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    Adventure FictionFantasyYoung Adult

    The Assassin and the Underworld

    by Maas, Sarah J.
    “The Assassin and the Underworld” by Sarah J. Maas is a novella set before the events of the “Throne of Glass” series, focusing on Celaena Sardothien. Tasked by the King of the Assassins to help combat slavery, she embarks on a dangerous mission that reveals her skills and resilience. The story explores themes of loyalty, justice, and Celaena’s early development as a formidable assassin within a perilous underworld.
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    The Assassin and the Underworld

    Chapter Nine

    by Maas, Sarah J.

    In Chap­ter Nine, Celae­na begins her day with a sense of lib­er­a­tion, hav­ing paid off her debt to Arobynn and reclaimed her inde­pen­dence. She reflects on her recent expe­ri­ences, includ­ing her time in the Red Desert, which rekin­dles her desire to forge her own path. Her con­fronta­tion with Arobynn is tense but ulti­mate­ly empow­er­ing; she asserts her new­found free­dom by pre­sent­ing him with the mon­ey she earned, which she claims cov­ers her debt and more. Despite her desire to main­tain their work­ing rela­tion­ship, she firm­ly states that she no longer belongs to him, sig­nal­ing her resolve to move for­ward on her own terms. Arobyn­n’s response is bit­ter­sweet, acknowl­edg­ing her depar­ture with a hint of regret, yet he respects her deci­sion, which marks a piv­otal shift in their dynam­ic.

    Lat­er, Celae­na pre­pares for her covert mis­sion into Doneval’s house, return­ing to the sew­er tun­nels she despis­es. Along­side Sam, she metic­u­lous­ly plans their infil­tra­tion, rec­og­niz­ing that the front entrance is too heav­i­ly guard­ed. Their strat­e­gy involves wait­ing for the right moment when the ser­vants are like­ly to dis­card trash, cre­at­ing an oppor­tu­ni­ty to slip inside unno­ticed. The sew­er set­ting under­scores the dan­ger and the clan­des­tine nature of her quest, empha­siz­ing her deter­mi­na­tion to take con­trol of her cir­cum­stances despite the risks. Sam’s light­heart­ed ban­ter con­trasts with the ten­sion of their plan, high­light­ing their cama­raderie and shared under­stand­ing of the per­il involved. Celaena’s strate­gic think­ing and resolve are evi­dent as she envi­sions the best way to out­smart her ene­mies.

    The chap­ter also explores Celae­na’s emo­tion­al state as she grap­ples with her recent vic­to­ry and the lin­ger­ing sense of unease. Her reflec­tion on the mon­ey she paid Arobynn reveals her com­plex feel­ings about her new­found independence—it feels both empow­er­ing and hol­low, giv­en the cir­cum­stances. Her thoughts about her upcom­ing infil­tra­tion are tinged with antic­i­pa­tion and a desire for ret­ri­bu­tion, espe­cial­ly tar­get­ing Philip, whom she intends to con­front. The sew­er tun­nels sym­bol­ize both the lit­er­al and metaphor­i­cal dark­ness she nav­i­gates, rep­re­sent­ing her ongo­ing strug­gle to reclaim her agency in a hos­tile envi­ron­ment. Her cau­tious opti­mism is tem­pered by the under­stand­ing that her jour­ney toward true free­dom is far from over.

    In clos­ing, Celae­na and Sam leave the sew­er, their plan set in motion. They share a qui­et moment about her recent finan­cial inde­pen­dence and his con­cern for her safe­ty. Celae­na admits that her sense of free­dom is not quite what she envi­sioned, hint­ing at the emo­tion­al and phys­i­cal toll her actions have tak­en. Their con­ver­sa­tion under­scores the frag­ile bal­ance between her deter­mi­na­tion and the dan­gers she faces. As they walk away from the dan­ger­ous house, Celaena’s resolve remains strong, know­ing that her next steps will be crit­i­cal. The chap­ter ends with a sense of antic­i­pa­tion, empha­siz­ing her readi­ness to con­front her ene­mies and carve out her future, no mat­ter the cost.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What significant change in Celaena’s relationship with Arobynn is evident by the end of this chapter, and how does it reflect her personal growth?

      Answer:
      By the end of the chapter, Celaena asserts her independence by paying off her debt to Arobynn and explicitly telling him she no longer belongs to him, stating, “You don’t own me anymore.” This marks a pivotal shift from her previous subservience and fear of him, especially considering their past, including his violence towards her. Her decision to settle her debt with her own money and her careful choice to keep her plans to leave private demonstrate her growing confidence and desire for autonomy. This change reflects her personal growth from a frightened, controlled assassin to a woman reclaiming her agency and making decisions on her own terms.

