["room\tthen.\u201d Celaena\t gave\t her\t a\t long\t look.\t The\t idea\t of\t Ansel\u2014or\t anyone\u2014handling\t the weapons\t and\t gear\t she\u2019d\t left\t at\t the\t gate\t wasn\u2019t\t appealing.\t Not\t that\t she\t had anything\t to\t hide\u2014though\t she\t did\t cringe\t inwardly\t at\t the\t thought\t of\t the\t guards pawing\t at\t her\t undergarments\t as\t they\t searched\t her\t bag.\t Her\t taste\t for\t very expensive\tand\tvery\tdelicate\tunderwear\twouldn\u2019t\tdo\tmuch\tfor\ther\treputation. But\t she\t was\t here\t at\t their\t mercy,\t and\t her\t letter\t of\t approval\t depended\t on\t her good\tbehavior.\tAnd\tgood\tattitude. So\t Celaena\t merely\t said\t \u201cThank\t you,\u201d\t before\t striding\t past\t Ansel\t and\t into\t the herb-scented\tair\tbeyond\tthe\tdoors. While\t the\t fortress\t had\t communal\t baths,\t they\t were\t thankfully\t separated between\tmen\tand\twomen,\tand\tat\tthat\tpoint\tin\tthe\tday,\tthe\twomen\u2019s\tbaths\twere empty. Hidden\t by\t towering\t palms\t and\t date\t trees\t sagging\t with\t the\t weight\t of\t their fruit,\t the\t baths\t were\t made\t from\t the\t same\t sea\t green\t and\t cobalt\t tiles\t that\t had formed\tthe\tmosaic\tin\tthe\tMaster\u2019s\tchamber,\tkept\tcool\tby\twhite\tawnings\tjutting out\t from\t the\t walls\t of\t the\t building.\t There\t were\t multiple\t large\t pools\u2014some steamed,\t some\t bubbled,\t some\t steamed\t and\t bubbled\u2014but\t the\t one\t Celaena slipped\tinto\twas\tutterly\tcalm\tand\tclear\tand\tcold. Celaena\t stifled\t a\t groan\t as\t she\t submerged\t herself\t and\t stayed\t under\t until\t her lungs\t ached.\t While\t modesty\t was\t a\t trait\t she\u2019d\t learned\t to\t live\t without,\t she\t still kept\t herself\t low\t in\t the\t water.\t Of\t course,\t it\t had\t nothing\t to\t do\t with\t the\t fact\t that her\tribs\tand\tarms\twere\tpeppered\twith\tfading\tbruises,\tand\tthat\tthe\tsight\tof\tthem made\ther\tsick.\tSometimes\tit\twas\tsick\twith\tanger;\tother\ttimes\tit\twas\twith\tsorrow. Often,\t it\t was\t both.\t She\t wanted\t to\t go\t back\t to\t Rifthold\u2014to\t see\t what\t had happened\t to\t Sam,\t to\t resume\t the\t life\t that\t had\t splintered\t in\t a\t few\t agonizing minutes.\tBut\tshe\talso\tdreaded\tit. At\tleast,\there\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tworld,\tthat\tnight\u2014and\tall\tof\tRifthold\tand\tthe people\tit\tcontained\u2014seemed\tvery\tfar\taway. She\tstayed\tin\tthe\tpool\tuntil\ther\thands\tturned\tuncomfortably\tpruny. Ansel\t wasn\u2019t\t in\t their\t tiny,\t rectangular\t room\t when\t Celaena\t arrived,\t though someone\t had\t unpacked\t Celaena\u2019s\t belongings.\t Aside\t from\t her\t sword\t and daggers,\tsome\tundergarments,\tand\ta\tfew\ttunics,\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tbrought\tmuch\u2014and hadn\u2019t\tbothered\tto\tbring\ther\tfiner\tclothing.\tWhich\tshe\twas\tgrateful\tfor,\tnow\tthat","she\u2019d\tseen\thow\tquickly\tthe\tsand\thad\tworn\tthrough\tthe\tbulky\tclothes\tthe\tnomad had\tmade\ther\twear. There\t were\t two\t narrow\t beds,\t and\t it\t took\t her\t a\t moment\t to\t figure\t out\t which was\tAnsel\u2019s.\t The\t red\t stone\twall\t behind\t it\t was\t bare.\tAside\t from\t the\t small\tiron wolf\tfigurine\ton\tthe\tbedside\ttable,\tand\ta\thumansized\tdummy\tthat\tmust\tbe\tused to\t store\t Ansel\u2019s\t extraordinary\t armor,\t Celaena\t would\t have\t had\t no\t idea\t that\t she was\tsharing\ta\troom\twith\tanyone. Peeking\tthrough\tAnsel\u2019s\tchest\tof\tdrawers\twas\tequally\tfutile.\tBurgundy\ttunics and\tblack\tpants,\tall\tneatly\tfolded.\tThe\tonly\tthings\tthat\toffset\tthe\tmonotony\twere several\twhite\ttunics\u2014garb\tthat\tmany\tof\tthe\tmen\tand\twomen\thad\tbeen\twearing. Even\t the\t undergarments\t were\t plain\u2014and\t folded.\t Who\t folded\t their undergarments?\t Celaena\t thought\t of\t her\t enormous\t closet\t back\t home,\t exploding with\t color\t and\t different\t fabrics\t and\t patterns,\t all\t tossed\t together.\t Her undergarments,\twhile\texpensive,\tusually\twound\tup\tin\ta\theap\tin\ttheir\tdrawer. Sam\tprobably\tfolded\this\tundergarments.\tThough,\tdepending\ton\thow\tmuch\tof him\tArobynn\thad\tleft\tintact,\the\tmight\tnot\teven\tbe\table\tto\tnow.\tArobynn\twould never\tpermanently\tmaim\ther,\tbut\tSam\tmight\thave\tfared\tworse.\tSam\thad\talways been\tthe\texpendable\tone. She\t shoved\t the\t thought\t away\t and\t nestled\t farther\t into\t the\t bed.\t Through\t the small\twindow,\tthe\tsilence\tof\tthe\tfortress\tlulled\ther\tto\tsleep. She\u2019d\tnever\tseen\tArobynn\tso\tangry,\tand\tit\twas\tscaring\tthe\thell\tout\tof\ther.\tHe didn\u2019t\tyell,\tand\the\tdidn\u2019t\tcurse\u2014he\tjust\twent\tvery\tstill\tand\tvery\tquiet.\tThe\tonly signs\tof\this\trage\twere\this\tsilver\teyes,\tglittering\twith\ta\tdeadly\tcalm. She\t tried\t not\t to\t flinch\t in\t her\t chair\t as\t he\t stood\t from\t the\t giant\t wooden\t desk. Sam,\t seated\t beside\t her,\t sucked\t in\t a\t breath.\t She\t couldn\u2019t\t speak;\t if\t she\t started talking,\t her\t trembling\t voice\t would\t betray\t her.\t She\t couldn\u2019t\t endure\t that\t kind\t of humiliation. \u201cDo\tyou\tknow\thow\tmuch\tmoney\tyou\u2019ve\tcost\tme?\u201d\tArobynn\tasked\ther\tsoftly. Celaena\u2019spalms\t began\t sweating.\t It\t was\t worth\t it,\t she\t told\t herself.\t Freeing those\t two\t hundred\t slaves\t was\t worth\t it.\t No\t matter\t what\t was\t about\t to\t happen, she\u2019d\tnever\tregret\tdoing\tit. \u201cIt\u2019s\t not\t her\t fault,\u201d\t Sam\t cut\t in,\t and\t she\t flashed\t him\t a\t warning\t glare.\t \u201cWe both\tthought\tit\twas\u2014\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t lie\t to\t me,\t Sam\t Cortland,\u201d\t Arobynn\t growled.\t \u201cThe\t only\t way\t you became\tinvolved\tin\tthis\twas\tbecause\tshe\tdecided\tto\tdo\tit\u2014and\tit\twas\teither\tlet her\tdie\ttrying,\tor\thelp\ther.\u201d","Sam\t opened\t his\t mouth\t to\t object,\t but\t Arobynn\t silenced\t him\t with\t a\t sharp whistle\t through\t his\t teeth.\t His\t office\t doors\t opened.\t Wesley,\t Arobynn\u2019s bodyguard,\tpeered\tin.\tArobynn\tkept\this\teyes\ton\tCelaena\tas\the\tsaid,\t\u201cGet\tTern, Mullin,\tand\tHarding.\u201d This\t wasn\u2019t\t a\t good\t sign.\t She\t kept\t her\t face\t neutral,\t though,\t as\t Arobynn continued\t watching\t her.\t Neither\t she\t nor\t Sam\t dared\t speak\t in\t the\t long\t minutes that\tpassed.\tShe\ttried\tnot\tto\tshake. At\t last,\t the\t three\t assassins\u2014all\t men,\t all\t cut\t from\t muscle\t and\t armed\t to\t the teeth,\t filed\t in.\t \u201cShut\t the\t door,\u201d\t Arobynn\t said\t to\t Harding,\t the\t last\t one\t to\t enter. Then\the\ttold\tthe\tothers,\t\u201cHold\thim.\u201d Instantly,\t Sam\t was\t dragged\t out\t of\t his\t chair,\t his\t arms\t pinned\t back\t by\t Tern and\tMullin.\tHarding\ttook\ta\tstep\tin\tfront\tof\tthem,\this\tfist\tflexing. \u201cNo,\u201d\tCelaena\tbreathed\tas\tshe\tmet\tSam\u2019s\twide-eyed\tstare.\tArobynn\twouldn\u2019t be\tthat\tcruel\u2014he\twouldn\u2019t\tmake\ther\twatch\tas\the\thurt\tSam.\tSomething\ttight\tand aching\tbuilt\tin\ther\tthroat. But\t Celaena\t kept\t her\t head\t high,\t even\t as\t Arobynn\t said\t quietly\t to\t her,\t \u201cYou are\tnot\tgoing\tto\tenjoy\tthis.\tYou\twill\tnot\tforget\tthis.\tAnd\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tyou\tto.\u201d She\twhipped\ther\thead\tback\tto\tSam,\ta\tplea\tfor\tHarding\tnot\tto\thurt\thim\ton\ther lips. She\tsensed\tthe\tblow\tonly\ta\theartbeat\tbefore\tArobynn\tstruck\ther. She\t toppled\t out\t of\t her\t chair\t and\t didn\u2019t\t have\t time\t to\t raise\t herself\t properly before\t Arobynn\t grabbed\t her\t by\t the\t collar\t and\t swung\t again,\t his\t fist\t connecting with\t her\t cheek.\t Light\t and\t darkness\t reeled.\t Another\t blow,\t hard\t enough\t that\t she felt\tthe\twarmth\tof\ther\tblood\ton\ther\tface\tbefore\tshe\tfelt\tthe\tpain. Sam\t began\t screaming\t something.\t But\t Arobynn\t hit\t her\t again.\t She\t tasted blood,\tyet\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tfight\tback,\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\tto.\tSam\tstruggled\tagainst\tTern\tand Mullin.\t They\t held\t him\t firm,\t Harding\t putting\t a\t warning\t arm\t in\t front\t of\t Sam\t to block\this\tpath. Arobynn\t hit\t her\u2014her\t ribs,\t her\t jaw,\t her\t gut.\t And\t her\t face.\t Again\t and\t again and\t again.\t Careful\t blows\u2014blows\t meant\t to\t inflict\t as\t much\t pain\t as\t possible without\t doing\t permanent\t damage.\t And\t Sam\t kept\t roaring,\t shouting\t words\t she couldn\u2019t\tquite\thear\tover\tthe\tagony. The\t last\t thing\t she\t remembered\t was\t a\t pang\t of\t guilt\t at\t the\t sight\t of\t her\t blood staining\t Arobynn\u2019s\t exquisite\t red\t carpet.\t And\t then\t darkness,\t blissful\t darkness, full\tof\trelief\tthat\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tseen\thim\thurt\tSam.","CHAPTER 3 Celaena\t dressed\t in\t the\t nicest\t tunic\t she\u2019d\t brought\u2014which\t wasn\u2019t\t really anything\tto\tadmire,\tbut\t the\tmidnight\tblue\tand\tgold\tdid\tbring\tout\tthe\tturquoise hues\t in\t her\t eyes.\t She\t went\t so\t far\t as\t to\t apply\t some\t cosmetics\t to\t her\t eyes,\t but opted\tto\tavoid\tputting\tanything\ton\tthe\trest\tof\ther\tface.\tEven\tthough\tthe\tsun\thad set,\tthe\theat\tremained.\tAnything\tshe\tput\ton\ther\tskin\twould\tlikely\tslide\tright\toff. Ansel\t made\t good\t on\t her\t promise\t to\t retrieve\t her\t before\t dinner\t and\t pestered Celaena\twith\tquestions\tabout\ther\tjourney\tduring\tthe\twalk\tto\tthe\tdining\thall.\tAs they\t walked,\t there\t were\t some\t areas\t where\t Ansel\t talked\t normally,\t others\t where she\tkept\ther\tvoice\tat\ta\twhisper,\tand\tothers\twhere\tshe\tsignaled\tnot\tto\tspeak\tat\tall. Celaena\tcouldn\u2019t\t tell\t why\t certain\t rooms\t demanded\t utter\t silence\tand\t others\t did not\u2014they\tall\tseemed\tthe\tsame.\tStill\texhausted\tdespite\ther\tnap,\tand\tunsure\twhen she\t could\t speak,\t Celaena\t kept\t her\t answers\t brief.\t She\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t minded missing\tdinner\tand\tjust\tsleeping\tall\tnight. Staying\talert\tas\tthey\tentered\tthe\thall\twas\tan\teffort\tof\twill.\tYet\teven\twith\ther exhaustion,\t she\t instinctively\t scanned\t the\t room.\t There\t were\t three\t exits\u2014the giant\t doors\t through\t which\t they\t entered,\t and\t two\t servants\u2019\t doors\t on\t either\t end. The\t hall\t was\t packed\t wall-to-wall\t with\t long\t wooden\t tables\t and\t benches\t full\t of people.\t At\t least\t seventy\t of\t them\t in\t total.\t None\t of\t them\t looked\t at\t Celaena\t as Ansel\t ambled\t toward\t a\t table\t near\t the\t front\t of\t the\t room.\t If\t they\t knew\t who\t she was,\tthey\tcertainly\tdidn\u2019t\tcare.\tShe\ttried\tnot\tto\tscowl. Ansel\tslid\tinto\tplace\tat\ta\ttable\tand\tpatted\tthe\tempty\tspot\ton\tthe\tbench\tbeside her.\t The\t nearest\t assassins\t looked\t up\t from\t their\t meal\u2014some\t had\t been\t talking quietly\tand\tothers\twere\tsilent\u2014as\tCelaena\tstood\tbefore\tthem. Ansel\t waved\t a\t hand\t in\t Celaena\u2019s\t direction.\t \u201cCelaena,\t this\t is\t everyone. Everyone,\tthis\tis\tCelaena.\tThough\tI\u2019m\tsure\tyou\tgossips\tknow\teverything\tabout her\talready.\u201d\tShe\tspoke\tsoftly,\tand\teven\tthough\tsome\tassassins\tin\tthe\thall\twere talking,\tthey\tseemed\tto\thear\ther\tjust\tfine.\tEven\tthe\tclank\tof\ttheir\tutensils\tseemed hushed. Celaena\tscanned\tthe\tfaces\tof\tthose\taround\ther;\tthey\tall\tseemed\tto\tbe\twatching","her\t with\t benign,\t if\t not\t amused,\t curiosity.\t Carefully,\t too\t aware\t of\t each\t of\t her movements,\tCelaena\tsat\ton\tthe\tbench\tand\tsurveyed\tthe\ttable.\tPlatters\tof\tgrilled, fragrant\t meats;\t bowls\t full\t of\t spherical,\t spiced\t grains;\t fruits\t and\t dates;\t and pitcher\tafter\tpitcher\tof\twater. Ansel\t helped\t herself,\t her\t armor\t glinting\t in\t the\t light\t of\t the\t ornate\t glass lanterns\t dangling\t from\t the\t ceiling,\t and\t then\t piled\t the\t same\t food\t on\t Celaena\u2019s plate.\t \u201cJust\t start\t eating,\u201d\t she\t whispered.\t \u201cIt\t all\t tastes\t good,\t and\t none\t of\t it\t is poisoned.\u201d\t To\t emphasize\t her\t point,\t Ansel\t popped\t a\t cube\t of\t charred\t lamb\t into her\tmouth\tand\tchewed.\t\u201cSee?\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tbetween\tbites.\t\u201cLord\tBerick\tmight\twant to\tkill\tus,\tbut\the\tknows\tbetter\tthan\tto\ttry\tto\tget\trid\tof\tus\tthrough\tpoisons.\tWe\u2019re far\ttoo\tskilled\tto\tfall\tfor\tthat\tsort\tof\tthing.\tAren\u2019t\twe?\u201d\tThe\tassassins\taround\ther grinned. \u201cLord\tBerick?\u201d\tCelaena\tasked,\tnow\tstaring\tat\ther\tplate\tand\tall\tthe\tfood\ton\tit. Ansel\t made\t a\t face,\t gobbling\t down\t some\t saffron-colored\t grains.\t \u201cOur\t local villain.\t Or\t I\t suppose\t we\u2019re\t his\t local\t villains,\t depending\t on\t who\t is\t telling\t the story.\u201d \u201cHe\u2019s\t the\t villain,\u201d\t said\t a\t curly-haired,\t dark-eyed\t man\t across\t from\t Ansel.\t He was\t handsome\t in\t a\t way,\t but\t had\t a\t smile\t far\t too\t much\t like\t Captain\t Rolfe\u2019s\t for Celaena\u2019s\tliking.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tolder\tthan\ttwenty-five.\t\u201cNo\tmatter\twho is\ttelling\tthe\tstory.\u201d \u201cWell,\tyou\tare\truining\tmy\tstory,\tMikhail,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid,\tbut\tgrinned\tat\thim.\tHe tossed\t a\t grape\t at\t Ansel,\t and\t she\t caught\t it\t in\t her\t mouth\t with\t ease.\t Celaena\t still didn\u2019t\t touch\t her\t food.\t \u201cAnyway,\u201d\t Ansel\t said,\t dumping\t more\t food\t onto Celaena\u2019s\tplate,\t\u201cLord\tBerick\trules\tover\tthe\tcity\tof\tXandria,\tand\tclaims\tthat\the rules\tthis\tpart\tof\tthe\tdesert,\ttoo.\tOf\tcourse,\twe\tdon\u2019t\tquite\tagree\twith\tthat,\tbut\t\u2026 To\tshorten\ta\tlong\tand\tfrightfully\tdull\tstory,\tLord\tBerick\thas\twanted\tus\tall\tdead for\tyears\tand\tyears.\tThe\tKing\tof\tAdarlan\tset\tan\tembargo\ton\tthe\tRed\tDesert\tafter Lord\t Berick\t failed\t to\t send\t troops\t into\t Eyllwe\t to\t crush\t some\t rebellion,\t and Berick\t has\t been\t dying\t to\t get\t back\t in\t the\t king\u2019s\t good\t graces\t ever\t since.\t He somehow\tgot\tit\tinto\this\tthick\tskull\tthat\tkilling\tall\tof\tus\u2014and\tsending\tthe\thead\tof the\tMute\tMaster\tto\tAdarlan\ton\ta\tsilver\tplatter\u2014would\tdo\tthe\ttrick.\u201d Ansel\t took\t another\t bite\t of\t meat\t and\t went\t on.\t \u201cSo,\t every\t now\t and\t then,\t he tries\tsome\ttactic\tor\tother:\tsending\tasps\tin\tbaskets,\tsending\tsoldiers\tposing\tas\tour beloved\tforeign\tdignitaries\u201d\u2014she\tpointed\tto\ta\ttable\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\thall,\twhere the\tpeople\twere\tdressed\tin\texotic\tclothing\u2014\u201csending\ttroops\tin\tthe\tdead\tof\tnight to\t fire\t flaming\t arrows\t at\t us\t \u2026\t Why,\t two\t days\t ago,\t we\t caught\t some\t of\t his soldiers\t trying\t to\t dig\t a\t tunnel\t beneath\t our\t walls.\t Ill-conceived\t plan\t from\t the start.\u201d","Across\tthe\ttable,\tMikhail\tchuckled.\t\u201cNothing\u2019s\tworked\tyet,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tHearing the\t noise\t of\t their\t conversation,\t an\t assassin\t at\t a\t nearby\t table\t pivoted\t to\t raise\t a finger\t to\t her\t lips,\t shushing\t them.\t Mikhail\t gave\t them\t an\t apologetic\t shrug.\t The dining\t hall,\t Celaena\t gleaned,\t must\t be\t a\t silence-is-requested-but-not-required sort\tof\tplace. Ansel\t poured\t a\t glass\t of\t water\t for\t Celaena,\t then\t one\t for\t herself,\t and\t spoke more\t quietly.\t \u201cI\t suppose\t that\u2019s\t the\t problem\t with\t attacking\t an\t impenetrable fortress\t full\t of\t skilled\t warriors:\t you\t have\t to\t be\t smarter\t than\t us.\t Though\t \u2026 Berick\t is\t almost\t brutal\t enough\t to\t make\t up\t for\t it.\t The\t assassins\t that\t have\t fallen into\t his\t hands\t came\t back\t in\t pieces.\u201d\t She\t shook\t her\t head.\t \u201cHe\t enjoys\t being cruel.\u201d \u201cAnd\tAnsel\tknows\tthat\t firsthand,\u201d\tMikhail\tchimed\tin,\t though\this\tvoice\twas little\tmore\tthan\ta\tmurmur.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\thad\tthe\tpleasure\tof\tmeeting\thim.\u201d Celaena\t raised\t a\t brow,\t and\t Ansel\t made\t a\t face.\t \u201cOnly\t because\t I\u2019m\t the\t most charming\tof\t you\tlot.\tThe\tMaster\tsometimes\tsends\tme\tto\tXandria\tto\t meet\twith Berick\u2014to\ttry\tto\tnegotiate\tsome\tsort\tof\taccord\tbetween\tus.