous. Celaena’s inability to sleep afterward shows how curiosity about the unknown can linger and provoke anxiety, emphasizing the complex relationship humans have with fear and the desire to understand what scares them.
Quotes
1. “The last thing she needed was to wake up with a scorpion in her hair. Or worse.”
This opening line vividly captures Celaena’s discomfort and the harsh reality of her environment, setting the tone for the chapter’s exploration of survival in the desert.
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 lethal nature of the Ironteeth witches, illustrating the danger they pose and highlighting the chapter’s focus on the threat of witchcraft and cursed lands.
3. “The land has been fertile ever since the Ironteeth Clans journeyed east … toward your lands.”
This statement reveals the destructive history of the Ironteeth Clans and their impact on the land, framing the witches as both a historical and ongoing threat that influences the chapter’s discussion of cursed and haunted territories.
4. “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 assertion underscores her confidence in the power of assassins and introduces the chapter’s theme of lethal efficiency and the potential to overcome formidable enemies through strength and strategy.
5. “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 encapsulates Ansel’s ruthless ambition and her belief in the possibility of defeating witches, reflecting her desire for power and the chapter’s broader commentary on strength versus vulnerability in the face of dark magic.
Quotes
1. “The last thing she needed was to wake up with a scorpion in her hair. Or worse.”
This opening line vividly captures Celaena’s discomfort and the harsh reality of her environment, setting the tone for the chapter’s exploration of survival in the desert.
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 lethal nature of the Ironteeth witches, illustrating the danger they pose and highlighting the chapter’s focus on the threat of witchcraft and cursed lands.
3. “The land has been fertile ever since the Ironteeth Clans journeyed east … toward your lands.”
This statement reveals the destructive history of the Ironteeth Clans and their impact on the land, framing the witches as both a historical and ongoing threat that influences the chapter’s discussion of cursed and haunted territories.
4. “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 assertion underscores her confidence in the power of assassins and introduces the chapter’s theme of lethal efficiency and the potential to overcome formidable enemies through strength and strategy.
5. “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 encapsulates Ansel’s ruthless ambition and her belief in the possibility of defeating witches, reflecting her desire for power and the chapter’s broader commentary on strength versus vulnerability in the face of dark magic.
— Unknown
FAQs
1. What historical and mythological background does Ansel provide about the land of the Flatlands and the Ironteeth Clans?
Answer:
Ansel explains that the Flatlands were once part of the Witch Kingdom and were considered beautiful during the reign of the Crochan Queens, who ruled five hundred years ago. However, the Ironteeth Clans, a group of dangerous witches with iron teeth and sharp fingernails, overthrew the Crochan Dynasty and destroyed much of the land’s beauty and stability. According to Ansel, when the Ironteeth Clans destroyed the kingdom, the last Crochan Queen cast a spell that cursed the land, causing crops to fail, animals to die, and waters to turn muddy, effectively turning the land against those associated with the Ironteeth. After their defeat and migration eastward, the land has been fertile again. This background combines elements of historical conflict with mythic curses, illustrating the deep-rooted fear and mystery surrounding the Ironteeth Clans in the chapter.
2. How does Ansel’s personal experience with the witch at the tor illustrate the dangers associated with witches in this chapter?
Answer:
Ansel recounts a childhood incident where she and her sister, along with a friend named Maddy, snuck to a tor with a watchtower, believed to hold a portal to another world on the night of the summer solstice. Her fear prevented her from entering the tower, but her sister and Maddy did. Maddy was abducted by an old woman with metal teeth who dragged her into the tower’s stairwell, and despite their efforts, Maddy was never seen again. The bones of a child found later reinforced the terrifying reputation of witches, especially Ironteeth witches, who are depicted as dangerous and predatory. This story exemplifies the lethal threat witches pose, reinforcing the idea that they are powerful, malevolent beings capable of kidnapping and killing, and heightens the sense of peril that surrounds them in the chapter.
3. In what ways does Celaena’s attitude toward roughing it in the desert reflect her character and background?
Answer:
Celaena’s complaints about the sand in her clothes and her discomfort in the desert reveal her refined background and her tendency toward sophistication and comfort, despite her claims of being used to roughing it. Her remarks about the sand grinding against her skin and her comments about her luxurious upbringing in Rifthold highlight her familiarity with comfort and her reluctance to accept hardship passively. This attitude underscores her identity as someone who, despite her tough exterior and assassin skills, still values her personal comfort and has a sense of pride. Her questioning whether someone from the Western Wastes would find this luxurious further emphasizes her awareness of her privileged background and her internal conflict between her current situation and her past.
4. How does the chapter explore the theme of power and the desire for greatness through Ansel’s ambitions?
Answer:
Ansel’s dialogue reveals her longing for power and her ambition to use her skills and her people— the Silent Assassins—for greater purposes. She expresses frustration that her people, who possess considerable potential, remain passive and unexploited, preferring to serve foreign courts rather than pursue their own greatness. Her desire to assemble an army of assassins to defend unprotected realms and her declaration that she would hunt down witches if she had the means exemplify her hunger for influence, glory, and national pride. This theme highlights a recurring motif: the yearning for power as a way to achieve greatness and make a significant impact, contrasting her aspirations with the current complacency of her people.
5. What does the chapter suggest about the nature of fear and curiosity through Celaena and Ansel’s conversation about the witch at the tor?
Answer:
The chapter juxtaposes fear and curiosity, especially through Celaena’s reactions to Ansel’s story. Ansel’s childhood experience with the witch at the tor is rooted in fear—she was terrified and chose to hide rather than confront the unknown. Conversely, Celaena’s curiosity is sparked by the story, as she is haunted by the image of Maddy being dragged away into the shadows. This contrast illustrates how fear can inhibit action but also fuel fascination with the mysterious and dangerous. Celaena’s inability to sleep afterward shows how curiosity about the unknown can linger and provoke anxiety, emphasizing the complex relationship humans have with fear and the desire to understand what scares them.
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