      2. How does Celaena’s plan to infiltrate Doneval’s house demonstrate strategic thinking, and what does it reveal about her understanding of her environment?

      Answer:
      Celaena employs a detailed and clever plan to infiltrate Doneval’s house by exploiting the servants’ routines, specifically their trash disposal. Recognizing that the front door is too well-guarded, she considers alternative entry points, such as slipping in through the cellar by waiting for the servants to take out the trash, which they are unlikely to do at predictable times. Her plan shows her keen observational skills, understanding of human behavior, and the importance of patience and timing. It reveals her ability to adapt her approach based on environmental conditions, demonstrating strategic thinking essential for stealth and infiltration missions.

      3. In what ways does Celaena’s interaction with Arobynn in this chapter highlight her internal conflict and her evolving sense of self?

      Answer:
      Celaena’s interaction with Arobynn is layered with tension and subtle emotional shifts. She approaches him cautiously, initially feeling sick and uncertain about giving him the money, which indicates lingering fears and doubts rooted in their past. Her declaration that she wants to keep working with him, despite asserting her independence, shows her internal conflict—she still values her skills and the work but resists being controlled. Her decision to leave quietly and her observation that the gold feels “cheap” suggest she is beginning to see her worth beyond monetary debt or Arobynn’s influence. This interaction underscores her evolving self-awareness and her struggle to forge her own identity apart from her past.

      4. How does the chapter use setting—such as the sewer and the study—to enhance the narrative and develop Celaena’s character?

      Answer:
      The contrasting settings—the opulent, tense atmosphere of Arobynn’s study and the dark, grim sewer—serve to highlight different facets of Celaena’s world and her character. The study, with its wealth and power dynamics, underscores her past dependence and the manipulative relationship with Arobynn. In contrast, the sewer, a place of danger and concealment, symbolizes her resilience, resourcefulness, and willingness to operate in the shadows to achieve her goals. The sewer scenes also reveal her bravery and strategic mindset, as she navigates a perilous environment. These settings deepen the reader’s understanding of her complexity—caught between luxury and darkness, strength and vulnerability—shaping her journey toward independence.

      5. Reflecting on Celaena’s interactions and decisions in this chapter, what themes of freedom and self-empowerment are emphasized, and how might they influence her future actions?

      Answer:
      Themes of freedom and self-empowerment are central in this chapter. Celaena’s act of paying off her debt signifies her literal financial independence, while her careful planning to infiltrate Doneval’s house demonstrates her desire for control and autonomy. Her declaration that she is no longer owned by Arobynn and her choice to keep her plans private show her internal shift toward asserting her independence. These themes suggest that she is beginning to take active steps to shape her future, which will likely influence her resolve in upcoming challenges. Her actions reflect a growing recognition of her own strength, setting the stage for her to pursue her goals with confidence and self-reliance.

    Quotes

    • 1. “She thought this was a good idea—until she saw the way he looked at her, and suddenly all that gold felt… cheap.”

      This quote captures Celaena’s internal conflict and the realization that material wealth cannot buy her true freedom or peace. It highlights the emotional complexity of her decision to settle her debt and break free from Arobynn’s control, marking a pivotal moment of self-awareness.

      2. “She’d expected to crow with glee when she gave him the money, expected to strut around the Keep. But seeing the way he’d looked at her made all that gold feel … cheap.”

      This passage underscores the contrast between her expectations of triumph and the sobering reality of her emotional state. It emphasizes that material success is hollow without genuine liberation and personal integrity.

      3. “Not the way I thought it would.”

      This brief but powerful line reflects Celaena’s nuanced feelings about her newfound freedom. It signifies that her liberation from debt and control is complicated, layered with unforeseen emotional consequences, and not as straightforward as she anticipated.

      4. “She glanced at him sidelong. ‘It’s not the way I thought it would.’”

      This quote reveals her introspection and acknowledgment that her perception of freedom has been altered by her experiences. It also hints at the ongoing internal struggle and the complex nature of her emancipation.

      5. “She smiled slowly. What better way to get back at Philip than to break in through the very door he’d revealed to her?”

      This statement illustrates Celaena’s strategic mindset and her use of cunning and defiance as tools for revenge. It signifies her resourcefulness and determination to turn her vulnerabilities into advantages, marking her growth as an assassin and a tactician.

    Quotes

    1. “She thought this was a good idea—until she saw the way he looked at her, and suddenly all that gold felt… cheap.”

    This quote captures Celaena’s internal conflict and the realization that material wealth cannot buy her true freedom or peace. It highlights the emotional complexity of her decision to settle her debt and break free from Arobynn’s control, marking a pivotal moment of self-awareness.