\tThankfully,\the\tstill won\u2019t\tdare\tviolate\tthe\tterms\tof\tparlay,\tbut\t\u2026\tone\tof\tthese\tdays,\tI\u2019ll\tpay\tfor\tmy courier\tduties\twith\tmy\thide.\u201d Mikhail\trolled\this\teyes\tat\tCelaena.\t\u201cShe\tlikes\tto\tbe\tdramatic.\u201d \u201cThat\tI\tdo.\u201d Celaena\t gave\t them\t both\t a\t weak\t smile.\t It\t had\t been\t a\t few\t minutes,\t and\t Ansel certainly\twasn\u2019t\tdead.\tShe\tbit\tinto\ta\tpiece\tof\tmeat,\tnearly\tmoaned\tat\tthe\tarray\tof tangy-smoky\tspices,\tand\tset\tabout\teating.\tAnsel\tand\tMikhail\tbegan\tchattering\tto each\tother,\tand\tCelaena\ttook\tthe\topportunity\tto\tglance\tdown\tthe\ttable. Outside\t of\t the\t markets\t in\t Rifthold\t and\t the\t slave\t ships\t at\t Skull\u2019s\t Bay,\t she\u2019d never\tseen\tsuch\ta\tmix\tof\tdifferent\tkingdoms\tand\tcontinents.\tAnd\tthough\tmost\tof the\tpeople\there\twere\ttrained\tkillers,\tthere\twas\tan\tair\tof\tpeace\tand\tcontentment\u2014 of\t joy,\t even.\t She\t flicked\t her\t eyes\t to\t the\t table\t of\t foreign\t dignitaries\t that\t Ansel had\tpointed\tout.\tMen\tand\twomen,\thunched\tover\ttheir\tfood,\twhispered\twith\tone another\tand\toccasionally\twatched\tthe\tassassins\tin\tthe\troom. \u201cAh,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid\tquietly.\t\u201cThey\u2019re\tjust\tsquabbling\tover\twhich\tof\tus\tthey\twant to\tmake\ta\tbid\tfor.\u201d \u201cBid?\u201d Mikhail\t leaned\t forward\t to\t see\t the\t ambassadors\t through\t the\t crowd.\t \u201cThey come\t here\t from\t foreign\t courts\t to\t offer\t us\t positions.\t They\t make\t offers\t for\t the assassins\tthat\tmost\timpress\tthem\u2014sometimes\tfor\tone\tmission,\tother\ttimes\tfor\ta lifelong\tcontract.\tAny\tof\tus\tare\tfree\tto\tgo,\tif\twe\twish.\tBut\tnot\tall\tof\tus\twant\tto leave.\u201d","\u201cAnd\tyou\ttwo\t\u2026?\u201d \u201cAch,\tno,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid.\t\u201cMy\tfather\twould\twallop\tme\tfrom\there\tto\tthe\tends\tof the\t earth\t if\t I\t bound\t myself\t to\t a\t foreign\t court.\t He\u2019d\t say\t it\u2019s\t a\t form\t of prostitution.\u201d Mikhail\t laughed\t under\t his\t breath.\t \u201cPersonally,\t I\t like\t it\t here.\t When\t I\t want\t to leave,\t I\u2019ll\t let\t the\t Master\t know\t I\u2019m\t available.\t But\t until\t then\t \u2026\u201d\t He\t glanced\t at Ansel,\tand\tCelaena\tcould\thave\tsworn\tthe\tgirl\u2019s\tface\tflushed\tslightly.\t\u201cUntil\tthen, I\u2019ve\tgot\tmy\treasons\tto\tstay.\u201d Celaena\tasked,\t\u201cWhat\tcourts\tdo\tthe\tdignitaries\thail\tfrom?\u201d \u201cNone\tin\tAdarlan\u2019s\tgrip,\tif\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tasking.\u201d\tMikhail\tscratched\tthe day\u2019s\t worth\t of\t stubble\t on\t his\t face.\t \u201cOur\t Master\t knows\t well\t enough\t that everything\tfrom\tEyllwe\tto\tTerrasen\tis\tyour\tMaster\u2019s\tterritory.\u201d \u201cIt\t certainly\t is.\u201d\t She\t didn\u2019t\t know\t why\t she\t said\t it.\t Given\t what\t Arobynn\t had done\t to\t her,\t she\t hardly\t felt\t defensive\t of\t the\t assassins\t in\t Adarlan\u2019s\t empire.\t But \u2026\t but\t to\t see\t all\t these\t assassins\t gathered\t here,\t so\t much\t collective\t power\t and knowledge,\tand\tto\tknow\tthat\tthey\twouldn\u2019t\tdare\tintrude\ton\tArobynn\u2019s\u2014on\ther \u2014territory\t\u2026 Celaena\t went\t on\t eating\t in\t silence\t as\t Ansel\t and\t Mikhail\t and\t a\t few\t others around\t them\t talked\t quietly.\t Vows\t of\t silence,\t Ansel\t had\t explained\t earlier,\t were taken\t for\t as\t long\t as\t each\t person\t saw\t fit.\t Some\t spent\t weeks\t in\t silence;\t others, years.\t Ansel\t claimed\t she\u2019d\t once\t sworn\t to\t be\t silent\t for\t a\t month,\t and\t had\t only lasted\t two\t days\t before\t she\t gave\t up.\t She\t liked\t talking\t too\t much.\t Celaena\t didn\u2019t have\tany\ttrouble\tbelieving\tthat. A\t few\t of\t the\t people\t around\t them\t were\t pantomiming.\t Though\t it\t often\t took them\ta\tfew\ttries\tto\tdiscern\tthe\tvague\tgestures,\tit\tseemed\tlike\tAnsel\tand\tMikhail could\tinterpret\tthe\tmovements\tof\ttheir\thands. Celaena\t felt\t someone\u2019s\t attention\t on\t her,\t and\t tried\t not\t to\t blink\t when\t she noticed\t a\t dark-haired,\t handsome\t young\t man\t watching\t her\t from\t a\t few\t seats down.\t Stealing\t glances\t at\t her\t was\t more\t like\t it,\t since\t his\t sea-green\t eyes\t kept darting\tto\ther\tface,\tthen\tback\tto\this\tcompanions.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\topen\this\tmouth\tonce, but\tpantomimed\tto\this\tfriends.\tAnother\tsilent\tone. Their\t eyes\t met,\t and\t his\t tan\t face\t spread\t into\t a\t smile,\t revealing\t dazzlingly white\tteeth.\tWell,\the\twas\tcertainly\tdesirable\u2014as\tdesirable\tas\tSam,\tmaybe. Sam\u2014when\t had\t she\t ever\t thought\t of\t him\t as\t desirable?\t He\u2019d\t laugh\t until\t he died\tif\the\tever\tknew\tshe\tthought\tof\thim\tlike\tthat. The\tyoung\tman\tinclined\this\thead\tslightly\tin\tgreeting,\tthen\tturned\tback\tto\this friends. \u201cThat\u2019s\t Ilias,\u201d\t Ansel\t whispered,\t leaning\t closer\t than\t Celaena\t would\t like.","Didn\u2019t\tshe\thave\tany\tsense\tof\tpersonal\tspace?\t\u201cThe\tMaster\u2019s\tson.\u201d That\texplained\tthe\tsea-green\teyes.\tThough\tthe\tMaster\thad\tan\tair\tof\tholiness, he\tmust\tnot\tbe\tcelibate. \u201cI\u2019m\t surprised\t you\t caught\t Ilias\u2019s\t eye,\u201d\t Ansel\t teased,\t keeping\t her\t voice\t low enough\t for\t only\t Celaena\t and\t Mikhail\t to\t hear.\t \u201cHe\u2019s\t usually\t too\t focused\t on\t his training\tand\tmeditating\tto\tnotice\tanyone\u2014even\tpretty\tgirls.\u201d Celaena\traised\ther\tbrows,\tbiting\tback\ta\treply\tthat\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tknow\tany of\tthis. \u201cI\u2019ve\tknown\thim\tfor\tyears,\tand\the\u2019s\tnever\tbeen\tanything\tbut\taloof\twith\tme,\u201d Ansel\tcontinued.\t\u201cBut\tmaybe\the\thas\ta\tthing\tfor\tblondes.\u201d\tMikhail\tsnorted. \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\there\tfor\tanything\tlike\tthat,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid. \u201cAnd\tI\tbet\tyou\thave\ta\tflock\tof\tsuitors\tback\thome,\tanyway.\u201d \u201cI\tcertainly\tdo\tnot.\u201d Ansel\u2019s\tmouth\tpopped\topen.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tlying.\u201d Celaena\ttook\ta\tlong,\tlong\tsip\tof\twater.\tIt\twas\tflavored\twith\tslices\tof\tlemon\u2014 and\twas\tunbelievably\tdelicious.\t\u201cNo,\tI\u2019m\tnot.\u201d Ansel\tgave\ther\ta\tquizzical\tlook,\tthen\tfell\tback\tinto\tconversation\twith\tMikhail. Celaena\tpushed\taround\tthe\tfood\ton\ther\tplate.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tthat\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tromantic. She\u2019d\t been\t infatuated\t with\t a\t few\t men\t before\u2014from\t Archer,\t the\t young\t male courtesan\t who\u2019d\t trained\t with\t them\t for\t a\t few\t months\t when\t she\t was\t thirteen,\t to Ben,\t Arobynn\u2019s\t now-deceased\t Second,\t back\t when\t she\t was\t too\t young\t to\t really understand\tthe\timpossibility\tof\tsuch\ta\tthing. She\tdared\tanother\tlook\tat\tIlias,\twho\twas\tlaughing\tsilently\tat\tsomething\tone\tof his\tcompanions\thad\tsaid.\tIt\twas\tflattering\tthat\the\teven\tconsidered\ther\tworthy\tof second\tthought;\tshe\u2019d\tavoided\tlooking\tin\tthe\tmirror\tin\tthe\tmonth\tsince\tthat\tnight with\tArobynn,\tonly\tchecking\tto\tensure\tnothing\twas\tbroken\tor\tout\tof\tplace. \u201cSo,\u201d\tMikhail\tsaid,\tshattering\ther\tthoughts\tas\the\tpointed\ta\tfork\tat\ther,\t\u201cwhen your\tmaster\tbeat\tthe\tliving\tdaylights\tout\tof\tyou,\tdid\tyou\tactually\tdeserve\tit?\u201d Ansel\t shot\t him\t a\t dark\t look,\t and\t Celaena\t straightened.\t Even\t Ilias\t was\t now listening,\this\tlovely\teyes\tfixed\ton\ther\tface.\tBut\tCelaena\tstared\tright\tat\tMikhail. \u201cI\tsuppose\tit\tdepends\ton\twho\tis\ttelling\tthe\tstory.\u201d Ansel\tchuckled. \u201cIf\t Arobynn\t Hamel\t is\t telling\t the\t story,\t then\t yes,\t I\t suppose\t I\t did\t deserve\t it.\t I cost\t him\t a\t good\t deal\t of\t money\u2014a\t kingdom\u2019s\t worth\t of\t riches,\t probably.\t I\t was disobedient\tand\tdisrespectful,\tand\tcompletely\tremorseless\tabout\twhat\tI\tdid.\u201d She\tdidn\u2019t\tbreak\ther\tstare,\tand\tMikhail\u2019s\tsmile\tfaltered. \u201cBut\t if\t the\t two\t hundred\t slaves\t that\t I\t freed\t are\t telling\t the\t story,\t then\t no,\t I suppose\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdeserve\tit.\u201d","None\t of\t them\t were\t smiling\t anymore.\t \u201cHoly\t gods,\u201d\t Ansel\t whispered.\t True silence\tfell\tover\ttheir\ttable\tfor\ta\tfew\theartbeats. Celaena\tresumed\teating.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tlike\ttalking\tto\tthem\tafter\tthat. Under\t the\t shade\t of\t the\t date\t trees\t that\t separated\t the\t oasis\t from\t the\t sand, Celaena\t stared\t out\t at\t the\t expanse\t of\t desert\t stretching\t before\t them.\t \u201cSay\t that again,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tflatly\tto\tAnsel.\tAfter\tthe\thushed\tdinner\tlast\tnight\tand\tthe\tutterly silent\t fortress\t walkways\t that\t had\t brought\t them\t here,\t speaking\t normally\t grated on\ther\tears. But\t Ansel,\t who\t was\t wearing\t a\t white\t tunic\t and\t pants,\t and\t boots\t wrapped\t in camel\tpelts,\tjust\tgrinned\tand\tfastened\ther\twhite\tscarf\taround\ther\tred\thair.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\ta three-mile\trun\tto\tthe\tnext\toasis.\u201d\tAnsel\thanded\tCelaena\tthe\ttwo\twooden\tbuckets she\u2019d\tbrought\twith\ther.\t\u201cThese\tare\tfor\tyou.\u201d Celaena\t raised\t her\t brows.\t \u201cI\t thought\t I\t was\t going\t to\t be\t training\t with\t the Master.\u201d \u201cOh,\t no.\t Not\t today,\u201d\t Ansel\t said,\t picking\t up\t two\t buckets\t of\t her\t own.\t \u201cWhen he\t said\t \u2018training\u2019\t he\t meant\t this.\t You\t might\t be\t able\t to\t wallop\t four\t of\t our\t men, but\t you\t still\t smell\t like\t the\t northern\t wind.\t Once\t you\t start\t reeking\t like\t the\t Red Desert,\tthen\the\u2019ll\tbother\tto\ttrain\tyou.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t ridiculous.\t Where\t is\t he?\u201d\t She\t looked\t toward\t the\t fortress\t towering behind\tthem. \u201cOh,\t you\t won\u2019t\t find\t him.\t Not\t until\t you\t prove\t yourself.\t Show\t that\t you\u2019re willing\tto\tleave\tbehind\tall\tthat\tyou\tknow\tand\tall\tthat\tyou\twere.\tMake\thim\tthink you\u2019re\tworth\this\ttime.\tThen\the\u2019ll\ttrain\tyou.\tAt\tleast,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\ttold.\u201d Ansel\u2019s\tmahogany\teyes\tgleamed\twith\tamusement.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tknow\thow\tmany\tof us\t have\t begged\t and\t groveled\t to\t just\t have\t one\t lesson\t with\t him?\t He\t picks\t and chooses\tas\the\tsees\tfit.\tOne\tmorning,\the\tmight\tapproach\tan\tacolyte.\tThe\tnext,\tit might\tbe\tsomeone\tlike\tMikhail.\tI\u2019m\tstill\twaiting\tfor\tmy\tturn.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\teven Ilias\tknows\tthe\tmethod\tbehind\this\tfather\u2019s\tdecisions.\u201d This\t wasn\u2019t\t at\t all\t what\t Celaena\t had\t planned.\t \u201cBut\t I\t need\t him\t to\t write\t me\t a letter\tof\tapproval.\tI\tneed\thim\tto\ttrain\tme.\tI\u2019m\there\tso\the\tcan\ttrain\tme\u2014\u201d Ansel\t shrugged.\t \u201cSo\t are\t we\t all.\t If\t I\t were\t you,\t though,\t I\u2019d\t suggest\t training with\tme\tuntil\the\tdecides\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tworth\tit.\tIf\tanything,\tI\tcan\tget\tyou\tinto\tthe rhythm\tof\tthings.\tMake\tit\tseem\tmore\tlike\tyou\tcare\tabout\tus,\tand\tless\tlike\tyou\u2019re here\t just\t for\t that\t letter\t of\t approval.\t Not\t that\t we\t all\t don\u2019t\t have\t our\t own\t secret agenda.\u201d\t Ansel\t winked,\t and\t Celaena\t frowned.\t Panicking\t now\t wouldn\u2019t\t do\t her any\tgood.\tShe\tneeded\ttime\tto\tcome\tup\twith\ta\tlogical\tplan\tof\taction.\tShe\u2019d\ttry\tto","speak\t to\t the\t Master\t later.\t Perhaps\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t understood\t her\t yesterday.\t But\t for now\t \u2026\t she\u2019d\t tag\t along\t after\t Ansel\t for\t the\t day.\t The\t Master\t had\t been\t at\t dinner the\tnight\tbefore;\tif\tshe\tneeded\tto,\tshe\tcould\tcorner\thim\tin\tthe\tdining\thall\ttonight. When\tCelaena\tdidn\u2019t\tobject\tfurther,\tAnsel\theld\tup\ta\tbucket.\t\u201cSo\tthis\tbucket\tis for\t your\t journey\t back\t from\t the\t oasis\u2014you\u2019ll\t need\t it.\t And\t this\t one\u201d\u2014she\t held up\tthe\tother\u2014\u201cis\tjust\tto\tmake\tthe\ttrip\thell.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d Ansel\thooked\tthe\tbuckets\tinto\tthe\tyoke\tacross\ther\tshoulders.\t\u201cBecause\tif\tyou can\t run\t three\t miles\t across\t the\t dunes\t of\t the\t Red\t Desert,\t then\t three\t miles\t back, you\tcan\tdo\talmost\tanything.\u201d \u201cRun?\u201d\t Celaena\u2019s\t throat\t dried\t up\t at\t the\t thought\t of\t it.\t All\t around\t them, assassins\u2014mostly\t the\t children,\t plus\t a\t few\t others\t a\t bit\t older\t than\t her\u2014began running\tfor\tthe\tdunes,\ttheir\tbuckets\tclacking\talong. \u201cDon\u2019t\ttell\tme\tthe\tinfamous\tCelaena\tSardothien\tcan\u2019t\trun\tthree\tmiles!\u201d \u201cIf\t you\u2019ve\t been\t here\t for\t so\t many\t years,\t doesn\u2019t\t the\t three\t miles\t seem\t like nothing\tnow?\u201d Ansel\t rolled\t her\t neck\t like\t a\t cat\t stretching\t out\t in\t the\t sun.\t \u201cOf\t course\t it\t does. But\tthe\trunning\tkeeps\tme\tin\tshape.\tYou\tthink\tI\twas\tjust\tborn\twith\tthese\tlegs?\u201d Celaena\t ground\t her\t teeth\t as\t Ansel\t gave\t her\t a\t fiendish\t grin.\t She\u2019d\t never\t met anyone\twho\tsmiled\tand\twinked\tso\tmuch. Ansel\tbegan\tjogging,\tleaving\tthe\tshade\tof\tthe\tdate\ttrees\toverhead,\tkicking\tup a\twave\tof\tred\tsand\tbehind\ther.\tShe\tglanced\tover\ther\tshoulder.\t\u201cIf\tyou\twalk,\tit\u2019ll take\tall\tday!\tAnd\tthen\tyou\u2019ll\tcertainly\tnever\timpress\tanyone!\u201d\tAnsel\tpulled\ther scarf\tover\ther\tnose\tand\tmouth\tand\ttook\toff\tat\ta\tgallop. Taking\t a\t deep\t breath,\t cursing\t Arobynn\t to\t Hell,\t Celaena\t hooked\t the\t buckets onto\tthe\tyoke\tand\tran. If\t it\t had\t been\t three\t flat\t miles,\t even\t three\t miles\t up\t grassy\t knolls,\t she\t might have\tmade\tit.\tBut\tthe\tdunes\twere\tenormous\tand\tunwieldy,\tand\tCelaena\tmade\tit one\tmeasly\tmile\tbefore\tshe\thad\tto\tslow\tto\ta\twalk,\ther\tlungs\tnear\tto\tcombusting. It\t was\t easy\t enough\t to\t find\t the\t way\u2014the\t dozens\t of\t footprints\t from\t the\t people racing\tahead\tshowed\ther\twhere\tshe\tneeded\tto\tgo. She\t ran\t when\t she\t could\t and\t walked\t when\t she\t couldn\u2019t,\t but\t the\t sun\t rose higher\tand\thigher,\ttoward\tthat\tdangerous\tnoontime\tpeak.\tUp\tone\thill,\tdown\tthe other.\t One\t foot\t in\t front\t of\t the\t next.\t Bright\t flashes\t flitted\t across\t her\t vision,\t and her\thead\tpounded. The\t red\t sand\t shimmered,\t and\t she\t draped\t her\t arms\t over\t the\t yoke.\t Her\t lips became\tfilmy,\tcracking\tin\tplaces,\tand\ther\ttongue\tturned\tleaden\tin\ther\tmouth. Each\tstep\tmade\ther\thead\tthrob,\tand\tthe\tsun\trose\thigher\tand\thigher\t\u2026","One\tmore\tdune.\tJust\tone\tmore\tdune. But\t many\t more\t dunes\t later,\t she\t was\t still\t trudging\t along,\t following\t the smattering\tof\tfootprints\tin\tthe\tsand.\tHad\tshe\tsomehow\ttracked\tthe\twrong\tgroup? Even\t as\t she\t thought\t it,\t assassins\t appeared\t atop\t the\t dune\t before\t her,\t already running\tback\tto\tthe\tfortress,\ttheir\tbuckets\theavy\twith\twater. She\tkept\ther\thead\thigh\tas\tthey\tpassed\tand\tdidn\u2019t\tlook\tany\tof\tthem\tin\tthe\tface. Most\t of\t them\t didn\u2019t\t bother\t looking\t at\t her,\t though\t a\t few\t spared\t her\t a mortifyingly\tpitying\tglance.\tTheir\tclothes\twere\tsodden. She\tcrested\ta\tdune\tso\tsteep\tshe\thad\tto\tuse\tone\thand\tto\tbrace\therself,\tand\tjust when\tshe\twas\tabout\tto\tsink\tto\ther\tknees\tatop\tit,\tshe\theard\tsplashing. A\t small\t oasis,\t mostly\t a\t ring\t of\t trees\t and\t a\t giant\t pool\t fed\t by\t a\t shimmering stream,\twas\tbarely\tan\teighth\tof\ta\tmile\taway. She\twas\tAdarlan\u2019s\tAssassin\u2014at\tleast\tshe\u2019d\tmade\tit\there. In\tthe\tshallows\tof\tthe\tpool,\tmany\tdisciples\tsplashed\tor\tbathed\tor\tsat,\tcooling themselves.\t No\t one\t spoke\u2014and\t hardly\t anyone\t gestured.\t Another\t of\t the absolutely\t silent\t places,\t then.\t She\t spotted\t Ansel\t with\t her\t feet\t in\t the\t water, tossing\tdates\tinto\ther\tmouth.\tNone\tof\tthe\tothers\tpaid\tCelaena\tany\theed.\tAnd\tfor once,\t she\t was\t glad.\t Perhaps\t she\t should\t have\t found\t a\t way\t to\t defy\t Arobynn\u2019s order\tand\tcome\there\tunder\tan\talias. Ansel\t waved\t her\t over.\t If\t she\t gave\t her\t one\t look\t that\t hinted\t at\t her\t being\t so slow\t\u2026 But\tAnsel\tmerely\theld\tup\ta\tdate,\toffering\tit\tto\ther. Celaena,\t trying\t to\t control\t her\t panting,\t didn\u2019t\t bother\t taking\t the\t date\t as\t she strode\tinto\tthe\tcool\twater\tuntil\tshe\twas\tcompletely\tsubmerged. Celaena\t drank\t an\t entire\t bucket\t before\t she\t was\t even\t halfway\t back\t to\t the fortress,\t and\t by\t the\t time\t she\t reached\t the\t sandstone\t complex\t and\t its\t glorious shade,\tshe\u2019d\tconsumed\tall\tof\tthe\tsecond. At\t dinner,\t Ansel\t didn\u2019t\t mention\t that\t it\u2019d\t taken\t Celaena\t a\t long,\t long\t while\t to return.\t Celaena\t had\t had\t to\t wait\t in\t the\t shade\t of\t the\t palms\t until\t later\t in\t the afternoon\tto\tleave\u2014and\twound\tup\twalking\tthe\twhole\tway\tback.\tShe\u2019d\treached the\tfortress\tnear\tdusk.\tA\twhole\tday\tspent\t\u201crunning.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t look\t so\t glum,\u201d\t Ansel\t whispered,\t taking\t a\t forkful\t of\t those\t delightful spiced\tgrains.\tShe\twas\twearing\ther\tarmor\tagain.\t\u201cYou\tknow\twhat\thappened\tmy first\tday\tout\tthere?\u201d Some\tof\tthe\tassassins\tseated\tat\tthe\tlong\ttable\tgave\tknowing\tgrins. Ansel\t swallowed\t and\t braced\t her\t arms\t on\t the\t table.\t Even\t the\t gauntlets\t of\t her","armor\t were\t delicately\t engraved\t with\t a\t wolf\t motif.\t \u201cMy\t first\t run,\t I\t collapsed. Mile\ttwo.\tCompletely\tunconscious.\tIlias\tfound\tme\ton\this\tway\tback\tand\tcarried me\t here.\t In\t his\t arms\t and\t everything.\u201d\t Ilias\u2019s\t eyes\t met\t with\t Celaena\u2019s,\t and\t he smiled\t at\t her.\t \u201cIf\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t about\t to\t die,\t I\t would\t have\t been\t swooning,\u201d Ansel\tfinished\tand\tthe\tothers\tgrinned,\tsome\tof\tthem\tlaughing\tsilently. Celaena\t blushed,\t suddenly\t too\t aware\t of\t Ilias\u2019s\t attention,\t and\t took\t a\t sip\t from her\t cup\t of\t lemon\t water.\t As\t the\t meal\t wore\t on,\t her\t blush\t remained\t as\t Ilias continued\tflicking\this\teyes\ttoward\ther. She\t tried\t not\t to\t preen\t too\t much.\t But\t then\t she\t remembered\t how\t miserably she\u2019d\tperformed\ttoday\u2014how\tshe\thadn\u2019t\teven\tgotten\ta\tchance\tto\ttrain\u2014and\tthe swagger\tdied\ta\tbit. She\t kept\t an\t eye\t on\t the\t Master,\t who\t dined\t at\t the\t center\t of\t the\t room,\t safely ensconced\t within\t rows\t of\t his\t deadly\t assassins.\t He\t sat\t at\t a\t table\t of\t acolytes, whose\t eyes\t were\t so\t wide\t that\t Celaena\t could\t only\t assume\t his\t presence\t at\t their table\twas\tan\tunexpected\tsurprise. She\t waited\t and\t waited\t for\t him\t to\t stand,\t and\t when\t he\t did,\t Celaena\t made\t her best\t attempt\t to\t look\t casual\t as\t she,\t too,\t stood\t and\t bid\t everyone\t good\t night.\t As she\t turned\t away,\t she\t noticed\t that\t Mikhail\t took\t Ansel\u2019s\t hand\t and\t held\t it\t in\t the shadows\tbeneath\tthe\ttable. The\t Master\t was\t just\t leaving\t the\t hall\t when\t she\t caught\t up\t to\t him.\t With everyone\tstill\teating,\tthe\ttorch-lit\thalls\twere\tempty.\tShe\ttook\ta\tloud\tstep,\tunsure if\the\u2019d\tappreciate\tif\tshe\ttried\tbeing\tmute,\tand\thow,\texactly,\tto\taddress\thim. The\t Master\t paused,\t his\t white\t clothes\t rustling\t around\t him.\t He\t offered\t her\t a little\t smile.\t Up\t close,\t she\t could\t certainly\t see\t his\t resemblance\t to\t his\t son.\t There was\t a\t pale\t line\t around\t one\t of\t his\t fingers\u2014perhaps\t where\t a\t wedding\t ring\t had once\tbeen.\tWho\twas\tIlias\u2019s\tmother? Of\tcourse,\tit\twasn\u2019t\tat\tall\tthe\ttime\tfor\tquestions\tlike\tthat.\tAnsel\thad\ttold\ther\tto try\tto\t impress\thim\u2014to\tmake\thim\tthink\tshe\twanted\tto\tbe\there.\tPerhaps\tsilence would\twork.\tBut\thow\tto\tcommunicate\twhat\tneeded\tto\tbe\tsaid?\tShe\tgave\thim\ther best\t smile,\t even\t though\t her\t heart\t raced,\t and\t began\t making\t a\t series\t of\t motions, mostly\tjust\ther\tbest\timpression\tof\trunning\twith\tthe\tyoke,\tand\ta\tlot\tof\tshaking\ther head\t and\t frowning\t that\t she\t hoped\t he\u2019d\t take\t to\t mean\t \u201cI\t came\t here\t to\t train\t with you,\tnot\twith\tthe\tothers.\u201d The\tMaster\tnodded,\tas\tif\the\talready\tknew.\tCelaena\tswallowed,\ther\tmouth\tstill tasting\tof\tthose\tspices\tthey\tused\tto\tseason\ttheir\tmeat.\tShe\tgestured\tbetween\tthe two\t of\t them\t several\t times,\t taking\t a\t step\t closer\t to\t indicate\t her\t wanting\t to\t work only\t with\t him.\t She\t might\t have\t been\t more\t aggressive\t with\t her\t motions,\t might have\t really\t let\t her\t temper\t and\t exhaustion\t get\t the\t better\t of\t her,\t but\t \u2026\t that","confounded\tletter! The\tMaster\tshook\this\thead. Celaena\t ground\t her\t teeth,\t and\t tried\t the\t gesturing\t between\t the\t two\t of\t them again. He\t shook\t his\t head\t once\t more,\t and\t bobbed\t his\t hands\t in\t the\t air,\t as\t if\t he\t were telling\ther\tto\tslow\tdown\u2014to\twait.\tTo\twait\tfor\thim\tto\ttrain\ther. She\treflected\tthe\tgesture,\traising\tan\teyebrow\tas\tif\tto\tsay,\t\u201cWait\tfor\tyou?\u201d\tHe nodded.\t How\t on\t earth\t to\t ask\t him\t \u201cUntil\t when?\u201d\t She\t exposed\t her\t palms, beseeching,\tdoing\ther\tbest\tto\tlook\tconfused.\tStill,\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\tkeep\tthe\tirritation from\ther\tface.\tShe\twas\tonly\there\tfor\ta\tmonth.\tHow\tlong\twould\tshe\thave\tto\twait? The\tMaster\tunderstood\ther\twell\tenough.\tHe\tshrugged,\tan\tinfuriatingly\tcasual gesture,\t and\t Celaena\t clenched\t her\t jaw.\t So\t Ansel\t had\t been\t right\u2014she\t was\t to wait\tfor\thim\tto\tsend\tfor\ther.\tThe\tMaster\tgave\ther\tthat\tkind\tsmile\tand\tturned\ton his\theel,\tresuming\this\twalk.\tShe\ttook\ta\tstep\ttoward\thim,\tto\tbeg,\tto\tshout,\tto\tdo whatever\ther\tbody\tseized\tup\tto\tdo,\tbut\tsomeone\tgrabbed\ther\tarm. She\t whirled,\t already\t reaching\t for\t her\t daggers,\t but\t found\t herself\t looking\t into Ilias\u2019s\tsea-green\teyes. He\t shook\t his\t head,\t his\t gaze\t darting\t from\t the\t Master\t to\t her\t and\t back\t again. She\twas\tnot\tto\tfollow\thim. So\tperhaps\tIlias\thadn\u2019t\tpaid\tattention\tto\ther\tout\tof\tadmiration,\tbut\tbecause\the didn\u2019t\ttrust\ther.\tAnd\twhy\tshould\the?\tHer\treputation\tdidn\u2019t\texactly\tlend\titself\tto trust.\tHe\tmust\thave\tfollowed\ther\tout\tof\tthe\thall\tthe\tmoment\the\tsaw\ther\ttrailing his\t father.\t Had\t their\t positions\t been\t reversed\u2014had\t he\t been\t visiting\t Rifthold\u2014 she\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tdared\tleave\thim\talone\twith\tArobynn. \u201cI\thave\tno\tplans\tto\thurt\thim,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tsoftly.\tBut\tIlias\tgave\ther\ta\thalf\tsmile, his\t brows\t rising\t as\t if\t to\t ask\t if\t she\t could\t blame\t him\t for\t being\t protective\t of\t his father. He\t slowly\t released\t her\t arm.\t He\t wore\t no\t weapons\t at\t his\t side,\t but\t she\t had\t a feeling\t he\t didn\u2019t\t need\t them.\t He\t was\t tall\u2014taller\t than\t Sam,\t even\u2014and\t broad- shouldered.\t Powerfully\t built,\t yet\t not\t bulky.\t His\t smile\t spread\t a\t bit\t more\t as\t he extended\this\thand\ttoward\ther.\tA\tgreeting. \u201cYes,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tfighting\ther\town\tsmile.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tsuppose\twe\u2019ve\tbeen\tproperly introduced.\u201d He\t nodded,\t and\t put\t his\t other\t hand\t on\t his\t heart.\t Scars\t peppered\t his\t hand\u2014 small,\tslender\tscars\tthat\tsuggested\tyears\tof\ttraining\twith\tblades. \u201cYou\u2019re\t Ilias,\t and\t I\u2019m\t Celaena.\u201d\t She\t put\t a\t hand\t on\t her\t own\t chest.\t Then\t she took\this\textended\thand\tand\tshook\tit.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tnice\tto\tmeet\tyou.\u201d His\t eyes\t were\t vivid\t in\t the\t torchlight,\t his\t hand\t firm\t and\t warm\t around\t hers.","She\t let\t go\t of\t his\t fingers.\t The\t son\t of\t the\t Mute\t Master\t and\t the\t prot\u00e9g\u00e9e\t of\t the King\tof\tthe\tAssassins.\tIf\tthere\twas\tanyone\there\twho\twas\tat\tall\tsimilar\tto\ther,\tshe realized,\tit\twas\tIlias.\tRifthold\tmight\tbe\ther\trealm,\tbut\tthis\twas\this.\tAnd\tfrom\tthe easy\tway\the\tcarried\thimself,\tfrom\tthe\tway\tshe\u2019d\tseen\this\tcompanions\tgazing\tat him\twith\tadmiration\tand\trespect,\tshe\tcould\ttell\tthat\the\twas\tutterly\tat\thome\there \u2014as\t if\t this\t place\t had\t been\t made\t for\t him,\t and\t he\t never\t needed\t to\t question\t his spot\tin\tit.\tA\tstrange\tsort\tof\tenvy\twended\tits\tway\tthrough\ther\theart. Ilias\tsuddenly\tbegan\tmaking\ta\tseries\tof\tmotions\twith\this\tlong,\ttan\tfingers,\tbut Celaena\tlaughed\tsoftly.\t\u201cI\thave\tno\tidea\twhat\tyou\u2019re\ttrying\tto\tsay.\u201d Ilias\tlooked\tskyward\tand\tsighed\tthrough\this\tnose.\tThrowing\this\thands\tin\tthe air\t in\t mock\t defeat,\t he\t merely\t patted\t her\t on\t the\t shoulder\t before\t passing\t by\u2014 following\this\tfather,\twho\thad\tdisappeared\tdown\tthe\thall. Though\tshe\twalked\tback\ttoward\ther\troom\u2014in\tthe\tother\tdirection\u2014she\tdidn\u2019t once\t believe\t that\t the\t son\t of\t the\t Mute\t Master\t wasn\u2019t\t still\t watching\t her,\t making sure\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tgoing\tto\tfollow\this\tfather. Not\t that\t you\t have\t anything\t to\t worry\t about,\t she\t wanted\t to\t shout\t over\t her shoulder.\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\trun\tsix\tmeasly\tmiles\tin\tthe\tdesert. As\t she\t walked\t back\t to\t her\t room,\t Celaena\t had\t a\t horrible\t feeling\t that\t here, being\tAdarlan\u2019s\tAssassin\tmight\tnot\tcount\tfor\tmuch. Later\tthat\tnight,\twhen\tshe\tand\tAnsel\twere\tboth\tin\ttheir\tbeds,\tAnsel\twhispered into\t the\t darkness:\t \u201cTomorrow\t will\t be\t better.\t It\t might\t be\t only\t a\t foot\t more\t than today,\tbut\tit\twill\tbe\ta\tfoot\tlonger\tthat\tyou\tcan\trun.\u201d That\twas\teasy\tenough\tfor\tAnsel\tto\tsay.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ta\treputation\tto\tuphold \u2014a\treputation\tthat\tmight\tbe\tcrumbling\taround\ther.\tCelaena\tstared\tat\tthe\tceiling, suddenly\thomesick,\tstrangely\twishing\tSam\twas\twith\ther.\tAt\tleast\tif\tshe\twere\tto fail,\tshe\u2019d\tfail\twith\thim. \u201cSo,\u201d\t Celaena\t said\t suddenly,\t needing\t to\t get\t her\t mind\t off\t everything\u2014 especially\tSam.\t\u201cYou\tand\tMikhail\t\u2026\u201d Ansel\t groaned.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t that\t obvious?\t Though\t I\t suppose\t we\t don\u2019t\t really\t make that\t much\t of\t an\t effort\t to\t hide\t it.\t Well,\t I\t try,\t but\t he\t doesn\u2019t.\t He\t was\t rather irritated\twhen\the\tfound\tout\tI\tsuddenly\thad\ta\troommate.\u201d \u201cHow\tlong\thave\tyou\tbeen\tseeing\thim?\u201d Ansel\twas\tsilent\tfor\ta\tlong\tmoment\tbefore\tanswering.\t\u201cSince\tI\twas\tfifteen.\u201d Fifteen!\t Mikhail\t was\t in\t his\t midtwenties,\t so\t even\t if\t this\t had\t started\t almost three\tyears\tago,\the\tstill\twould\thave\tbeen\tfar\tolder\tthan\tAnsel.\tIt\tmade\ther\ta\tlittle queasy. \u201cGirls\tin\tthe\tFlatlands\tare\tmarried\tas\tearly\tas\tfourteen,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid. Celaena\t choked.\t The\t idea\t of\t being\t anyone\u2019s\t wife\t at\t fourteen,\t let\t alone\t a","mother\tsoon\tafter\t\u2026\t\u201cOh,\u201d\twas\tall\tshe\tmanaged\tto\tget\tout. When\tCelaena\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\tanything\telse,\tAnsel\tdrifted\tinto\tsleep.\tWith\tnothing else\t to\t distract\t her,\t Celaena\t eventually\t returned\t to\t thinking\t about\t Sam.\t Even weeks\t later,\t she\t had\t no\t idea\t how\t she\u2019d\t somehow\t gotten\t attached\t to\t him,\t what he\u2019d\tbeen\tshouting\twhen\tArobynn\tbeat\ther,\tand\twhy\tArobynn\thad\tthought\the\u2019d need\tthree\tseasoned\tassassins\tto\trestrain\thim\tthat\tday.","CHAPTER 4 Though\t Celaena\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t admit\t it,\t Ansel\t was\t right.\t She\t did\t run\t farther the\tnext\tday.\tAnd\tthe\tday\tafter\tthat,\tand\tthe\tone\tfollowing\tthat.\tBut\tit\tstill\ttook her\tso\tlong\tto\tget\tback\tthat\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ttime\tto\tseek\tout\tthe\tMaster.\tNot\tthat she\tcould.\tHe\u2019d\tsend\tfor\ther.\tLike\ta\tlackey. She\t did\t manage\t to\t find\t some\t time\t late\t in\t the\t afternoon\t to\t attend\t drills\t with Ansel.\t The\t only\t guidance\t she\t received\t there\t was\t from\t a\t few\t older-looking assassins\t who\t positioned\t her\t hands\t and\t feet,\t tapped\t her\t stomach,\t and\t slapped her\tspine\tinto\tthe\tcorrect\tposture.\tOccasionally,\tIlias\twould\ttrain\talongside\ther, never\t too\t close,\t but\t close\t enough\t for\t her\t to\t know\t his\t presence\t was\t more\t than coincidental. Like\tthe\tassassins\tin\tAdarlan,\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins\tweren\u2019t\tknown\tfor\tany\tskill in\t particular\u2014save\t the\t uncannily\t quiet\t way\t they\t moved.\t Their\t weapons\t were mostly\t the\t same,\t though\t their\t bows\t and\t blades\t were\t slightly\t different\t in\t length and\tshape.\tBut\tjust\twatching\tthem\u2014it\tseemed\tthat\tthere\twas\ta\tgood\tdeal\tless\t\u2026 viciousness\there. Arobynn\tencouraged\tcutthroat\tbehavior.\tEven\twhen\tthey\twere\tchildren,\the\u2019d set\ther\tand\tSam\tagainst\teach\tother,\tuse\ttheir\tvictories\tand\tfailures\tagainst\tthem. He\u2019d\t made\t her\t see\t everyone\t but\t Arobynn\t and\t Ben\t as\t a\t potential\t enemy.\t As allies,\t yes,\t but\t also\t as\t foes\t to\t be\t closely\t watched.\t Weakness\t was\t never\t to\t be shown\t at\t any\t cost.\t Brutality\t was\t rewarded.\t And\t education\t and\t culture\t were equally\timportant\u2014words\tcould\tbe\tjust\tas\tdeadly\tas\tsteel. But\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins\t\u2026\tThough\tthey,\ttoo,\tmight\tbe\tkillers,\tthey\tlooked\tto one\tanother\tfor\tlearning.\tEmbraced\tcollective\twisdom.\tOlder\twarriors\tsmiled\tas they\ttaught\tthe\tacolytes;\tseasoned\tassassins\tswapped\ttechniques.\tAnd\twhile\tthey were\t all\t competitors,\t it\t appeared\t that\t an\t invisible\t link\t bound\t them\t together. Something\t had\t brought\t them\t to\t this\t place\t at\t the\t ends\t of\t the\t earth.\t More\t than\t a few,\tshe\tdiscovered,\twere\tactually\tmute\tfrom\tbirth.\tBut\tall\tof\tthem\tseemed\tfull of\tsecrets.\tAs\tif\tthe\tfortress\tand\twhat\tit\toffered\tsomehow\theld\tthe\tanswers\tthey sought.\tAs\tif\tthey\tcould\tfind\twhatever\tthey\twere\tlooking\tfor\tin\tthe\tsilence.","Still,\teven\tas\tthey\tcorrected\ther\tposture\tand\tshowed\ther\tnew\tways\tto\tcontrol her\t breathing,\t she\t tried\t her\t best\t not\t to\t snarl\t at\t them.\t She\t knew\t plenty\u2014she wasn\u2019t\t Adarlan\u2019s\t Assassin\t for\t nothing.\t But\t she\t needed\t that\t letter\t of\t good behavior\t as\t proof\t of\t her\t training.\t These\t people\t might\t all\t be\t called\t upon\t by\t the Mute\tMaster\tto\tgive\tan\topinion\tof\ther.\tPerhaps\tif\tshe\tdemonstrated\tthat\tshe\twas skilled\tenough\tin\tthese\tpractices,\tthe\tMaster\tmight\ttake\tnotice\tof\ther. She\u2019d\t get\t that\t letter.\t Even\t if\t she\t had\t to\t hold\t a\t dagger\t to\t his\t throat\t while\t he wrote\tit. The\t attack\t by\t Lord\t Berick\t happened\t on\t her\t fifth\t night.\t There\t was\t no\t moon, and\t Celaena\t had\t no\t idea\t how\t the\t Silent\t Assassins\t spotted\t the\t thirty\t or\t so soldiers\t creeping\t across\t the\t dark\t dunes.\t Mikhail\t had\t burst\t into\t their\t room\t and whispered\tto\tcome\tto\tthe\tfortress\tbattlements.\tHopefully,\tthis\twould\tturn\tout\tto be\tanother\topportunity\tto\tprove\therself.\tWith\tjust\tover\tthree\tweeks\tleft,\tshe\twas running\t out\t of\t options.\t But\t the\t Master\t wasn\u2019t\t at\t the\t battlements.\t And\t neither were\t many\t of\t the\t assassins.\t She\t heard\t a\t woman\t question\t another,\t asking\t how Berick\u2019s\tmen\thad\tknown\tthat\ta\tgood\tnumber\tof\tthe\tassassins\twould\tbe\taway\tthat night,\tbusy\tescorting\tsome\tforeign\tdignitaries\tback\tto\tthe\tnearest\tport.