    2. “She’d expected to crow with glee when she gave him the money, expected to strut around the Keep. But seeing the way he’d looked at her made all that gold feel … cheap.”

    This passage underscores the contrast between her expectations of triumph and the sobering reality of her emotional state. It emphasizes that material success is hollow without genuine liberation and personal integrity.

    3. “Not the way I thought it would.”

    This brief but powerful line reflects Celaena’s nuanced feelings about her newfound freedom. It signifies that her liberation from debt and control is complicated, layered with unforeseen emotional consequences, and not as straightforward as she anticipated.

    4. “She glanced at him sidelong. ‘It’s not the way I thought it would.’”

    This quote reveals her introspection and acknowledgment that her perception of freedom has been altered by her experiences. It also hints at the ongoing internal struggle and the complex nature of her emancipation.

    5. “She smiled slowly. What better way to get back at Philip than to break in through the very door he’d revealed to her?”

    This statement illustrates Celaena’s strategic mindset and her use of cunning and defiance as tools for revenge. It signifies her resourcefulness and determination to turn her vulnerabilities into advantages, marking her growth as an assassin and a tactician.

    FAQs

    1. What significant change in Celaena’s relationship with Arobynn is evident by the end of this chapter, and how does it reflect her personal growth?

    Answer:
    By the end of the chapter, Celaena asserts her independence by paying off her debt to Arobynn and explicitly telling him she no longer belongs to him, stating, “You don’t own me anymore.” This marks a pivotal shift from her previous subservience and fear of him, especially considering their past, including his violence towards her. Her decision to settle her debt with her own money and her careful choice to keep her plans to leave private demonstrate her growing confidence and desire for autonomy. This change reflects her personal growth from a frightened, controlled assassin to a woman reclaiming her agency and making decisions on her own terms.

    2. How does Celaena’s plan to infiltrate Doneval’s house demonstrate strategic thinking, and what does it reveal about her understanding of her environment?

    Answer:
    Celaena employs a detailed and clever plan to infiltrate Doneval’s house by exploiting the servants’ routines, specifically their trash disposal. Recognizing that the front door is too well-guarded, she considers alternative entry points, such as slipping in through the cellar by waiting for the servants to take out the trash, which they are unlikely to do at predictable times. Her plan shows her keen observational skills, understanding of human behavior, and the importance of patience and timing. It reveals her ability to adapt her approach based on environmental conditions, demonstrating strategic thinking essential for stealth and infiltration missions.

    3. In what ways does Celaena’s interaction with Arobynn in this chapter highlight her internal conflict and her evolving sense of self?

    Answer:
    Celaena’s interaction with Arobynn is layered with tension and subtle emotional shifts. She approaches him cautiously, initially feeling sick and uncertain about giving him the money, which indicates lingering fears and doubts rooted in their past. Her declaration that she wants to keep working with him, despite asserting her independence, shows her internal conflict—she still values her skills and the work but resists being controlled. Her decision to leave quietly and her observation that the gold feels “cheap” suggest she is beginning to see her worth beyond monetary debt or Arobynn’s influence. This interaction underscores her evolving self-awareness and her struggle to forge her own identity apart from her past.

    4. How does the chapter use setting—such as the sewer and the study—to enhance the narrative and develop Celaena’s character?

    Answer:
    The contrasting settings—the opulent, tense atmosphere of Arobynn’s study and the dark, grim sewer—serve to highlight different facets of Celaena’s world and her character. The study, with its wealth and power dynamics, underscores her past dependence and the manipulative relationship with Arobynn. In contrast, the sewer, a place of danger and concealment, symbolizes her resilience, resourcefulness, and willingness to operate in the shadows to achieve her goals. The sewer scenes also reveal her bravery and strategic mindset, as she navigates a perilous environment. These settings deepen the reader’s understanding of her complexity—caught between luxury and darkness, strength and vulnerability—shaping her journey toward independence.

    5. Reflecting on Celaena’s interactions and decisions in this chapter, what themes of freedom and self-empowerment are emphasized, and how might they influence her future actions?

    Answer:
    Themes of freedom and self-empowerment are central in this chapter. Celaena’s act of paying off her debt signifies her literal financial independence, while her careful planning to infiltrate Doneval’s house demonstrates her desire for control and autonomy. Her declaration that she is no longer owned by Arobynn and her choice to keep her plans private show her internal shift toward asserting her independence. These themes suggest that she is beginning to take active steps to shape her future, which will likely influence her resolve in upcoming challenges. Her actions reflect a growing recognition of her own strength, setting the stage for her to pursue her goals with confidence and self-reliance.

    Note