\tIt\twas\ttoo convenient\tto\tbe\tcoincidental. Crouched\t atop\t the\t parapet,\t an\t arrow\t nocked\t into\t her\t bow,\t Celaena\t peered through\t one\t of\t the\t crenels\t in\t the\t wall.\t Ansel,\t squatting\t beside\t her,\t also\t twisted to\t look.\t Up\t and\t down\t the\t battlements,\t assassins\t hid\t in\t the\t shadow\t of\t the\t wall, clothed\tin\tblack\tand\twith\tbows\tin\thand.\tAt\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe\twall,\tIlias\tknelt,\this hands\tmoving\tquickly\tas\the\tconveyed\torders\tdown\tthe\tline.\tIt\tseemed\tmore\tlike the\t silent\t language\t of\t soldiers\t than\t the\t basic\t gestures\t used\t to\t represent\t the common\ttongue. \u201cGet\tyour\tarrow\tready,\u201d\tAnsel\tmurmured,\tdipping\ther\tcloth-covered\tarrow\ttip into\tthe\tsmall\tbowl\tof\toil\tbetween\tthem.\t\u201cWhen\tIlias\tgives\tthe\tsignal,\tlight\tit\ton the\ttorch\tas\tfast\tas\tyou\tcan\tand\tfire.\tAim\tfor\tthe\tridge\tin\tthe\tsand\tjust\tbelow\tthe soldiers.\u201d Celaena\t glanced\t into\t the\t darkness\t beyond\t the\t wall.\t Rather\t than\t give themselves\t away\t by\t extinguishing\t the\t lights\t of\t the\t fortress,\t the\t defenders\t had kept\t them\t on\u2014which\t made\t focusing\t in\t the\t dark\t nearly\t impossible.\t But\t she could\t still\t make\t out\t the\t shapes\t against\t the\t starlit\t sky\u2014thirty\t men\t on\t their stomachs,\tpoised\tto\tdo\twhatever\tthey\thad\tplanned.\tAttack\tthe\tassassins\toutright, murder\tthem\tin\ttheir\tsleep,\tburn\tthe\tplace\tto\tthe\tground\t\u2026 \u201cWe\u2019re\t not\t going\t to\t kill\t them?\u201d\t Celaena\t whispered\t back.\t She\t weighed\t the","weapon\t in\t her\t hands.\t The\t bow\t of\t the\t Silent\t Assassins\t was\t different\u2014shorter, thicker,\tharder\tto\tbend. Ansel\t shook\t her\t head,\t watching\t Ilias\t down\t the\t line.\t \u201cNo,\t though\t I\t wish\t we could.\u201d\tCelaena\tdidn\u2019t\tparticularly\tcare\tfor\tthe\tcasual\tway\tshe\tsaid\tit,\tbut\tAnsel went\ton.\t\u201cWe\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tstart\tan\tall-out\tbattle\twith\tLord\tBerick.\tWe\tjust\tneed to\t scare\t them\t off.\t Mikhail\t and\t Ilias\t rigged\t that\t ridge\t last\t week;\t the\t line\t in\t the sand\tis\ta\trope\tsoaking\tin\ta\ttrough\tof\toil.\u201d Celaena\twas\tbeginning\tto\tsee\twhere\tthis\twas\tgoing.\tShe\tdipped\ther\tarrow\tinto the\t dish\t of\t oil,\t drenching\t the\t cloth\t around\t it\t thoroughly.\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t going\t to\t be\t a long\twall\tof\tfire,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tfollowing\tthe\tcourse\tof\tthe\tridge. \u201cYou\thave\tno\tidea.\tIt\tstretches\taround\tthe\twhole\tfortress.\u201d\tAnsel\tstraightened, and\t Celaena\t glanced\t over\t her\t shoulder\t to\t see\t Ilias\u2019s\t arm\t make\t a\t neat,\t slicing motion. Instantly,\t they\t were\t on\t their\t feet.\t Ansel\t reached\t the\t torch\t in\t the\t nearby bracket\tbefore\tCelaena\tdid,\tand\twas\tat\tthe\tbattlements\ta\theartbeat\tlater.\tSwift\tas lightning. Celaena\t nearly\t dropped\t her\t bow\t as\t she\t swiped\t her\t arrow\t through\t the\t flame and\t heat\t bit\t at\t her\t fingers.\t Lord\t Berick\u2019s\t men\t started\t shouting,\t and\t over\t the crackle\t of\t the\t ignited\t arrows,\t Celaena\t heard\t twangs\t as\t the\t soldiers\t fired\t their own\tammunition. But\t Celaena\t was\t already\t at\t the\t wall,\t wincing\t as\t she\t drew\t the\t burning\t arrow back\tfar\tenough\tfor\tit\tto\tsinge\ther\tfingers.\tShe\tfired. Like\t a\t wave\t of\t shooting\t stars,\t their\t flaming\t arrows\t went\t up,\t up,\t up,\t then dropped.\t But\t Celaena\t didn\u2019t\t have\t time\t to\t see\t the\t ring\t of\t fire\t erupt\t between\t the soldiers\t and\t the\t fortress.\t She\t ducked\t against\t the\t wall,\t throwing\t her\t hands\t over her\thead.\tBeside\ther,\tAnsel\tdid\tthe\tsame. Light\tburst\tall\taround\tthem,\tand\tthe\troar\tof\tthe\twall\tof\tflame\tdrowned\tout\tthe hollering\t of\t Lord\t Berick\u2019s\t men.\t Black\t arrows\t rained\t from\t the\t sky,\t ricocheting off\t the\t stones\t of\t the\t battlements.\t Two\t or\t three\t assassins\t grunted,\t swallowing their\tscreams,\tbut\tCelaena\tkept\ther\thead\tlow,\tholding\ther\tbreath\tuntil\tthe\tlast\tof the\tenemy\u2019s\tarrows\thad\tfallen. When\tthere\twas\tnothing\tbut\tthe\tmuffled\tmoaning\tof\tthe\tinjured\tassassins\tand the\tcrackling\tof\tthe\twall\tof\tfire,\tCelaena\tdared\tto\tlook\tat\tAnsel.\tThe\tgirl\u2019s\teyes were\tbright.\t\u201cWell,\u201d\tAnsel\tbreathed,\t\u201cwasn\u2019t\tthat\tfun?\u201d Celaena\t grinned,\t her\t heart\t racing.\t \u201cYes.\u201d\t Pivoting,\t she\t spied\t Lord\t Berick\u2019s men\tfleeing\tback\tacross\tthe\tdunes.\t\u201cYes,\tit\twas.\u201d","Near\t dawn,\t when\t Celaena\t and\t Ansel\t were\t back\t in\t their\t room,\t a\t soft\t knock sounded.\tAnsel\twas\tinstantly\ton\ther\tfeet,\tand\topened\tthe\tdoor\tonly\twide\tenough for\t Celaena\t to\t spy\t Mikhail\t on\t the\t other\t side.\t He\t handed\t Ansel\t a\t sealed\t scroll. \u201cYou\u2019re\t to\t go\t to\t Xandria\t today\t and\t give\t him\t this.\u201d\t Celaena\t saw\t Ansel\u2019s shoulders\ttense.\t\u201cMaster\u2019s\torders,\u201d\the\tadded. She\t couldn\u2019t\t see\t Ansel\u2019s\t face\t as\t she\t nodded,\t but\t Celaena\t could\t have\t sworn Mikhail\t brushed\t her\t cheek\t before\t he\t turned\t away.\t Ansel\t let\t out\t a\t long\t breath and\tshut\tthe\tdoor.\tIn\tthe\tgrowing\tlight\tof\tpredawn,\tCelaena\tsaw\tAnsel\twipe\tthe sleep\tfrom\ther\teyes.\t\u201cCare\tto\tjoin\tme?\u201d Celaena\thoisted\therself\tup\tonto\ther\telbows.\t\u201cIsn\u2019t\tthat\ttwo\tdays\tfrom\there?\u201d \u201cYes.\t Two\t days\t through\t the\t desert,\t with\t only\t yours\t truly\t to\t keep\t you company.\t Unless\t you\u2019d\t rather\t stay\t here,\t running\t every\t day\t and\t waiting\t like\t a dog\tfor\tthe\tMaster\tto\tnotice\tyou.\tIn\tfact,\tcoming\twith\tme\tmight\thelp\tget\thim\tto consider\t training\t you.\t He\u2019d\t certainly\t see\t your\t dedication\t to\t keeping\t us\t safe.\u201d Ansel\twriggled\ther\teyebrows\tat\tCelaena,\twho\trolled\ther\teyes. It\twas\tactually\tsound\treasoning.\tWhat\tbetter\tway\tto\tprove\ther\tdedication\tthan to\tsacrifice\tfour\tdays\tof\ther\tprecious\ttime\tin\torder\tto\thelp\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins? It\t was\t risky,\t yes,\t but\t \u2026\t it\t might\t be\t bold\t enough\t to\t catch\t his\t attention.\t \u201cAnd what\twill\twe\tbe\tdoing\tin\tXandria?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tfor\tyou\tto\tfind\tout.\u201d From\t the\t mischief\t twinkling\t in\t Ansel\u2019s\t red-brown\t eyes,\t Celaena\t could\t only wonder\twhat\tmight\tawait\tthem.","CHAPTER 5 Celaena\t lay\t on\t her\t cloak,\t trying\t to\t imagine\t that\t the\t sand\t was\t her\t down mattress\tin\tRifthold,\tand\tthat\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tcompletely\texposed\tto\tthe\telements\tin the\t middle\t of\t the\t desert.\t The\t last\t thing\t she\t needed\t was\t to\t wake\t up\t with\t a scorpion\tin\ther\thair.\tOr\tworse. She\tflipped\tonto\ther\tside,\tcradling\ther\thead\tin\tthe\tnook\tof\ther\tarm. \u201cCan\u2019t\tsleep?\u201d\tAnsel\tasked\tfrom\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway.\tCelaena\ttried\tnot\tto\tgrowl. They\u2019d\tspent\tthe\tentire\tday\ttrudging\tacross\tthe\tsand,\tstopping\tonly\tat\tmidday\tto sleep\tunder\ttheir\tcloaks\tand\tavoid\tthe\tmind-crisping\tglare\tof\tthe\tsun. And\ta\tdinner\tof\tdates\tand\tbread\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\texactly\tfilling,\teither.\tBut\tAnsel had\twanted\tto\ttravel\tlight,\tand\tsaid\tthat\tthey\tcould\tpick\tup\tmore\tfood\tonce\tthey got\tto\tXandria\ttomorrow\tafternoon.\tWhen\tCelaena\tcomplained\tabout\tthat,\tAnsel just\ttold\ther\tthat\tshe\tshould\tbe\tgrateful\tit\twasn\u2019t\tsandstorm\tseason. \u201cI\u2019ve\tgot\tsand\tin\tevery\tcrevice\tof\tmy\tbody,\u201d\tCelaena\tmuttered,\tsquirming\tas she\tfelt\tit\tgrind\tagainst\ther\tskin.\tHow\tin\thell\thad\tsand\tgotten\tinside\ther\tclothes? Her\t white\t tunic\t and\t pants\t were\t layered\t enough\t that\t she\t couldn\u2019t\t even\t find\t her skin\tbeneath. \u201cAre\t you\t sure\t you\u2019re\t Celaena\t Sardothien?\t Because\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t she\u2019d actually\tbe\tthis\tfussy.\tI\tbet\tshe\u2019s\tused\tto\troughing\tit.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t plenty\t used\t to\t roughing\t it,\u201d\t Celaena\t said,\t her\t words\t sucked\t into\t the dunes\trising\taround\tthem.\t\u201cThat\tdoesn\u2019t\tmean\tI\thave\tto\tenjoy\tit.\tI\tsuppose\tthat someone\tfrom\tthe\tWestern\tWastes\twould\tfind\tthis\tluxurious.\u201d Ansel\tchuckled.\t\u201cYou\thave\tno\tidea.\u201d Celaena\tquit\ther\ttaunting\tas\tcuriosity\tseized\ther.\t\u201cAre\tyour\tlands\tas\tcursed\tas they\tclaim?\u201d \u201cWell,\t the\t Flatlands\t used\t to\t be\t part\t of\t the\t Witch\t Kingdom.\t And\t yes,\t I suppose\t you\t could\t say\t they\u2019re\t somewhat\t cursed.\u201d\t Ansel\t sighed\t loudly.\t \u201cWhen the\tCrochan\tQueens\truled\tfive\thundred\tyears\tago,\tit\twas\tvery\tbeautiful.\tAt\tleast, the\t ruins\t all\t over\t the\t place\t seem\t like\t they\t would\t have\t been\t beautiful.\t But\t then the\t three\t Ironteeth\t Clans\t destroyed\t it\t all\t when\t they\t overthrew\t the\t Crochan","Dynasty.\u201d \u201cIronteeth?\u201d Ansel\t let\t out\t a\t low\t hiss.\t \u201cSome\t witches,\t like\t the\t Crochans,\t were\t gifted\t with ethereal\t beauty.\t But\t the\t Ironteeth\t Clans\t have\t iron\t teeth,\t sharp\t as\t a\t fish\u2019s. Actually,\t their\t iron\t fingernails\t are\t more\t dangerous;\t those\t can\t gut\t you\t in\t one swipe.\u201d A\tchill\twent\tdown\tCelaena\u2019s\tspine. \u201cBut\t when\t the\t Ironteeth\t Clans\t destroyed\t the\t kingdom,\t they\t say\t the\t last Crochan\t Queen\t cast\t a\t spell\t that\t turned\t the\t land\t against\t any\t that\t flew\t under\t the banners\tof\tthe\tIronteeth\u2014so\tthat\tno\tcrops\twould\tgrow,\tthe\tanimals\twithered\tup and\tdied,\tand\tthe\twaters\tturned\tmuddy.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\tlike\tthat\tnow,\tthough.\tThe\tland has\t been\t fertile\t ever\t since\t the\t Ironteeth\t Clans\t journeyed\t east\t \u2026\t toward\t your lands.\u201d \u201cSo\t\u2026\tso\thave\tyou\tever\tseen\tone\tof\tthe\twitches?\u201d Ansel\twas\tquiet\tfor\ta\tmoment\tbefore\tshe\tsaid,\t\u201cYes.\u201d Celaena\t turned\t toward\t her,\t propping\t her\t head\t on\t a\t hand.\t Ansel\t remained looking\tat\tthe\tsky. \u201cWhen\tI\twas\teight\tand\tmy\tsister\twas\televen,\tshe\tand\tI\tand\tMaddy,\tone\tof\ther friends,\t snuck\t out\t of\t Briarcliff\t Hall.\t A\t few\t miles\t away,\t there\t was\t a\t giant\t tor with\t a\t lone\t watchtower\t on\t top.\t The\t upper\t bits\t were\t all\t ruined\t because\t of\t the witch-wars,\t but\t the\t rest\t of\t it\t was\t still\t intact.\t See,\t there\t was\t this\t archway\t that went\tthrough\tthe\tbottom\tof\tthe\twatchtower\u2014so\tyou\tcould\tsee\tthrough\tit\tto\tthe other\tside\tof\tthe\thill.\tAnd\tone\tof\tthe\tstable\tboys\ttold\tmy\tsister\tthat\tif\tyou\tlooked through\tthe\tarchway\ton\tthe\tnight\tof\tthe\tsummer\tsolstice,\tthen\tyou\tmight\tsee\tinto another\tworld.\u201d The\thair\ton\tCelaena\u2019s\tneck\tstood.\t\u201cSo\tyou\twent\tinside?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tgot\tnear\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\ttor\tand\tbecame\tso\tterrified\tthat\tI wouldn\u2019t\t set\t foot\t on\t it.\t I\t hid\t behind\t a\t rock,\t and\t my\t sister\t and\t Maddy\t left\t me there\t while\t they\t went\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t way.\t I\t can\u2019t\t remember\t how\t long\t I\t waited, but\tthen\tI\theard\tscreaming. \u201cMy\tsister\tcame\trunning.\tShe\tjust\tgrabbed\tmy\tarm\tand\twe\tran.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t\tcome out\t at\t first,\t but\t when\t we\t got\t to\t my\t father\u2019s\t hall,\t she\t told\t them\t what\t had happened.\tThey\thad\tgone\tunder\tthe\tarchway\tof\tthe\ttower\tand\tseen\tan\topen\tdoor leading\t to\t its\t interior.\t But\t an\t old\t woman\t with\t metal\t teeth\t was\t standing\t in\t the shadows,\tand\tshe\tgrabbed\tMaddy\tand\tdragged\ther\tinto\tthe\tstairwell.\u201d Celaena\tchoked\ton\ta\tbreath. \u201cMaddy\tbegan\tscreaming,\tand\tmy\tsister\tran.\tAnd\twhen\tshe\ttold\tmy\tfather\tand his\tmen,\tthey\traced\tfor\tthe\ttor.\tThey\tarrived\tat\tdawn,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\ttrace\tof","Maddy,\tor\tthe\told\twoman.\u201d \u201cGone?\u201d\tCelaena\twhispered. \u201cThey\t found\t one\t thing,\u201d\t Ansel\t said\t softly.\t \u201cThey\t climbed\t the\t tower,\t and\t on one\tof\tthe\tlandings,\tthey\tfound\tthe\tbones\tof\ta\tchild.\tWhite\tas\tivory\tand\tpicked clean.\u201d \u201cGods\tabove,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid. \u201cAfter\tthat,\tmy\tfather\twalloped\tus\twithin\tan\tinch\tof\tour\tlives,\tand\twe\twere\ton kitchen\tduty\tfor\tsix\tmonths,\tbut\the\tknew\tmy\tsister\u2019s\tguilt\twould\tbe\tpunishment enough.\tShe\tnever\treally\tlost\tthat\thaunted\tgleam\tin\ther\teyes.\u201d Celaena\tshuddered.\t\u201cWell,\tnow\tI\tcertainly\twon\u2019t\tbe\table\tto\tsleep\ttonight.\u201d Ansel\tlaughed.\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tworry,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tnestling\tdown\ton\ther\tcloak.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\ttell you\ta\tvaluable\tsecret:\tthe\tonly\tway\tto\tkill\ta\twitch\tis\tto\tcut\toff\ther\thead.\tBesides, I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tan\tIronteeth\twitch\tstands\tmuch\tof\ta\tchance\tagainst\tus.\u201d \u201cI\thope\tyou\u2019re\tright,\u201d\tCelaena\tmuttered. \u201cI\t am\t right,\u201d\t Ansel\t said.\t \u201cThey\t might\t be\t vicious,\t but\t they\u2019re\t not\t invincible. And\tif\tI\thad\tan\tarmy\tof\tmy\town\t\u2026\tif\tI\thad\teven\ttwenty\tof\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins at\tmy\tcommand,\tI\u2019d\thunt\tdown\tall\tthe\twitches.\tThey\twouldn\u2019t\tstand\ta\tchance.\u201d Her\t hand\t thumped\t against\t the\t sand;\t she\t must\t have\t struck\t the\t ground.\t \u201cYou know,\t these\t assassins\t have\t been\t here\t for\t ages,\t but\t what\t do\t they\t do?\t The Flatlands\twould\tprosper\tif\tthey\thad\tan\tarmy\tof\tassassins\tto\tdefend\tthem.\tBut\tno, they\t just\t sit\t in\t their\t oasis,\t silent\t and\t thoughtful,\t and\t whore\t themselves\t out\t to foreign\t courts.\t If\t I\t were\t the\t Master,\t I\u2019d\t use\t our\t numbers\t for\t greatness\u2014for glory.\tWe\u2019d\tdefend\tevery\tunprotected\trealm\tout\tthere.\u201d \u201cSo\tnoble\tof\tyou,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid.\t\u201cAnsel\tof\tBriarcliff,\tDefender\tof\tthe\tRealm.\u201d Ansel\tonly\tlaughed,\tand\tsoon\twas\tasleep. Celaena,\tthough,\tstayed\tawake\ta\twhile\tlonger,\tunable\tto\tstop\timagining\twhat that\twitch\thad\tdone\twhen\tshe\tdragged\tMaddy\tinto\tthe\tshadows\tof\tthe\ttower. It\t was\t Market\t Day\t in\t Xandria,\t and\t though\t the\t city\t had\t long\t suffered\t from Adarlan\u2019s\tembargo,\tit\tstill\tseemed\tthat\tthere\twere\tvendors\tfrom\tall\tthe\tkingdoms on\tthe\tcontinent\u2014and\tbeyond.\tThey\twere\tcrammed\tinto\tevery\tpossible\tspace\tin the\t small,\t walled\t port\t city.\t All\t around\t Celaena\t were\t spices\t and\t jewels\t and clothes\t and\t food,\t some\t sold\t right\t out\t of\t brightly\t painted\t wagons,\t others\t spread on\t blankets\t in\t shadowy\t alcoves.\t There\t was\t no\t sign\t that\t anyone\t knew\t anything about\tthe\till-fated\tattack\ton\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins\tthe\tother\tnight. She\t kept\t close\t to\t Ansel\t as\t they\t walked\t along,\t the\t red-haired\t girl\t weaving through\t the\t crowd\t with\t a\t kind\t of\t casual\t grace\t that\t Celaena,\t despite\t herself,","envied.\t No\t matter\t how\t many\t people\t shoved\t into\t Ansel,\t or\t stepped\t in\t her\t path, or\t cursed\t her\t for\t stepping\t in\t theirs,\t she\t didn\u2019t\t falter,\t and\t her\t boyish\t grin\t only grew.\tMany\tpeople\tstopped\tto\tstare\tat\ther\tred\thair\tand\tmatching\teyes,\tbut\tAnsel took\tit\tin\tstride.\tEven\twithout\ther\tarmor,\tshe\twas\tstunning.\tCelaena\ttried\tnot\tto think\tabout\thow\tfew\tpeople\tbothered\tto\tnotice\ther. With\t the\t bodies\t and\t the\t heat,\t Celaena\t was\t oozing\t sweat\t by\t the\t time\t Ansel stopped\tnear\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tsouk.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tbe\ta\tcouple\thours,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid, and\twaved\ta\tlong,\telegant\thand\tto\tthe\tsandstone\tpalace\thovering\tabove\tthe\tsmall city.\t \u201cThe\t old\t beast\t likes\t to\t talk\t and\t talk\t and\t talk.\t Why\t don\u2019t\t you\t do\t some shopping?\u201d Celaena\tstraightened.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing\twith\tyou?\u201d \u201cInto\tBerick\u2019s\tpalace?\tOf\tcourse\tnot.\tIt\u2019s\tthe\tMaster\u2019s\tbusiness.\u201d Celaena\tfelt\ther\tnostrils\tflare.\tAnsel\tclapped\ther\ton\tthe\tshoulder.\t\u201cBelieve\tme, you\u2019d\t much\t rather\t spend\t the\t next\t few\t hours\t in\t the\t souk\t than\t waiting\t in\t the stables\t with\t Berick\u2019s\t men\t leering\t at\t you.\t Unlike\t us\u201d\u2014Ansel\t flashed\t that\t grin \u2014\u201cthey\tdon\u2019t\thave\taccess\tto\tbaths\twhenever\tthey\tplease.\u201d Ansel\tkept\tglancing\tat\tthe\tpalace,\tstill\ta\tfew\tblocks\taway.\tNervous\tthat\tshe\u2019d be\t late?\t Or\t nervous\t that\t she\t was\t going\t to\t confront\t Berick\t on\t behalf\t of\t the Master?\t Ansel\t brushed\t the\t remnants\t of\t red\t sand\t from\t the\t layers\t of\t her\t white clothes.\t \u201cI\u2019ll\t meet\t you\t at\t that\t fountain\t at\t three.\t Try\t not\t to\t get\t into\t too\t much trouble.\u201d And\twith\tthat,\tAnsel\tvanished\tinto\tthe\tpress\tof\tbodies,\ther\tred\thair\tgleaming like\ta\thot\tbrand.\tCelaena\tcontemplated\ttrailing\ther.\tEven\tif\tshe\twas\tan\toutsider, why\tlet\ther\taccompany\tAnsel\ton\tthe\tjourney\tif\tshe\twas\tjust\tgoing\tto\thave\tto\tsit around?\tWhat\tcould\tbe\tso\timportant\tand\tsecret\tthat\tAnsel\twouldn\u2019t\tallow\ther\tto partake\t in\t the\t meeting?\t Celaena\t took\t a\t step\t toward\t the\t palace,\t but\t passing people\t jostled\t her\t to\t and\t fro,\t and\t then\t a\t vendor\t began\t cooking\t something\t that smelled\tdivine,\tand\tCelaena\tfound\therself\tfollowing\ther\tnose\tinstead. She\tspent\tthe\ttwo\thours\twandering\tfrom\tvendor\tto\tvendor.\tShe\tcursed\therself for\tnot\tbringing\tmore\tmoney\twith\ther.\tIn\tRifthold,\tshe\thad\ta\tline\tof\tcredit\tat\tall her\t favorite\t stores,\t and\t never\t had\t to\t bother\t carrying\t money,\t aside\t from\t small coppers\tand\tthe\toccasional\tsilver\tcoin\tfor\ttips\tand\tbribes.\tBut\there\t\u2026\twell,\tthe pouch\tof\tsilver\tshe\u2019d\tbrought\tfelt\trather\tlight. The\tsouk\twound\tthrough\tevery\tstreet,\tgreat\tand\tsmall,\tdown\tnarrow\tstairways and\t onto\t half-buried\t alleys\t that\t had\t to\t have\t been\t there\t for\t a\t thousand\t years. Ancient\tdoors\topened\tonto\tcourtyards\tjammed\twith\tspice\tvendors\tor\ta\thundred lanterns,\t glittering\t like\t stars\t in\t the\t shadowy\t interior.\t For\t such\t a\t remote\t city, Xandria\twas\tteeming\twith\tlife.","She\t was\t standing\t under\t the\t striped\t awning\t of\t a\t vendor\t from\t the\t southern continent,\tdebating\tif\tshe\thad\tenough\tto\tbuy\tthe\tpair\tof\tcurled-toe\tshoes\tbefore her\t and\t the\t lilac\t perfume\t she\u2019d\t smelled\t at\t a\t wagon\t owned\t by\t white-haired maidens.\tThe\tmaidens\tclaimed\tthey\twere\tthe\tpriestesses\tof\tLani,\tthe\tgoddess\tof dreams\u2014and\tperfume,\tapparently. Celaena\tran\ta\tfinger\tdown\tthe\temerald\tsilk\tthread\tembroidered\ton\tthe\tdelicate shoes,\ttracing\tthe\tcurve\tof\tthe\tpoint\tas\tit\tswept\tupward\tand\tcurled\tover\tthe\tshoe itself.\t They\u2019d\t certainly\t be\t eye-catching\t in\t Rifthold.\t And\t no\t one\t else\t in\t the capital\twould\thave\tthem.\tThough,\tin\tthe\tfilthy\tcity\tstreets,\tthese\twould\teasily\tget ruined. She\t reluctantly\t put\t the\t shoes\t down,\t and\t the\t vendor\t raised\t his\t brows.\t She shook\ther\thead,\ta\trueful\tsmile\ton\ther\tface.\tThe\tman\theld\tup\tseven\tfingers\u2014one less\tthan\tthe\toriginal\tasking\tprice,\tand\tshe\tchewed\ton\ther\tlip,\tsigning\tback,\t\u201cSix coppers?\u201d The\t man\t spat\t on\t the\t ground.\t Seven\t coppers.\t Seven\t coppers\t was\t laughably cheap. She\tlooked\tat\tthe\tsouk\taround\ther,\tthen\tback\tat\tthe\tbeautiful\tshoes.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tcome back\t later,\u201d\t she\t lied,\t and\t with\t one\t final,\t mournful\t glance,\t she\t continued\t along. The\t man\t began\t shouting\t after\t her\t in\t a\t language\t she\u2019d\t never\t heard\t before, undoubtedly\t offering\t the\t shoes\t for\t six\t coppers,\t but\t she\t forced\t herself\t to\t keep walking.\t Besides,\t her\t pack\t was\t heavy\t enough;\t lugging\t the\t shoes\t around\t would be\t an\t additional\t burden.\t Even\t if\t they\t were\t lovely\t and\t different\t and\t not\t that heavy.\t And\t the\t thread\t detailing\t along\t the\t sides\t was\t as\t precise\t and\t beautiful\t as calligraphy.\tAnd\treally,\tshe\tcould\tjust\twear\tthem\tinside,\tso\tshe\u2014 She\t was\t about\t to\t turn\t around\t and\t walk\t right\t back\t to\t the\t vendor\t when something\t glistening\t in\t the\t shadows\t beneath\t an\t archway\t between\t buildings caught\t her\t eye.\t There\t were\t a\t few\t hired\t guards\t standing\t around\t the\t covered wagon,\tand\ta\ttall,\tlean\tman\tstood\tbehind\tthe\ttable\tdisplayed\tin\tfront\tof\tit.\tBut\tit wasn\u2019t\tthe\tguards\tor\tthe\tman\tor\this\twagon\tthat\tgrabbed\ther\tattention. No,\t it\t was\t what\t was\t on\t his\t table\t that\t knocked\t the\t breath\t from\t her\t and\t made her\tcurse\ther\ttoo-light\tmoney\tpurse. Spidersilk. There\t were\t legends\t about\t the\t horse-sized\t stygian\t spiders\t that\t lurked\t in\t the woods\t of\t the\t Ruhnn\t Mountains\t of\t the\t north,\t spinning\t their\t thread\t for\t hefty costs.\tSome\tsaid\tthey\toffered\tit\tin\texchange\tfor\thuman\tflesh;\tothers\tclaimed\tthe spiders\tdealt\tin\tyears\tand\tdreams,\tand\tcould\ttake\teither\tas\tpayment.\tRegardless, it\t was\t as\t delicate\t as\t gossamer,\t lovelier\t than\t silk,\t and\t stronger\t than\t steel.\t And she\u2019d\tnever\tseen\tso\tmuch\tof\tit\tbefore.","It\t was\t so\t rare\t that\t if\t you\t wanted\t it,\t odds\t were\t you\t had\t to\t go\t and\t get\t it\t for yourself.\t But\t here\t it\t was,\t yards\t of\t raw\t material\t waiting\t to\t be\t shaped.\t It\t was\t a kingdom\u2019s\transom. \u201cYou\t know,\u201d\t the\t merchant\t said\t in\t the\t common\t tongue,\t taking\t in\t Celaena\u2019s wide-eyed\tstare,\t\u201cyou\u2019re\tthe\tfirst\tperson\ttoday\tto\trecognize\tit\tfor\twhat\tit\tis.\u201d \u201cI\u2019d\t know\t what\t that\t is\t even\t if\t I\t were\t blind.\u201d\t She\t approached\t the\t table,\t but didn\u2019t\t dare\t to\t touch\t the\t sheets\t of\t iridescent\t fabric.\t \u201cBut\t what\t are\t you\t doing here?\tSurely\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tget\tmuch\tbusiness\tin\tXandria.\u201d The\t man\t chuckled.\t He\t was\t middle-aged,\t with\t close-cropped\t brown\t hair\t and midnight-blue\t eyes\t that\t seemed\t haunted,\t though\t they\t now\t sparkled\t with amusement.\t \u201cI\t might\t also\t ask\t what\t a\t girl\t from\t the\t North\t is\t doing\t in\t Xandria.\u201d His\tgaze\tflicked\tto\tthe\tdaggers\ttucked\tinto\tthe\tbrown\tbelt\tslung\tacross\ther\twhite clothes.\t\u201cAnd\twith\tsuch\tbeautiful\tweapons.\u201d She\tgave\thim\ta\thalf\tsmile.\t\u201cAt\tleast\tyour\teye\tis\tworthy\tof\tyour\twares.\u201d \u201cI\t try.\u201d\t He\t sketched\t a\t bow,\t then\t beckoned\t her\t closer.\t \u201cSo,\t tell\t me,\t girl\t from the\tNorth,\twhen\thave\tyou\tseen\tSpidersilk?\u201d She\t clenched\t her\t fingers\t into\t fists\t to\t keep\t from\t touching\t the\t priceless material.\t \u201cI\t know\t a\t courtesan\t in\t Rifthold\t whose\t madam\t had\t a\t handkerchief made\tfrom\tit\u2014given\tto\ther\tby\tan\textraordinarily\twealthy\tclient.\u201d And\t that\t handkerchief\t had\t probably\t cost\t more\t than\t most\t peasants\t made\t in\t a lifetime. \u201cThat\twas\ta\tkingly\tgift.\tShe\tmust\thave\tbeen\tskilled.\u201d \u201cShe\tdidn\u2019t\tbecome\tmadam\tof\tthe\tfinest\tcourtesans\tin\tRifthold\tfor\tnothing.\u201d The\t merchant\t let\t out\t a\t low\t laugh.\t \u201cSo\t if\t you\t associate\t with\t the\t finest courtesans\tin\tRifthold,\tthen\twhat\tbrings\tyou\tto\tthis\tbit\tof\tdesert\tscrub?\u201d She\t shrugged.\t \u201cThis\t and\t that.\u201d\t In\t the\t dim\t light\t beneath\t the\t canopy,\t the Spidersilk\t still\t glittered\t like\t surface\t of\t the\t sea.\t \u201cBut\t I\t would\t like\t to\t know\t how you\t came\t across\t so\t much\t of\t this.\t Did\t you\t buy\t it,\t or\t find\t the\t stygian\t spiders\t on your\town?\u201d He\ttraced\ta\tfinger\tdown\tthe\tplane\tof\tfabric.\t\u201cI\twent\tthere\tmyself.\tWhat\telse\tis there\t to\t know?\u201d\t His\t midnight\t eyes\t darkened.\t \u201cIn\t the\t depths\t of\t the\t Ruhnn Mountains,\teverything\tis\ta\tlabyrinth\tof\tmist\tand\ttrees\tand\tshadows.\tSo\tyou\tdon\u2019t find\tthe\tstygian\tspiders\u2014they\tfind\tyou.\u201d Celaena\tstuffed\ther\thands\tin\ther\tpockets\tto\tkeep\tfrom\ttouching\tthe\tSpidersilk. Though\ther\tfingers\twere\tclean,\tthere\twere\tstill\tgrains\tof\tred\tsand\tunder\ther\tnails. \u201cSo\twhy\tare\tyou\there,\tthen?\u201d \u201cMy\tship\tto\tthe\tsouthern\tcontinent\tdoesn\u2019t\tleave\tfor\ttwo\tdays;\twhy\tnot\tset\tup shop?\t Xandria\t might\t not\t be\t Rifthold,\t but\t you\t never\t know\t who\t might\t approach","your\tstall.\u201d\tHe\twinked\tat\ther.\t\u201cHow\told\tare\tyou,\tanyway?\u201d She\t raised\t her\t chin.\t \u201cI\t turned\t seventeen\t two\t weeks\t ago.\u201d\t And\t what\t a miserable\t birthday\t that\t had\t been.\t Trudging\t across\t the\t desert\t with\t no\t one\t to celebrate\t with\t except\t her\t recalcitrant\t guide,\t who\t just\t patted\t her\t shoulder\t when she\tannounced\tit\twas\ther\tbirthday.\tHorrible. \u201cNot\t much\t younger\t than\t me,\u201d\t he\t said.\t She\t chuckled,\t but\t paused\t when\t she didn\u2019t\tfind\thim\tsmiling. \u201cAnd\thow\told\tare\tyou?\u201d\tshe\tasked.\tThere\twas\tno\tmistaking\tit\u2014he\thad\tto\tbe at\t least\t forty.\t Even\t if\t his\t hair\t wasn\u2019t\t sprinkled\t with\t silver,\t his\t skin\t was weathered. \u201cTwenty-five,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tShe\tgave\ta\tstart.\t\u201cI\tknow.\tShocking.\u201d The\tyards\tof\tSpidersilk\tlifted\tin\ta\tbreeze\tfrom\tthe\tnearby\tsea. \u201cEverything\t has\t a\t price,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cTwenty\t years\t for\t a\t hundred\t yards\t of Spidersilk.\tI\tthought\tthey\tmeant\tto\ttake\tthem\toff\tthe\tend\tof\tmy\tlife.\tBut\teven\tif they\u2019d\t warned\t me,\t I\t would\t have\t said\t yes.\u201d\t She\t eyed\t the\t caravan\t behind\t him. This\tmuch\tSpidersilk\twas\tenough\tto\tenable\thim\tto\tlive\twhat\tyears\the\thad\tleft\tas a\tvery,\tvery\twealthy\tman. \u201cWhy\tnot\ttake\tit\tto\tRifthold?\u201d \u201cBecause\t I\u2019ve\t seen\t Rifthold,\t and\t Orynth,\t and\t Banjali.\t I\u2019d\t like\t to\t see\t what\t a hundred\tyards\tof\tSpidersilk\tmight\tfetch\tme\toutside\tof\tAdarlan\u2019s\tempire.\u201d \u201cIs\tthere\tanything\tto\tbe\tdone\tabout\tthe\tyears\tyou\tlost?\u201d He\t waved\t a\t hand.\t \u201cI\t followed\t the\t western\t side\t of\t the\t mountains\t on\t my\t way here,\t and\t met\t an\t old\t witch\t along\t the\t way.\t I\t asked\t if\t she\t could\t fix\t me,\t but\t she said\twhat\twas\ttaken\twas\ttaken,\tand\tonly\tthe\tdeath\tof\tthe\tspider\twho\tconsumed my\ttwenty\tyears\tcould\treturn\tthem\tto\tme.\u201d\tHe\texamined\this\thands,\talready\tlined with\tage.\t\u201cFor\ta\tcopper\tmore,\tshe\ttold\tme\tthat\tonly\ta\tgreat\twarrior\tcould\tslay\ta stygian\t spider.\t The\t greatest\t warrior\t in\t the\t land\t \u2026\t Though\t perhaps\t an\t assassin from\tthe\tNorth\tmight\tdo.\u201d \u201cHow\tdid\tyou\u2014\u201d \u201cYou\t can\u2019t\t honestly\t think\t no\t one\t knows\t about\t the\t sessiz\t suikast?\t Why\t else would\t a\t seventeen-year-old\t girl\t bearing\t exquisite\t daggers\t be\t here\t unescorted? And\tone\twho\tholds\tsuch\tfine\tcompany\tin\tRifthold,\tno\tless.\tAre\tyou\there\tto\tspy for\tLord\tBerick?\u201d Celaena\tdid\ther\tbest\tto\tquell\ther\tsurprise.\t\u201cPardon\tme?\u201d The\tmerchant\tshrugged,\tglancing\ttoward\tthe\ttowering\tpalace.\t\u201cI\theard\tfrom\ta city\t guard\t that\t strange\t dealings\t go\t on\t between\t Berick\t and\t some\t of\t the\t Silent Assassins.\u201d \u201cPerhaps,\u201d\twas\tall\tCelaena\tsaid.\tThe\tmerchant\tnodded,\tnot\tall\tthat\tinterested","in\tit\tanymore.\tBut\tCelaena\ttucked\tthe\tinformation\taway\tfor\tlater.\tWere\tsome\tof the\t Silent\t Assassins\t actually\t working\t for\t Berick?\t Perhaps\t that\t was\t why\t Ansel had\t insisted\t on\t keeping\t the\t meeting\t so\t secret\u2014maybe\t the\t Master\t didn\u2019t\t want the\tnames\tof\tthe\tsuspected\ttraitors\tgetting\tout. \u201cSo?\u201d\tthe\tmerchant\tasked.\t\u201cWill\tyou\tretrieve\tmy\tlost\tyears\tfor\tme?\u201d She\t bit\t her\t lip,\t thoughts\t of\t spies\t instantly\t fading\t away.\t To\t journey\t into\t the depths\tof\tthe\tRuhnn\tMountains,\tto\tslay\ta\tstygian\tspider.\tShe\tcould\tcertainly\tsee herself\t battling\t the\t eight-legged\t monstrosities.\t And\t witches.\t Though\t after Ansel\u2019s\tstory,\tmeeting\ta\twitch\u2014especially\tone\tbelonging\tto\tthe\tIronteeth\tClans \u2014was\t the\t last\t thing\t she\t ever\t wanted\t to\t do.\t For\t a\t heartbeat,\t she\t wished\t Sam were\twith\ther.\tEven\tif\tshe\ttold\thim\tabout\tthis\tencounter,\the\u2019d\tnever\tbelieve\ther. But\twould\tanyone\tever\tbelieve\ther? As\t if\t he\t could\t read\t her\t daydreams,\t he\t said:\t \u201cI\t could\t make\t you\t rich\t beyond your\twildest\timaginings.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\talready\trich.\tAnd\tI\u2019m\tunavailable\tuntil\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tsummer.\u201d \u201cI\twon\u2019t\tbe\tback\tfrom\tthe\tsouthern\tcontinent\tfor\tat\tleast\ta\tyear,\tanyway,\u201d\the countered. She\t examined\t his\t face,\t the\t gleam\t in\t his\t eyes.\t Adventure\t and\t glory\t aside, anyone\twho\u2019d\tsell\ttwenty\tyears\tof\this\tlife\tfor\ta\tfortune\tcouldn\u2019t\tbe\ttrusted.\tBut \u2026 \u201cThe\t next\t time\t you\u2019re\t in\t Rifthold,\u201d\t she\t said\t slowly,\t \u201cseek\t out\t Arobynn Hamel.\u201d\tThe\tman\u2019s\teyes\twidened.\tShe\twondered\thow\the\u2019d\treact\tif\the\tknew\twho she\twas.\t\u201cHe\u2019ll\tknow\twhere\tto\tfind\tme.\u201d\tShe\tturned\tfrom\tthe\ttable. \u201cBut\twhat\u2019s\tyour\tname?\u201d She\t looked\t over\t her\t shoulder.\t \u201cHe\u2019ll\t know\t where\t to\t find\t me,\u201d\t she\t repeated, and\tbegan\twalking\tback\ttoward\tthe\tstall\twith\tthe\tpointed\tshoes. \u201cWait!\u201d\t She\t paused\t in\t time\t to\t see\t him\t fumbling\t with\t the\t folds\t of\t his\t tunic. \u201cHere.\u201d\tHe\tset\tdown\ta\tplain\twooden\tbox\ton\tthe\ttable.\t\u201cA\treminder.\u201d Celaena\t flipped\t open\t the\t lid\t and\t her\t breath\t caught.\t A\t folded\t bit\t of\t woven Spidersilk\tlay\tinside,\tno\tlarger\tthan\tsix\tsquare\tinches.\tShe\tcould\tbuy\tten\thorses with\t it.\t Not\t that\t she\u2019d\t ever\t sell\t it.\t No,\t this\t was\t an\t heirloom\t to\t be\t passed\t down from\t generation\t to\t generation.\t If\t she\t ever\t had\t children.\t Which\t seemed\t highly unlikely. \u201cA\treminder\tof\twhat?\u201d\tShe\tshut\tthe\tlid\tand\ttucked\tthe\tsmall\tbox\tinto\tthe\tinner pocket\tof\ther\twhite\ttunic. The\tmerchant\tsmiled\tsadly.\t\u201cThat\teverything\thas\ta\tprice.\u201d A\tphantom\tpain\tflashed\tthrough\ther\tface.\t\u201cI\tknow,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tand\tleft.","She\twound\tup\tbuying\tthe\tshoes,\tthough\tit\twas\tnearly\timpossible\tto\tpass\tover the\t lilac\t perfume,\t which\t smelled\t even\t more\t lovely\t the\t second\t time\t she approached\t the\t priestesses\u2019\t stall.\t When\t the\t city\t bells\t pealed\t three\t o\u2019clock,\t she was\tsitting\ton\tthe\tlip\tof\tthe\tfountain,\tmunching\ton\twhat\tshe\thoped\twas\tmashed beans\tinside\ta\twarm\tbread\tpocket. Ansel\t was\t fifteen\t minutes\t late,\t and\t didn\u2019t\t apologize.\t She\t merely\t grabbed Celaena\u2019s\t arm\t and\t began\t leading\t her\t through\t the\t still-packed\t streets,\t her freckled\tface\tgleaming\twith\tsweat. \u201cWhat\tis\tit?\u201d\tCelaena\tasked.\t\u201cWhat\thappened\tin\tyour\tmeeting?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t none\t of\t your\t business,\u201d\t Ansel\t said\t a\t bit\t sharply.\t Then\t she\t added, \u201cJust\tfollow\tme.\u201d They\t wound\t up\t sneaking\t inside\t the\t Lord\t of\t Xandria\u2019s\t palace\t walls,\t and Celaena\tknew\tbetter\tthan\tto\task\tquestions\tas\tthey\tcrept\tacross\tthe\tgrounds.\tBut they\t didn\u2019t\t head\t to\t the\t towering\t central\t building.\t No\u2014they\t approached\t the stables,\t where\t they\t slipped\t around\t the\t guards\t and\t entered\t the\t pungent\t shadows within. \u201cThere\t had\t better\t be\t a\t good\t reason\t for\t this,\u201d\t Celaena\t warned\t as\t Ansel\t crept toward\ta\tpen. \u201cOh,\t there\t is,\u201d\t she\t hissed\t back,\t and\t stopped\t at\t a\t gate,\t waving\t Celaena forward. Celaena\t frowned.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t a\t horse.\u201d\t But\t even\t as\t the\t words\t left\t her\t mouth,\t she knew\tit\twasn\u2019t. \u201cIt\u2019s\tan\tAsterion\thorse,\u201d\tAnsel\tbreathed,\ther\tred-brown\teyes\tgrowing\thuge. The\t horse\t was\t black\t as\t pitch,\t with\t dark\t eyes\t that\t bored\t into\t Celaena\u2019s\t own. She\u2019d\t heard\t of\t Asterion\t horses,\t of\t course.\t The\t most\t ancient\t breed\t of\t horse\t in Erilea.\tLegend\tclaimed\tthat\tthe\tFae\thad\tmade\tthem\tfrom\tthe\tfour\twinds\u2014spirit from\t the\t north,\t strength\t from\t the\t south,\t speed\t from\t the\t east,\t and\t wisdom\t from the\t west,\t all\t rolled\t into\t the\t slender-snouted,\t high-tailed,\t lovely\t creature\t that stood\tbefore\ther. \u201cHave\t you\t ever\t seen\t anything\t so\t beautiful?\u201d\t Ansel\t whispered.\t \u201cHer\t name\t is Hisli.\u201d\t Mares,\t Celaena\t remembered,\t were\t more\t prized,\t as\t Asterion\t pedigrees were\ttraced\tthrough\tthe\tfemale\tline.\t\u201cAnd\tthat\tone,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid,\tpointing\tto\tthe next\t stall,\t \u201cis\t named\t Kasida\u2014it\t means\t \u2018drinker\t of\t the\t wind\u2019\t in\t the\t desert dialect.\u201d Kasida\u2019s\t name\t was\t fitting.\t The\t slender\t mare\t was\t a\t dapple\t gray,\t with\t a\t sea- foam\t white\t mane\t and\t thundercloud\t coat.\t She\t huffed\t and\t stomped\t her\t forelegs, staring\t at\t Celaena\t with\t eyes\t that\t seemed\t older\t than\t the\t earth\t itself.\t Celaena","suddenly\tunderstood\twhy\tthe\tAsterion\thorses\twere\tworth\ttheir\tweight\tin\tgold. \u201cLord\t Berick\t got\t them\t today.\t Bought\t them\t from\t a\t merchant\t on\t his\t way\t to Banjali.\u201d\t Ansel\t slipped\t into\t Hisli\u2019s\t pen.\t She\t cooed\t and\t murmured,\t stroking\t the horse\u2019s\t muzzle.\t \u201cHe\u2019s\t planning\t on\t testing\t them\t out\t in\t half\t an\t hour.\u201d\t That explained\twhy\tthey\twere\talready\tsaddled. \u201cAnd?\u201d\t Celaena\t whispered,\t holding\t out\t a\t hand\t for\t Kasida\t to\t smell.\t The mare\u2019s\tnostrils\tflared,\ther\tvelvety\tnose\ttickling\tCelaena\u2019s\tfingertips. \u201cAnd\tthen\the\u2019s\teither\tgoing\tto\tgive\tthem\taway\tas\ta\tbribe,\tor\tlose\tinterest\tand let\tthem\tlanguish\there\tfor\tthe\trest\tof\ttheir\tlives.\tLord\tBerick\ttends\tto\ttire\tof\this playthings\trather\tquickly.\u201d \u201cWhat\ta\twaste.\u201d \u201cIndeed\t it\t is,\u201d\t Ansel\t muttered\t from\t inside\t the\t stall.\t Celaena\t lowered\t her fingers\t from\t Kasida\u2019s\t muzzle\t and\t peered\t into\t Hisli\u2019s\t pen.\t Ansel\t was\t running\t a hand\t down\t Hisli\u2019s\t black\t flank,\t her\t face\t still\t full\t of\t wonder.\t Then\t she\t turned. \u201cAre\tyou\ta\tstrong\trider?\u201d \u201cOf\tcourse,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid\tslowly. \u201cGood.\u201d Celaena\t bit\t down\t on\t her\t cry\t of\t alarm\t as\t Ansel\t unlocked\t the\t stall\t door\t and guided\t Hisli\t out\t of\t her\t pen.\t In\t a\t smooth,\t quick\t motion,\t the\t girl\t was\t atop\t the horse,\tclutching\tthe\treins\tin\tone\thand.\t\u201cBecause\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\thave\tto\tride\tlike hell.\u201d With\tthat,\tAnsel\tsent\tHisli\tinto\ta\tgallop,\theading\tstraight\tfor\tthe\tstable\tdoors. Celaena\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ttime\tto\tgape\tor\treally\teven\tto\tprocess\twhat\tshe\twas\tabout to\tdo\tas\tshe\tunlocked\tKasida\u2019s\tpen,\tyanked\ther\tout,\tand\theaved\therself\tinto\tthe saddle.\t With\t a\t muffled\t curse,\t she\t dug\t her\t heels\t into\t the\t mare\u2019s\t sides\t and\t took off.","CHAPTER 6 The\t guards\t didn\u2019t\t know\t what\t was\t happening\t until\t the\t horses\t had\t already rushed\t past\t them\t in\t a\t blur\t of\t black\t and\t gray,\t and\t they\t were\t through\t the\t main palace\tgate\tbefore\tthe\tguards\u2019\tcries\tfinished\techoing.\tAnsel\u2019s\tred\thair\tshone\tlike a\tbeacon\tas\tshe\tbroke\tfor\tthe\tside\texit\tfrom\tthe\tcity,\tpeople\tleaping\taside\tto\tlet them\tpass. Celaena\t looked\t back\t through\t the\t crowded\t streets\t only\t once\u2014and\t that\t was enough\tto\tsee\tthe\tthree\tmounted\tguards\tcharging\tafter\tthem,\tshouting. But\tthe\tgirls\twere\talready\tthrough\tthe\tcity\tgate\tand\tinto\tthe\tsea\tof\tred\tdunes that\t spread\t beyond,\t Ansel\t riding\t as\t if\t the\t denizens\t of\t Hell\t were\t behind\t her. Celaena\tcould\tonly\trace\tafter\ther,\tdoing\ther\tbest\tto\tkeep\tin\tthe\tsaddle. Kasida\t moved\t like\t thunder\t and\t turned\t with\t the\t swiftness\t of\t lightning.\t The mare\t was\t so\t fast\t that\t Celaena\u2019s\t eyes\t watered\t in\t the\t wind.\t The\t three\t guards, astride\tordinary\thorses,\twere\tstill\tfar\toff,\tbut\tnot\tnearly\tfar\tenough\tfor\tcomfort. In\tthe\tvastness\tof\tthe\tRed\tDesert,\tCelaena\thad\tno\tchoice\tbut\tto\tfollow\tAnsel. Celaena\t clung\t to\t Kasida\u2019s\t mane\t as\t they\t took\t dune\t after\t dune,\t up\t and\t down, down\t and\t up,\t until\t there\t was\t only\t the\t red\t sand\t and\t the\t cloudless\t sky\t and\t the rumble\tof\thooves,\thooves,\thooves\trolling\tthrough\tthe\tworld. Ansel\t slowed\t enough\t for\t Celaena\t to\t catch\t up,\t and\t they\t galloped\t along\t the broad,\tflat\ttop\tof\ta\tdune. \u201cAre\tyou\tout\tof\tyour\tdamned\tmind?\u201d\tCelaena\tshouted. \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t want\t to\t walk\t home!\t We\u2019re\t taking\t a\t shortcut!\u201d\t Ansel\t shouted\t back. Behind\tthem,\tthe\tthree\tguards\tstill\tcharged\tonward. Celaena\tdebated\tslamming\tKasida\tinto\tHisli\tto\tsend\tAnsel\ttumbling\tonto\tthe dunes\u2014leaving\t her\t for\t the\t guards\t to\t take\t care\t of\u2014but\t the\t girl\t pointed\t over Hisli\u2019s\tdark\thead.\t\u201cLive\ta\tlittle,\tSardothien!\u201d And\tjust\tlike\tthat,\tthe\tdunes\tparted\tto\treveal\tthe\tturquoise\texpanse\tof\tthe\tGulf of\t Oro.\t The\t cool\t sea\t breeze\t kissed\t her\t face,\t and\t Celaena\t leaned\t into\t it,\t almost moaning\twith\tpleasure. Ansel\t let\t out\t a\t whoop,\t careening\t down\t the\t final\t dune\t and\t heading\t straight","toward\t the\t beach\t and\t the\t breaking\t waves.\t Despite\t herself,\t Celaena\t smiled\t and held\ton\ttighter. Kasida\thit\tthe\thard-packed\tred\tsand\tand\tgained\tspeed,\tfaster\tand\tfaster. Celaena\t had\t a\t sudden\t moment\t of\t clarity\t then,\t as\t her\t hair\t ripped\t from\t her braid\t and\t the\t wind\t tore\t at\t her\t clothes.\t Of\t all\t the\t girls\t in\t all\t the\t world,\t here\t she was\ton\ta\tspit\tof\tbeach\tin\tthe\tRed\tDesert,\tastride\tan\tAsterion\thorse,\tracing\tfaster than\t the\t wind.\t Most\t would\t never\t experience\t this\u2014she\t would\t never\t experience anything\t like\t this\t again.\t And\t for\t that\t one\t heartbeat,\t when\t there\t was\t nothing more\tto\tit\tthan\tthat,\tshe\ttasted\tbliss\tso\tcomplete\tthat\tshe\ttipped\ther\thead\tback\tto the\tsky\tand\tlaughed. The\t guards\t reached\t the\t beach,\t their\t fierce\t cries\t nearly\t swallowed\t up\t by\t the booming\tsurf. Ansel\tcut\taway,\tsurging\ttoward\tthe\tdunes\tand\tthe\tgiant\twall\tof\trock\tthat\tarose nearby.\t The\t Desert\t Cleaver,\t if\t Celaena\t knew\t her\t geography\t correctly\u2014which she\tdid,\tas\tshe\u2019d\tstudied\tmaps\tof\tthe\tDeserted\tLand\tfor\tweeks\tnow.\tA\tgiant\twall that\tarose\tfrom\tthe\tearth\tand\tstretched\tfrom\tthe\teastern\tcoast\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tthe black\t dunes\t of\t the\t south\u2014split\t clean\t down\t the\t middle\t by\t an\t enormous\t fissure. They\u2019d\tcome\taround\tit\ton\tthe\tway\tfrom\tthe\tfortress,\twhich\twas\ton\tthe\tother\tside of\t the\t Cleaver,\t and\t that\t was\t what\t had\t made\t their\t journey\t so\t insufferably\t long. But\ttoday\t\u2026 \u201cFaster,\tKasida,\u201d\tshe\twhispered\tin\tthe\thorse\u2019s\tear.\tAs\tif\tthe\tmare\tunderstood her,\t she\t took\t off,\t and\t soon\t Celaena\t was\t again\t beside\t Ansel,\t cutting\t up\t dune after\t dune\t as\t they\t headed\t straight\t for\t the\t red\t wall\t of\t rock.\t \u201cWhat\t are\t you doing?\u201d\tshe\tcalled\tto\tAnsel. Ansel\t gave\t her\t a\t fiendish\t grin.\t \u201cWe\u2019re\t going\t through\t it.\t What\t good\t is\t an Asterion\thorse\tif\tit\tcan\u2019t\tjump?\u201d Celaena\u2019s\tstomach\tdropped.\t\u201cYou\tcan\u2019t\tbe\tserious.\u201d Ansel\tglanced\tover\ther\tshoulder,\ther\tred\thair\tstreaming\tpast\ther\tface.\t\u201cThey\u2019ll chase\t us\t to\t the\t doors\t of\t the\t fortress\t if\t we\t go\t the\t long\t way!\u201d\t But\t the\t guards couldn\u2019t\tmake\tthe\tjump,\tnot\twith\tordinary\thorses. A\tnarrow\topening\tin\tthe\twall\tof\tred\trock\tappeared,\ttwisting\taway\tfrom\tsight. Ansel\t headed\t straight\t toward\t it.\t How\t dare\t she\t make\t such\t a\t reckless,\t stupid decision\twithout\tconsulting\tCelaena\tfirst? \u201cYou\tplanned\tthis\tthe\twhole\ttime,\u201d\tCelaena\tsnapped.\tThough\tthe\tguards\tstill remained\t a\t good\t distance\t away,\t they\t were\t close\t enough\t for\t Celaena\t to\t see\t the weapons,\tincluding\tlongbows,\tstrapped\tto\tthem. Ansel\tdidn\u2019t\treply.\tShe\tjust\tsent\tHisli\tflying\tforward. Celaena\t had\t to\t choose\t between\t the\t unforgiving\t walls\t of\t the\t Cleaver\t and\t the","three\t guards\t behind\t them.\t She\t could\t take\t the\t guards\t in\t a\t few\t seconds\u2014if\t she slowed\t enough\t to\t draw\t her\t daggers.\t But\t they\t were\t mounted,\t and\t aiming\t might be\timpossible.\tWhich\tmeant\tshe\u2019d\thave\tto\tget\tclose\tenough\tto\tkill\tthem,\tas\tlong as\t they\t didn\u2019t\t start\t firing\t at\t her\t first.\t They\t probably\t wouldn\u2019t\t shoot\t at\t Kasida, not\t when\t she\t was\t worth\t more\t than\t all\t of\t their\t lives\t put\t together,\t but\t Celaena couldn\u2019t\tbring\therself\tto\trisk\tthe\tmagnificent\tbeast.\tAnd\tif\tshe\tkilled\tthe\tguards, that\t still\t left\t her\t alone\t in\t the\t desert,\t since\t Ansel\t surely\t wouldn\u2019t\t stop\t until\t she was\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tCleaver.\tSince\tshe\thad\tno\tdesire\tto\tdie\tof\tthirst\t\u2026 Cursing\t colorfully,\t Celaena\t plunged\t after\t Ansel\t into\t the\t passage\t through\t the canyon. The\t passage\t was\t so\t narrow\t that\t Celaena\u2019s\t legs\t nearly\t grazed\t the\t rain- smoothed\t orange\t walls.\t The\t beating\t hooves\t echoed\t like\t firecrackers,\t the\t sound only\tworsening\tas\tthe\tthree\tguards\tentered\tthe\tcanyon.\tIt\twould\thave\tbeen\tnice, she\t realized,\t to\t have\t Sam\t with\t her.\t He\t might\t be\t a\t pain\t in\t her\t ass,\t but\t he\u2019d proven\t himself\t to\t be\t more\t than\t handy\t in\t a\t fight.\t Extraordinarily\t skilled,\t if\t she felt\tlike\tadmitting\tit. Ansel\t wove\t and\t turned\t with\t the\t passage,\t fast\t as\t a\t stream\t down\t a mountainside,\t and\t it\t was\t all\t Celaena\t could\t do\t to\t hold\t on\t to\t Kasida\t as\t they followed. A\t twang\t snapped\t through\t the\t canyon,\t and\t Celaena\t ducked\t low\t to\t Kasida\u2019s surging\thead\u2014just\tas\tan\tarrow\tricocheted\toff\tthe\trock\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway.\tSo\tmuch for\tnot\tfiring\tat\tthe\thorses.\tAnother\tsharp\tturn\tset\ther\tin\tthe\tclear,\tbut\tthe\trelief was\tshort-lived\tas\tshe\tbeheld\tthe\tlong,\tstraight\tpassage\u2014and\tthe\travine\tbeyond it. Celaena\u2019s\tbreath\tlodged\tin\ther\tthroat.\tThe\tjump\thad\tto\tbe\tthirty\tfeet\tat\tleast\u2014 and\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tknow\thow\tlong\ta\tfall\tit\twas\tif\tshe\tmissed. Ansel\t barreled\t ahead;\t then\t her\t body\t tensed,\t and\t Hisli\t leapt\t from\t the\t cliff edge. The\t sunlight\t caught\t in\t Ansel\u2019s\t hair\t as\t they\t flew\t over\t the\t ravine,\t and\t she loosed\t a\t joyous\t cry\t that\t set\t the\t whole\t canyon\t humming.\t A\t moment\t later,\t she landed\ton\tthe\tother\tside,\twith\tonly\tinches\tto\tspare. There\t wasn\u2019t\t enough\t room\t for\t Celaena\t to\t stop\u2014even\t if\t she\t tried,\t they wouldn\u2019t\thave\tenough\tspace\tto\tslow\tdown,\tand\tthey\u2019d\tgo\tright\tover\tthe\tedge.\tSo she\tbegan\tpraying\tto\tanyone,\tanything.\tKasida\tgave\ta\tsudden\tburst\tof\tspeed,\tas if\tshe,\ttoo,\tunderstood\tthat\tonly\tthe\tgods\twould\tsee\tthem\tsafely\tover. And\tthen\tthey\twere\tat\tthe\tlip\tof\tthe\travine,\twhich\twent\tdown,\tdown,\tdown\tto a\t jade\t river\t hundreds\t of\t feet\t below.\t And\t Kasida\t was\t soaring,\t only\t air\t beneath them,\t nothing\t to\t keep\t her\t from\t the\t death\t that\t now\t wrapped\t around\t her","completely. Celaena\t could\t only\t hold\t on\t and\t wait\t to\t fall,\t to\t die,\t to\t scream\t as\t she\t met\t her horrible\tend\t\u2026 But\tthen\tthere\twas\trock\tunder\tthem,\tsolid\trock.\tShe\tgripped\tKasida\ttighter\tas they\t landed\t in\t the\t narrow\t passage\t on\t the\t other\t side,\t the\t impact\t exploding through\ther\tbones,\tand\tkept\tgalloping. Back\tacross\tthe\travine,\tthe\tguards\thad\tpulled\tto\ta\thalt,\tand\tcursed\tat\tthem\tin\ta language\tshe\twas\tgrateful\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tunderstand. Ansel\tlet\tout\tanother\twhoop\twhen\tthey\tcame\tout\tthe\tother\tend\tof\tthe\tCleaver, and\tshe\tturned\tto\tfind\tCelaena\tstill\triding\tclose\tbehind\ther.\tThey\trode\tacross\tthe dunes,\theading\twest,\tthe\tsetting\tsun\tturning\tthe\tentire\tworld\tbloodred. When\tthe\thorses\twere\ttoo\twinded\tto\tkeep\trunning,\tAnsel\tfinally\tstopped\tatop a\t dune,\t Celaena\t pulling\t up\t beside\t her.\t Ansel\t looked\t at\t Celaena,\t wildness\t still rampant\tin\ther\teyes.\t\u201cWasn\u2019t\tthat\twonderful?\u201d Breathing\thard,\tCelaena\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\tanything\tas\tshe\tpunched\tAnsel\tso\thard\tin the\tface\tthat\tthe\tgirl\twent\tflying\toff\ther\thorse\tand\ttumbled\tonto\tthe\tsand. Ansel\tjust\tclutched\ther\tjaw\tand\tlaughed. Though\t they\t could\t have\t made\t it\t back\t before\t midnight,\t and\t though\t Celaena pushed\ther\tto\tcontinue\triding,\tAnsel\tinsisted\ton\tstopping\tfor\tthe\tnight.\tSo\twhen their\tcampfire\twas\tnothing\tbut\tembers\tand\tthe\thorses\twere\tdozing\tbehind\tthem, Ansel\tand\tCelaena\tlay\ton\ttheir\tbacks\ton\tthe\tside\tof\ta\tdune\tand\tstared\tup\tat\tthe stars. Her\thands\ttucked\tbehind\ther\thead,\tCelaena\ttook\ta\tlong,\tdeep\tbreath,\tsavoring the\tbalmy\tnight\tbreeze,\tthe\texhaustion\tebbing\tfrom\ther\tlimbs.\tShe\trarely\tgot\tto see\t stars\t so\t bright\u2014not\t with\t the\t lights\t of\t Rifthold.\t The\t wind\t moved\t across\t the dunes,\tand\tthe\tsand\tsighed. \u201cYou\tknow,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid\tquietly,\t\u201cI\tnever\tlearned\tthe\tconstellations.\tThough\tI think\tours\tare\tdifferent\tfrom\tyours\u2014the\tnames,\tI\tmean.\u201d It\ttook\tCelaena\ta\tmoment\tto\trealize\tthat\tby\t\u201cours\u201d\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\tthe\tSilent Assassins\u2014she\t meant\t her\t people\t in\t the\t Western\t Wastes.\t Celaena\t pointed\t to\t a cluster\t of\t stars\t to\t their\t left.\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t the\t dragon.\u201d\t She\t traced\t the\t shape.\t \u201cSee\t the head,\tlegs,\tand\ttail?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\tAnsel\tchuckled. Celaena\t nudged\t her\t with\t an\t elbow\t and\t pointed\t to\t another\t grouping\t of\t stars. \u201cThat\u2019s\tthe\tswan.\tThe\tlines\ton\teither\tside\tare\tthe\twings,\tand\tthe\tarc\tis\tits\tneck.\u201d \u201cWhat\tabout\tthat\tone?\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid. \u201cThat\u2019s\tthe\tstag,\u201d\tCelaena\tbreathed.\t\u201cThe\tLord\tof\tthe\tNorth.\u201d \u201cWhy\tdoes\the\tget\ta\tfancy\ttitle?\tWhat\tabout\tthe\tswan\tand\tthe\tdragon?\u201d","Celaena\t snorted,\t but\t the\t smile\t faded\t when\t she\t stared\t at\t the\t familiar constellation.\t \u201cBecause\t the\t stag\t remains\t constant\u2014no\t matter\t the\t season,\t he\u2019s always\tthere.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d Celaena\ttook\ta\tlong\tbreath.\t\u201cSo\tthe\tpeople\tof\tTerrasen\twill\talways\tknow\thow to\tfind\ttheir\tway\thome.\tSo\tthey\tcan\tlook\tup\tat\tthe\tsky,\tno\tmatter\twhere\tthey\tare, and\tknow\tTerrasen\tis\tforever\twith\tthem.\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\tever\twant\tto\treturn\tto\tTerrasen?\u201d Celaena\t turned\t her\t head\t to\t look\t at\t Ansel.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t told\t her\t she\t was\t from Terrasen.\t Ansel\t said,\t \u201cYou\t talk\t about\t Terrasen\t the\t way\t my\t father\t used\t to\t talk about\tour\tland.\u201d Celaena\twas\tabout\tto\treply\twhen\tshe\tcaught\tthe\tword.\tUsed\tto. Ansel\u2019s\t attention\t remained\t on\t the\t stars.\t \u201cI\t lied\t to\t the\t Master\t when\t I\t came here,\u201d\tshe\twhispered,\tas\tif\tafraid\tsomeone\telse\twould\thear\tthem\tin\tthe\temptiness of\tthe\tdesert.\tCelaena\tlooked\tback\tto\tthe\tsky.\t\u201cMy\tfather\tnever\tsent\tme\tto\ttrain. And\tthere\tis\tno\tBriarcliff,\tor\tBriarcliff\tHall.\tThere\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\tfor\tfive\tyears.\u201d A\tdozen\tquestions\tsprung\tup,\tbut\tCelaena\tkept\ther\tmouth\tshut,\tletting\tAnsel speak. \u201cI\t was\t twelve,\u201d\t Ansel\t said,\t \u201cwhen\t Lord\t Loch\t took\t several\t territories\t around Briarcliff,\t and\t then\t demanded\t we\t yield\t to\t him\t as\t well\u2014that\t we\t bow\t to\t him\t as High\t King\t of\t the\t Wastes.\t My\t father\t refused.\t He\t said\t there\t was\t one\t tyrant already\tconquering\teverything\teast\tof\tthe\tmountains\u2014he\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tone\tin\tthe west,\t too.\u201d\t Celaena\u2019s\t blood\t went\t cold\t as\t she\t braced\t herself\t for\t what\t she\t was certain\t was\t coming.\t \u201cTwo\t weeks\t later,\t Lord\t Loch\t marched\t into\t our\t land\t with his\t men,\t seizing\t our\t villages,\t our\t livelihood,\t our\t people.\t And\t when\t he\t got\t to Briarcliff\tHall\t\u2026\u201d Ansel\tdrew\ta\tshuddering\tbreath.\t\u201cWhen\the\tarrived\tat\tBriarcliff\tHall,\tI\twas\tin the\tkitchen.\tI\tsaw\tthem\tfrom\tthe\twindow\tand\thid\tin\ta\tcupboard\tas\tLoch\twalked in.\tMy\tsister\tand\tfather\twere\tupstairs,\tand\tLoch\tstayed\tin\tthe\tkitchen\tas\this\tmen brought\t them\t down\t and\t \u2026\t I\t didn\u2019t\t dare\t make\t a\t sound\t as\t Lord\t Loch\t made\t my father\t watch\t as\t he\t \u2026\u201d\t She\t stumbled,\t but\t forced\t it\t out,\t spitting\t it\t as\t if\t it\t were poison.\t \u201cMy\t father\t begged\t on\t his\t hands\t and\t knees,\t but\t Loch\t still\t made\t my father\t watch\t as\t he\t slit\t my\t sister\u2019s\t throat,\t then\t his.\t And\t I\t just\t hid\t there,\t even\t as they\tkilled\tour\tservants,\ttoo.\tI\thid\tthere\tand\tdid\tnothing. \u201cAnd\twhen\tthey\twere\tgone,\tI\ttook\tmy\tfather\u2019s\tsword\tfrom\this\tcorpse\tand\tran. I\t ran\t and\t ran\t until\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t run\t anymore,\t at\t the\t foothills\t of\t the\t White\t Fang Mountains.\t And\t that\u2019s\t when\t I\t collapsed\t at\t the\t campfire\t of\t a\t witch\u2014one\t of\t the Ironteeth.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tcare\tif\tshe\tkilled\tme.\tBut\tshe\ttold\tme\tthat\tit\twas\tnot\tmy\tfate\tto","die\tthere.\tThat\tI\tshould\tjourney\tsouth,\tto\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins\tin\tthe\tRed\tDesert, and\t there\t \u2026\t there\t I\t would\t find\t my\t fate.\t She\t fed\t me,\t and\t bound\t my\t bleeding feet,\t and\t gave\t me\t gold\u2014gold\t that\t I\t later\t used\t to\t commission\t my\t armor\u2014then sent\tme\ton\tmy\tway.\u201d Ansel\t wiped\t at\t her\t eyes.\t \u201cSo\t I\u2019ve\t been\t here\t ever\t since,\t training\t for\t the\t day when\t I\u2019m\t strong\t enough\t and\t fast\t enough\t to\t return\t to\t Briarcliff\t and\t take\t back what\tis\tmine.\tSomeday,\tI\u2019ll\tmarch\tinto\tHigh\tKing\tLoch\u2019s\thall\tand\trepay\thim\tfor what\the\tdid\tto\tmy\tfamily.\tWith\tmy\tfather\u2019s\tsword.\u201d\tHer\thand\tgrazed\tthe\twolf- head\t hilt.\t \u201cThis\t sword\t will\t end\t his\t life.\t Because\t this\t sword\t is\t all\t I\t have\t left\t of them.\u201d Celaena\t hadn\u2019t\t realized\t she\t was\t crying\t until\t she\t tried\t to\t take\t a\t deep\t breath. Saying\t that\t she\t was\t sorry\t didn\u2019t\t feel\t adequate.\t She\t knew\t what\t this\t sort\t of\t loss was\tlike,\tand\twords\tdidn\u2019t\tdo\tanything\tat\tall. Ansel\t slowly\t turned\t to\t look\t at\t her,\t her\t eyes\t lined\t with\t silver.\t She\t traced Celaena\u2019s\tcheekbone,\twhere\tthe\tbruises\thad\tonce\tbeen.\t\u201cWhere\tdo\tmen\tfind\tit\tin themselves\tto\tdo\tsuch\tmonstrous\tthings?\tHow\tdo\tthey\tfind\tit\tacceptable?\u201d \u201cWe\u2019ll\t make\t them\t pay\t for\t it\t in\t the\t end.\u201d\t Celaena\t grasped\t Ansel\u2019s\t hand.\t The girl\tsqueezed\tback\thard.\t\u201cWe\u2019ll\tsee\tto\tit\tthat\tthey\tpay.\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d\tAnsel\tshifted\ther\tgaze\tback\tto\tthe\tstars.\t\u201cYes,\twe\twill.\u201d","CHAPTER 7 Celaena\t and\t Ansel\t knew\t their\t little\t escapade\t with\t the\t Asterion\t horses\t would have\t consequences.\t Celaena\t had\t at\t least\t expected\t to\t have\t enough\t time\t to\t tell\t a decent\t lie\t about\t how\t they\t acquired\t the\t horses.\t But\t when\t they\t returned\t to\t the fortress\t and\t found\t Mikhail\t waiting,\t along\t with\t three\t other\t assassins,\t she\t knew that\tword\tof\ttheir\tstunt\thad\tsomehow\talready\treached\tthe\tMaster. She\t kept\t her\t mouth\t shut\t as\t she\t and\t Ansel\t knelt\t at\t the\t foot\t of\t the\t Master\u2019s dais,\t heads\t bowed,\t eyes\t on\t the\t floor.\t She\t certainly\t wouldn\u2019t\t convince\t him\t to train\ther\tnow. His\treceiving\tchamber\twas\tempty\ttoday,\tand\teach\tof\this\tsteps\tscraped\tsoftly against\t the\t floor.\t She\t knew\t he\t could\t be\t silent\t if\t he\t wished.\t He\t wanted\t them\t to feel\tthe\tdread\tof\this\tapproach. And\t Celaena\t felt\t it.\t She\t felt\t each\t footstep,\t the\t phantom\t bruises\t on\t her\t face throbbing\twith\tthe\tmemory\tof\tArobynn\u2019s\tfists.\tAnd\tsuddenly,\tas\tthe\tmemory\tof that\tday\techoed\tthrough\ther,\tshe\tremembered\tthe\twords\tSam\tkept\tscreaming\tat Arobynn\tas\tthe\tKing\tof\tthe\tAssassins\tbeat\ther,\tthe\twords\tthat\tshe\tsomehow\thad forgotten\tin\tthe\tfog\tof\tpain:\tI\u2019ll\tkill\tyou! Sam\thad\tsaid\tit\tlike\the\tmeant\tit.\tHe\u2019d\tbellowed\tit.\tAgain\tand\tagain\tand\tagain. The\t clear,\t unexpected\t memory\t was\t almost\t jarring\t enough\t for\t her\t to\t forget where\t she\t was\u2014but\t then\t the\t snow-white\t robes\t of\t the\t Master\t came\t into\t view. Her\tmouth\twent\tdry. \u201cWe\t only\t wanted\t to\t have\t some\t fun,\u201d\t Ansel\t said\t quietly.\t \u201cWe\t can\t return\t the horses.\u201d Celaena,\t head\t still\t lowered,\t glanced\t toward\t Ansel.\t She\t was\t staring\t up\t at\t the Master\t as\t he\t towered\t over\t them.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry,\u201d\t Celaena\t murmured,\t wishing\t she could\tconvey\tit\twith\ther\thands,\ttoo.\tThough\tsilence\tmight\thave\tbeen\tpreferable, she\tneeded\thim\tto\thear\ther\tapology. The\tMaster\tjust\tstood\tthere. Ansel\t was\t the\t first\t to\t break\t under\t his\t stare.\t She\t sighed.\t \u201cI\t know\t it\t was foolish.\tBut\tthere\u2019s\tnothing\tto\tworry\tabout.\tI\tcan\thandle\tLord\tBerick;\tI\u2019ve\tbeen","handling\thim\tfor\tages.\u201d There\t was\t enough\t bitterness\t in\t her\t words\t that\t Celaena\u2019s\t brows\t rose\t slightly. Perhaps\t his\t refusal\t to\t train\t her\t wasn\u2019t\t easy\t for\t Ansel\t to\t bear.\t She\t was\t never outright\t competitive\t about\t getting\t the\t Master\u2019s\t attention,\t but\t \u2026\t After\t so\t many years\tof\tliving\there,\tbeing\tstuck\tas\tthe\tmediator\tbetween\tthe\tMaster\tand\tBerick didn\u2019t\t exactly\t seem\t like\t the\t sort\t of\t glory\t Ansel\t was\t interested\t in.\t Celaena certainly\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tenjoyed\tit. The\t Master\u2019s\t clothes\t whispered\t as\t they\t moved,\t and\t Celaena\t flinched\t when she\tfelt\this\tcalloused\tfingers\thook\tunder\ther\tchin.\tHe\tlifted\ther\thead\tso\tshe\twas forced\t to\t look\t at\t him,\t his\t face\t lined\t with\t disapproval.\t She\t remained\t perfectly still,\t bracing\t herself\t for\t the\t strike,\t already\t praying\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t damage\t her\t too significantly.\t But\t then\t the\t Master\u2019s\t sea-green\t eyes\t narrowed\t ever\t so\t slightly, and\the\tgave\ther\ta\tsad\tsmile\tas\the\treleased\ther. Her\tface\tburned.\tHe\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tabout\tto\thit\ther.\tHe\u2019d\twanted\ther\tto\tlook\tat him,\tto\ttell\thim\ther\tside\tof\tthe\tstory.\tBut\teven\tif\the\twasn\u2019t\tgoing\tto\tstrike\ther,\the still\t might\t punish\t them.\t And\t if\t he\t kicked\t out\t Ansel\t for\t what\t they\u2019d\t done\t \u2026 Ansel\tneeded\tto\tbe\there,\tto\tlearn\tall\tthat\tthese\tassassins\tcould\tteach\ther,\tbecause Ansel\twanted\tto\tdo\tsomething\twith\ther\tlife.\tAnsel\thad\ta\tpurpose.\tAnd\tCelaena \u2026 \u201cIt\twas\tmy\tidea,\u201d\tCelaena\tblurted,\ther\twords\ttoo\tloud\tin\tthe\tempty\tchamber. \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t feel\t like\t walking\t back\t here,\t and\t I\t thought\t it\t would\t be\t useful\t to\t have horses.\tAnd\twhen\tI\tsaw\tthe\tAsterion\tmares\t\u2026\tI\tthought\twe\tmight\tas\twell\ttravel in\t style.\u201d\t She\t gave\t him\t a\t shaky\t half\t grin,\t and\t the\t Master\u2019s\t brows\t rose\t as\t he looked\tbetween\tthem.\tFor\tlong,\tlong\tmoment,\the\tjust\twatched\tthem. Whatever\t he\t saw\t on\t Ansel\u2019s\t face\t suddenly\t made\t him\t nod.\t Ansel\t quickly bowed\ther\thead.\t\u201cBefore\tyou\tdecide\ton\ta\tpunishment\t\u2026\u201d\tShe\tturned\tto\tCelaena, then\tlooked\tback\tat\tthe\tMaster.\t\u201cSince\twe\tlike\thorses\tso\tmuch,\tmaybe\twe\tcould \u2026\tbe\ton\tstable\tduty?\tFor\tthe\tmorning\tshift.\tUntil\tCelaena\tleaves.\u201d Celaena\talmost\tchoked,\tbut\tshe\tschooled\ther\tfeatures\tinto\tneutrality. A\t faint\t glimmer\t of\t amusement\t shone\t in\t his\t eyes,\t and\t he\t considered\t Ansel\u2019s words\t for\t a\t moment.\t Then\t he\t nodded\t again.\t Ansel\t loosened\t a\t breath.\t \u201cThank you\t for\t your\t lenience,\u201d\t she\t said.\t The\t Master\t glanced\t toward\t the\t doors\t behind them.\tThey\twere\tdismissed. Ansel\t got\t to\t her\t feet,\t and\t Celaena\t followed\t suit.\t But\t as\t Celaena\t turned,\t the Master\t grabbed\t her\t arm.\t Ansel\t paused\t to\t watch\t as\t the\t Master\t made\t a\t few motions\t with\t his\t hand.\t When\t he\t finished,\t Ansel\u2019s\t brows\t rose.\t He\t repeated\t the motions\tagain\u2014slower,\tpointing\tto\tCelaena\trepeatedly.\tWhen\tit\tseemed\tshe\twas certain\tshe\tunderstood\thim,\tAnsel\tturned\tto\tCelaena.","\u201cYou\u2019re\tto\treport\tto\thim\tat\tsunset\ttomorrow.\tFor\tyour\tfirst\tlesson.\u201d Celaena\t bit\t back\t her\t sigh\t of\t relief,\t and\t gave\t the\t Master\t a\t genuine\t grin.\t He returned\t a\t hint\t of\t a\t smile.\t She\t bowed\t deeply,\t and\t couldn\u2019t\t stop\t smiling\t as\t she and\tAnsel\tleft\tthe\thall\tand\theaded\tto\tthe\tstables.\tShe\thad\tthree\tand\ta\thalf\tweeks left\u2014that\twould\tbe\tmore\tthan\tenough\ttime\tto\tget\tthat\tletter. Whatever\t he\t had\t seen\t in\t her\t face,\t whatever\t she\t had\t said\t \u2026\t somehow,\t she\u2019d proven\therself\tto\thim\tat\tlast. It\t turned\t out\t that\t they\t weren\u2019t\t just\t responsible\t for\t shoveling\t horse\t dung.\t Oh, no\u2014they\twere\tresponsible\tfor\tcleaning\tthe\tpens\tof\tall\tthe\tfour-legged\tlivestock in\tthe\tfortress,\ta\ttask\tthat\ttook\tthem\tfrom\tbreakfast\tuntil\tnoon.\tAt\tleast\tthey\tdid it\tin\tthe\tmorning,\tbefore\tthe\tafternoon\theat\treally\tmade\tthe\tsmell\tatrocious. Another\t benefit\t was\t that\t they\t didn\u2019t\t have\t to\t go\t running.\t Though\t after\t four hours\t of\t shoveling\t animal\t droppings,\t Celaena\t would\t have\t begged\t to\t take\t the six-mile\trun\tinstead. Anxious\tas\tshe\twas\tto\tbe\tout\tof\tthe\tstables,\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\tcontain\ther\tgrowing trepidation\t as\t the\t sun\t arced\t across\t the\t sky,\t heading\t toward\t sunset.\t She\t didn\u2019t know\t what\t to\t expect;\t even\t Ansel\t had\t no\t idea\t what\t the\t Master\t might\t have\t in mind.\t They\t spent\t the\t afternoon\t sparring\t as\t usual\u2014with\t each\t other,\t and\t with whatever\t assassins\t wandered\t into\t the\t shade\t of\t the\t open-air\t training\t courtyard. And\twhen\tthe\tsun\tfinally\thovered\tnear\tthe\thorizon,\tAnsel\tgave\tCelaena\tsqueeze on\tthe\tshoulder\tand\tsent\ther\tto\tthe\tMaster\u2019s\thall. But\tthe\tMaster\twasn\u2019t\tin\this\treceiving\thall,\tand\twhen\tshe\tran\tinto\tIlias,\the\tjust gave\t her\t his\t usual\t smile\t and\t pointed\t toward\t the\t roof.\t After\t taking\t a\t few staircases\t and\t then\t climbing\t a\t wooden\t ladder\t and\t squeezing\t through\t a\t hatch\t in the\tceiling,\tshe\tfound\therself\tin\tthe\topen\tair\thigh\tatop\tthe\tfortress. The\t Master\t stood\t by\t the\t parapet,\t gazing\t across\t the\t desert.\t She\t cleared\t her throat,\tbut\the\tremained\twith\this\tback\tto\ther. The\troof\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tmore\tthan\ttwenty\tsquare\tfeet,\tand\tthe\tonly\tthing on\t it\t was\t a\t covered\t reed\t basket\t placed\t in\t the\t center.\t Torches\t burned, illuminating\tthe\trooftop. Celaena\t cleared\t her\t throat\t again,\t and\t the\t Master\t finally\t turned.\t She\t bowed, which,\t strangely,\t was\t something\t she\t felt\t he\t actually\t deserved,\t rather\t than something\t she\t ought\t to\t do.\t He\t gave\t her\t a\t nod\t and\t pointed\t to\t the\t reed\t basket, beckoning\ther\tto\topen\tthe\tlid.\tDoing\ther\tbest\tnot\tto\tlook\tskeptical,\thoping\tthere was\ta\tbeautiful\tnew\tweapon\tinside,\tshe\tapproached.\tShe\tstopped\twhen\tshe\theard the\thissing.","Unpleasant,\tdon\u2019t-come-closer\thissing.\tFrom\tinside\tthe\tbasket. She\t turned\t to\t the\t Master,\t who\t hopped\t onto\t one\t of\t the\t merlons,\t his\t bare\t feet dangling\tin\tthe\tgap\tbetween\tone\tblock\tof\tstone\tand\tthe\tnext,\tand\tbeckoned\ther again.\tPalms\tsweating,\tCelaena\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath\tand\tsnatched\tback\tthe\tlid. A\tblack\tasp\tcurled\tinto\titself,\thead\tdrawn\tback\tlow\tas\tit\thissed. Celaena\tleapt\taway\ta\tyard,\tmaking\tfor\tthe\tparapet\twall,\tbut\tthe\tMaster\tlet\tout a\tlow\tclick\tof\this\ttongue. His\t hands\t moved,\t flowing\t and\t winding\t through\t the\t air\t like\t a\t river\u2014like\t a snake.\tObserve\tit,\the\tseemed\tto\ttell\ther.\tMove\twith\tit. She\tlooked\tback\tat\tthe\tbasket\tin\ttime\tto\tsee\tthe\tslender,\tblack\thead\tof\tthe\tasp slide\tover\tthe\trim,\tthen\tdown\tto\tthe\ttiled\troof. Her\t heart\t thundered\t in\t her\t chest.\t It\t was\t poisonous,\t wasn\u2019t\t it?\t It\t had\t to\t be.\t It looked\tpoisonous. The\t snake\t slithered\t across\t the\t roof,\t and\t Celaena\t inched\t back\t from\t it,\t not daring\t to\t look\t away\t for\t even\t a\t heartbeat.\t She\t reached\t for\t a\t dagger,\t but\t the Master\tagain\tclicked\this\ttongue.\tA\tglance\tin\this\tdirection\twas\tenough\tfor\ther\tto understand\tthe\tmeaning\tof\tthe\tsound. Don\u2019t\tkill\tit.\tAbsorb. The\tsnake\tmoved\teffortlessly,\tlazily,\tand\ttasted\tthe\tevening\tair\twith\tits\tblack tongue.\tWith\ta\tdeep,\tsteadying\tbreath,\tCelaena\tobserved. She\tspent\tevery\tnight\tthat\tweek\ton\tthe\troof\twith\tthe\tasp,\twatching\tit,\tcopying its\t movements,\t internalizing\t its\t rhythm\t and\t sounds\t until\t she\t could\t move\t like\t it moved,\tuntil\tthey\tcould\tface\teach\t other\tand\tshe\tcould\tanticipate\thow\t it\twould lunge;\tuntil\tshe\tcould\tstrike\tlike\tthe\tasp,\tswift\tand\tunflinching. After\tthat,\tshe\tspent\tthree\tdays\tdangling\tfrom\tthe\trafters\tof\tthe\tfortress\tstables with\tthe\tbats.\tIt\ttook\ther\tlonger\tto\tfigure\tout\ttheir\tstrengths\u2014how\tthey\tbecame so\t silent\t that\t no\t one\t noticed\t they\t were\t there,\t how\t they\t could\t drown\t out\t the external\t noise\t and\t focus\t only\t on\t the\t sound\t of\t their\t prey.\t And\t after\t that,\t it\t was two\tnights\tspent\twith\tjackrabbits\ton\tthe\tdunes,\tlearning\ttheir\tstillness,\tabsorbing how\t they\t used\t their\t speed\t and\t dexterity\t to\t evade\t talons\t and\t claws,\t how\t they slept\t above\t ground\t to\t better\t hear\t their\t enemies\t approaching.\t Night\t after\t night, the\t Master\t watched\t from\t nearby,\t never\t saying\t a\t word,\t never\t doing\t anything except\toccasionally\tpointing\tout\thow\tan\tanimal\tmoved. As\tthe\tremaining\tweeks\tpassed,\tshe\tsaw\tAnsel\tonly\tduring\tmeals\tand\tfor\tthe few\t hours\t they\t spent\t each\t morning\t shoveling\t manure.\t And\t after\t a\t long\t night spent\t sprinting\t or\t hanging\t upside\t down\t or\t running\t sideways\t to\t see\t why\t crabs","bothered\t moving\t like\t that,\t Celaena\t was\t usually\t in\t no\t mood\t to\t talk.\t But\t Ansel was\t merry\u2014almost\t gleeful,\t more\t and\t more\t with\t every\t passing\t day.\t She\t never said\twhy,\texactly,\tbut\tCelaena\tfound\tit\trather\tinfectious. And\tevery\tday,\tCelaena\twent\tto\tsleep\tafter\tlunch\tand\tdozed\tuntil\tthe\tsun\twent down,\t her\t dreams\t full\t of\t snakes\t and\t rabbits\t and\t chirping\t desert\t beetles. Sometimes\tshe\tspotted\tMikhail\ttraining\tthe\tacolytes,\tor\tfound\tIlias\tmeditating\tin an\tempty\ttraining\troom,\tbut\tshe\trarely\tgot\tthe\tchance\tto\tspend\ttime\twith\tthem. They\thad\tno\tmore\tattacks\tfrom\tLord\tBerick,\teither.\tWhatever\tAnsel\thad\tsaid during\t that\t meeting\t with\t him\t in\t Xandria,\t whatever\t the\t Master\u2019s\t letter\t had contained,\tit\tseemed\tto\thave\tworked,\teven\tafter\tthe\ttheft\tof\this\thorses. There\t were\t quiet\t moments\t also,\t when\t she\t wasn\u2019t\t training\t or\t toiling\t with Ansel.\tMoments\twhen\ther\tthoughts\tdrifted\tback\tto\tSam,\tto\twhat\the\u2019d\tsaid.\tHe\u2019d threatened\tto\tkill\tArobynn.\tFor\thurting\ther.\tShe\ttried\tto\twork\tthrough\tit,\ttried\tto figure\tout\twhat\thad\tchanged\tin\tSkull\u2019s\tBay\tto\tmake\tSam\tdare\tsay\tsuch\ta\tthing\tto the\tKing\tof\tthe\tAssassins.\tBut\twhenever\tshe\tcaught\therself\tthinking\tabout\tit\ttoo much,\tshe\tshoved\tthose\tthoughts\tinto\tthe\tback\tof\ther\tmind.","CHAPTER 8 \u201cYou\tmean\tto\ttell\tme\tyou\tdo\tthis\tevery\tday?\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid,\ther\tbrows\thigh\ton her\tforehead\tas\tCelaena\tbrushed\trouge\tonto\tthe\tgirl\u2019s\tcheeks. \u201cSometimes\ttwice\ta\tday,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid,\tand\tAnsel\topened\tan\teye.\tThey\twere sitting\t on\t Celaena\u2019s\t bed,\t a\t scattering\t of\t cosmetics\t between\t them\u2014a\t small fraction\t of\t Celaena\u2019s\t enormous\t collection\t back\t in\t Rifthold.\t \u201cBesides\t being useful\tfor\tmy\twork,\tit\u2019s\tfun.\u201d \u201cFun?\u201d\tAnsel\topened\ther\t other\teye.\t\u201cSmearing\tall\tthis\tgunk\ton\tyour\tface\t is fun?\u201d Celaena\tset\tdown\ther\tpot\tof\trouge.\t\u201cIf\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tshut\tup,\tI\u2019ll\tdraw\ta\tmustache on\tyou.\u201d Ansel\u2019s\tlips\ttwitched,\tbut\tshe\tclosed\ther\teyes\tagain\tas\tCelaena\traised\tthe\tlittle container\tof\tbronze\tpowder\tand\tdusted\tsome\ton\ther\teyelids. \u201cWell,\t it\t is\t my\t birthday.\t And\t Midsummer\t Eve,\u201d\t Ansel\t said,\t her\t eyelashes fluttering\t beneath\t the\t tickle\t of\t Celaena\u2019s\t delicate\t brush.\t \u201cWe\t so\t rarely\t get\t to have\tfun.\tI\tsuppose\tI\tshould\tlook\tnice.\u201d Ansel\t always\t looked\t nice\u2014better\t than\t nice,\t actually\u2014but\t Celaena\t didn\u2019t need\t to\t tell\t her\t that.\t \u201cAt\t a\t minimum,\t at\t least\t you\t don\u2019t\t smell\t like\t horse droppings.\u201d Ansel\t let\t out\t a\t breathy\t chuckle,\t the\t air\t warm\t on\t Celaena\u2019s\t hands\t as\t they hovered\t near\t her\t face.\t She\t kept\t quiet\t while\t Celaena\t finished\t with\t the\t powder, then\theld\tstill\tas\tshe\tlined\ther\teyes\twith\tkohl\tand\tdarkened\ther\tlashes. \u201cAll\tright,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid,\tsitting\tback\tso\tshe\tcould\tsee\tAnsel\u2019s\tface.\t\u201cOpen.\u201d Ansel\topened\ther\teyes,\tand\tCelaena\tfrowned. \u201cWhat?\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid. Celaena\tshook\ther\thead.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\thave\tto\twash\tit\tall\toff.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d \u201cBecause\tyou\tlook\tbetter\tthan\tI\tdo.\u201d Ansel\tpinched\tCelaena\u2019s\tarm.\tCelaena\tpinched\ther\tback,\tlaughter\ton\ther\tlips. But\t then\t the\t single\t remaining\t week\t that\t Celaena\t had\t left\t loomed\t before\t her,","brief\t and\t unforgiving,\t and\t her\t chest\t tightened\t at\t the\t thought\t of\t leaving.\t She hadn\u2019t\teven\tdared\task\tthe\tMaster\tfor\ther\tletter\tyet.\tBut\tmore\tthan\tthat\t\u2026\tWell, she\u2019d\t never\t had\t a\t female\t friend\u2014never\t really\t had\t any\t friends\u2014and\t somehow, the\tthought\tof\treturning\tto\tRifthold\twithout\tAnsel\twas\ta\ttad\tunbearable. The\tMidsummer\tEve\tfestival\twas\tlike\tnothing\tCelaena\thad\tever\texperienced. She\u2019d\t expected\t music\t and\t drinking\t and\t laughter,\t but\t instead,\t the\t assassins gathered\t in\t the\t largest\t of\t the\t fortress\t courtyards.\t And\t all\t of\t them,\t including Ansel,\t were\t totally\t silent.\t The\t moon\t provided\t the\t only\t light,\t silhouetting\t the date\ttrees\tswaying\talong\tthe\tcourtyard\twalls. But\tthe\tstrangest\tpart\twas\tthe\tdancing.\tEven\tthough\tthere\twas\tno\tmusic,\tmost of\t the\t people\t danced\u2014some\t of\t the\t dances\t foreign\t and\t strange,\t some\t of\t them familiar.\t Everyone\t was\t smiling,\t but\t aside\t from\t the\t rustle\t of\t clothing\t and\t the scrape\tof\tmerry\tfeet\tagainst\tthe\tstones,\tthere\twas\tno\tsound. But\t there\t was\t wine,\t and\t she\t and\t Ansel\t found\t a\t table\t in\t a\t corner\t of\t the courtyard\tand\tfully\tindulged\tthemselves. Though\t she\t loved,\t loved,\t loved\t parties,\t Celaena\t would\t have\t rather\t spent\t the night\t training\t with\t the\t Master.\t With\t only\t one\t week\t left,\t she\t wanted\t to\t spend every\twaking\tmoment\tworking\twith\thim.\tBut\the\u2019d\tinsisted\tshe\tgo\tto\tthe\tparty\u2014 if\t only\t because\t he\t wanted\t to\t go\t to\t the\t party.\t The\t old\t man\t danced\t to\t a\t rhythm Celaena\t could\t not\t hear\t or\t make\t out,\t and\t looked\t more\t like\t someone\u2019s benevolent,\t clumsy\t grandfather\t than\t the\t master\t of\t some\t of\t the\t world\u2019s\t greatest assassins. She\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t but\t think\t of\t Arobynn,\t who\t was\t all\t calculated\t grace\t and restrained\taggression\u2014Arobynn\twho\tdanced\twith\ta\tselect\tfew,\tand\twhose\tsmile was\trazor-sharp. Mikhail\t had\t dragged\t Ansel\t to\t the\t dancing,\t and\t she\t was\t grinning\t as\t she twirled\tand\tbobbed\tand\tbounced\tfrom\tpartner\tto\tpartner,\tall\tof\tthe\tassassins\tnow keeping\t the\t same,\t silent\t beat.\t Ansel\t had\t experienced\t such\t horror,\t and\t yet\t she was\tstill\tso\tcarefree,\tso\tkeenly\talive.\tMikhail\tcaught\ther\tin\this\tarms\tand\tdipped her,\tlow\tenough\tfor\tAnsel\u2019s\teyes\tto\twiden. Mikhail\ttruly\tliked\tAnsel\u2014that\tmuch\twas\tobvious.\tHe\talways\tfound\texcuses to\ttouch\ther,\talways\tsmiled\tat\ther,\talways\tlooked\tat\ther\tas\tif\tshe\twere\tthe\tonly person\tin\tthe\troom. Celaena\t sloshed\t the\t wine\t around\t in\t her\t glass.\t If\t she\t were\t being\t honest, sometimes\t she\t thought\t Sam\t looked\t at\t her\t that\t way.\t But\t then\t he\u2019d\t go\t and\t say something\t absurd,\t or\t try\t to\t undermine\t her,\t and\t she\u2019d\t chide\t herself\t for\t even","thinking\tthat\tabout\thim. Her\tstomach\ttightened.\tWhat\thad\tArobynn\tdone\tto\thim\tthat\tnight?\tShe\tshould have\t inquired\t after\t him.\t But\t in\t the\t days\t afterward,\t she\u2019d\t been\t so\t busy,\t so wrapped\t in\t her\t rage\t \u2026\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t dared\t look\t for\t him,\t actually.\t Because\t if Arobynn\thad\thurt\tSam\tthe\tway\the\u2019d\thurt\ther\u2014if\the\u2019d\thurt\tSam\tworse\tthan\tthat \u2026 Celaena\tdrained\tthe\trest\tof\ther\twine.\tDuring\tthe\ttwo\tdays\tafter\tshe\u2019d\tawoken from\t her\t beating,\t she\u2019d\t used\t a\t good\t chunk\t of\t her\t savings\t to\t purchase\t her\t own apartment,\t away\t and\t well\t hidden\t from\t the\t Assassins\u2019\t Keep.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t told anyone\u2014partially\t because\t she\t was\t worried\t she\t might\t change\t her\t mind\t while she\t was\t away\u2014but\t with\t each\t day\t here,\t with\t each\t lesson\t with\t the\t Master,\t she was\t more\t and\t more\t resolved\t to\t tell\t Arobynn\t she\t was\t moving\t out.\t She\t was actually\teager\tto\tsee\tthe\tlook\ton\this\tface.\tShe\tstill\towed\thim\tmoney,\tof\tcourse\u2014 he\u2019d\tseen\tto\tit\tthat\ther\tdebts\twould\tkeep\ther\twith\thim\tfor\ta\twhile\u2014but\tthere\twas no\trule\tthat\tsaid\tshe\thad\tto\tlive\twith\thim.\tAnd\tif\the\tever\tlaid\ta\thand\ton\ther\tagain \u2026 If\t Arobynn\t ever\t laid\t a\t hand\t on\t her\t or\t Sam\t again,\t she\u2019d\t see\t to\t it\t that\t he\t lost that\thand.\tActually,\tshe\u2019d\tsee\tto\tit\tthat\the\tlost\teverything\tup\tto\tthe\telbow. Someone\t touched\t her\t shoulder,\t and\t Celaena\t looked\t up\t from\t her\t empty\t wine goblet\tto\tfind\tIlias\tstanding\tbehind\ther.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tmuch\tof\thim\tin\tthe\tpast few\tdays,\taside\tfrom\tat\tdinner,\twhere\the\tstill\tglanced\tat\ther\tand\tgave\ther\tthose lovely\tsmiles.\tHe\toffered\this\thand. Celaena\u2019s\t face\t instantly\t warmed\t and\t she\t shook\t her\t head,\t trying\t her\t best\t to convey\ta\tsense\tof\tnot\tknowing\tthese\tdances. Ilias\tshrugged,\this\teyes\tbright.\tHis\thand\tremained\textended. She\tbit\ther\tlip\tand\tglanced\tpointedly\tat\this\tfeet.\tIlias\tshrugged\tagain,\tthis\ttime as\tif\tto\tsuggest\tthat\this\ttoes\tweren\u2019t\tall\tthat\tvaluable,\tanyway. Celaena\tglanced\tat\tMikhail\tand\tAnsel,\tspinning\twildly\tto\ta\tbeat\tonly\tthe\ttwo of\t them\t could\t hear.\t Ilias\t raised\t his\t brows.\t Live\t a\t little,\t Sardothien!\t Ansel\t had said\tthat\tday\tthey\tstole\tthe\thorses.\tWhy\tnot\tlive\ta\tlittle\ttonight,\ttoo? Celaena\tgave\thim\ta\tdramatic\tshrug\tand\ttook\this\thand,\ttossing\ta\twry\tsmile\this way.\tI\tsuppose\tI\tcould\tspare\ta\tdance\tor\ttwo,\tshe\twanted\tto\tsay. Even\t though\t there\t was\t no\t music,\t Ilias\t led\t her\t through\t the\t dances\t with\t ease, each\tof\this\tmovements\tsure\tand\tsteady.\tIt\twas\thard\tto\tlook\taway\u2014not\tjust\tfrom his\t face,\t but\t also\t from\t the\t contentment\t that\t radiated\t from\t him.\t And\t he\t looked back\tat\ther\tso\tintently\tthat\tshe\thad\tto\twonder\tif\the\u2019d\tbeen\twatching\ther\tall\tthese","weeks\tnot\tonly\tto\tprotect\this\tfather. They\tdanced\tuntil\twell\tafter\tmidnight;\twild\tdances\tthat\tweren\u2019t\tat\tall\tlike\tthe waltzes\t she\u2019d\t learned\t in\t Rifthold.\t Even\t when\t she\t switched\t partners,\t Ilias\t was always\t there,\t waiting\t for\t the\t next\t dance.\t It\t was\t almost\t as\t intoxicating\t as\t the oddity\tof\tdancing\tto\tno\tmusic,\tto\thearing\ta\tcollective,\tsilent\trhythm\u2014to\tletting the\t wind\t and\t the\t sighing\t sand\t outside\t the\t fortress\t provide\t the\t beat\t and\t the melody.\tIt\twas\tlovely\tand\tstrange,\tand\tas\tthe\thours\tpassed,\tshe\toften\twondered if\tshe\u2019d\tstrayed\tinto\tsome\tdream. When\t the\t moon\t was\t setting,\t Celaena\t found\t herself\t leaving\t the\t dance\t floor, doing\t her\t best\t to\t convey\t how\t exhausted\t she\t was.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t a\t lie.\t Her\t feet\t hurt, and\t she\t hadn\u2019t\t had\t a\t proper\t night\u2019s\t rest\t in\t weeks\t and\t weeks.\t Ilias\t tried\t pulling her\t back\t onto\t the\t floor\t for\t one\t last\t dance,\t but\t she\t nimbly\t slipped\t out\t of\t his grasp,\t grinning\t as\t she\t shook\t her\t head.\t Ansel\t and\t Mikhail\t were\t still\t dancing, holding\teach\tother\tcloser\tthan\tany\tother\tpair\ton\tthe\tdance\tfloor.\tNot\twanting\tto interrupt\ther\tfriend,\tCelaena\tleft\tthe\thall,\tIlias\tin\ttow. She\t couldn\u2019t\t deny\t that\t her\t racing\t heartbeat\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t from\t the\t dancing\t as they\twalked\tdown\tthe\tempty\thall.\tIlias\tstrolled\tbeside\ther,\tsilent\tas\tever,\tand\tshe swallowed\ttightly. What\t would\t he\t say\u2014that\t is,\t if\t he\t could\t speak\u2014if\t he\t knew\t that\t Adarlan\u2019s Assassin\t had\t never\t been\t kissed?\t She\u2019d\t killed\t men,\t freed\t slaves,\t stolen\t horses, but\t she\u2019d\t never\t kissed\t anyone.\t It\t was\t ridiculous,\t somehow.\t Something\t that\t she should\thave\tgotten\tout\tof\tthe\tway\tat\tsome\tpoint,\tbut\tshe\u2019d\tnever\tfound\tthe\tright person. All\t too\t quickly,\t they\t were\t standing\t outside\t the\t door\t to\t her\t room.\t Celaena didn\u2019t\t touch\t the\t door\t handle,\t and\t tried\t to\t calm\t her\t breathing\t as\t she\t turned\t to face\tIlias. He\t was\t smiling.\t Maybe\t he\t didn\u2019t\t mean\t to\t kiss\t her.\t His\t room\t was,\t after\t all, just\ta\tfew\tdoors\tdown. \u201cWell,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\tAfter\tso\tmany\thours\tof\tsilence,\tthe\tword\twas\tjarringly\tloud. Her\t face\t burned.\t He\t stepped\t closer,\t and\t she\t tried\t not\t to\t flinch\t as\t he\t slipped\t a hand\taround\ther\twaist.\tIt\twould\tbe\tso\tsimple\tto\tkiss\thim,\tshe\trealized. His\tother\thand\tslid\tagainst\ther\tneck,\this\tthumb\tcaressing\ther\tjaw\tas\the\tgently tilted\t her\t head\t back.\t Her\t blood\t pounded\t through\t every\t inch\t of\t her.\t Her\t lips parted\t\u2026\tbut\tas\tIlias\tinclined\this\thead,\tshe\twent\trigid\tand\tstepped\tback. He\t immediately\t withdrew,\t his\t brows\t crossed\t with\t concern.\t She\t wanted\t to seep\t into\t the\t stones\t and\t disappear.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry,\u201d\t she\t said\t thickly,\t trying\t not\t to look\ttoo\tmortified.\t\u201cI\u2014I\tcan\u2019t.\tI\tmean,\tI\u2019m\tleaving\tin\ta\tweek.\tAnd\t\u2026\tand\tyou live\t here.\t And\t I\u2019m\t in\t Rifthold,\t so\t \u2026\u201d\t She\t was\t babbling.\t She\t should\t stop.","Actually,\tshe\tshould\tjust\tstop\ttalking.\tForever. But\t if\t he\t sensed\t her\t mortification,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t show\t it.\t Instead,\t he\t bowed\t his head\t and\t squeezed\t her\t shoulder.\t Then\t he\t gave\t her\t one\t of\t those\t shrugs,\t which she\tinterpreted\tto\tmean,\tIf\tonly\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tlive\tthousands\tof\tmiles\tapart.\tBut\tcan you\tblame\tme\tfor\ttrying? With\t that,\t he\t strode\t the\t few\t feet\t to\t his\t room.\t He\t gave\t her\t a\t friendly\t wave before\tdisappearing\tinside. Alone\t in\t the\t hallway,\t Celaena\t watched\t the\t shadows\t cast\t by\t the\t torches.\t It hadn\u2019t\tbeen\tthe\tmere\timpossibility\tof\ta\trelationship\twith\tIlias\tthat\thad\tmade\ther pull\taway. No;\tit\twas\tthe\tmemory\tof\tSam\u2019s\tface\tthat\thad\tstopped\ther\tfrom\tkissing\thim. Ansel\tdidn\u2019t\tcome\tback\tto\ttheir\troom\tthat\tnight.\tAnd\twhen\tshe\tstumbled\tinto the\t stables\t the\t following\t morning,\t still\t wearing\t her\t clothes\t from\t the\t party, Celaena\t could\t assume\t she\u2019d\t either\t spent\t the\t whole\t night\t dancing,\t or\t with Mikhail.\tFrom\tthe\tflush\ton\tAnsel\u2019s\tfreckled\tcheeks,\tCelaena\tthought\tit\tmight\tbe both. Ansel\t took\t one\t look\t at\t the\t grin\t on\t Celaena\u2019s\t face\t and\t glowered.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t you even\tstart.\u201d Celaena\tshoveled\ta\theap\tof\tmanure\tinto\tthe\tnearby\twagon.\tLater\tshe\u2019d\tcart\tit to\t the\t gardens,\t where\t it\t would\t be\t used\t for\t fertilizer.\t \u201cWhat?\u201d\t Celaena\t said, grinning\teven\twider.\t\u201cI\twasn\u2019t\tgoing\tto\tsay\tanything.\u201d Ansel\t snatched\t her\t shovel\t from\t where\t it\t leaned\t against\t the\t wooden\t wall, several\t pens\t down\t from\t where\t Kasida\t and\t Hisli\t now\t had\t their\t new\t homes. \u201cGood.\tI\tgot\tenough\tof\tit\tfrom\tthe\tothers\twhile\tI\twas\twalking\there.\u201d Celaena\tleaned\tagainst\ther\tshovel\tin\tthe\topen\tgate.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tsure\tMikhail\twill\tget his\tfair\tshare\tof\tteasing,\ttoo.\u201d Ansel\t straightened,\t her\t eyes\t surprisingly\t dark.\t \u201cNo,\t he\t won\u2019t.\t They\u2019ll congratulate\thim,\tjust\tlike\tthey\talways\tdo,\tfor\ta\tconquest\twell\tmade.\u201d\tShe\tlet\tout a\t long\t sigh\t from\t her\t nose.\t \u201cBut\t me?\t I\u2019ll\t get\t teased\t until\t I\t snap\t at\t them.\t It\u2019s always\tthe\tsame.\u201d They\tcontinued\ttheir\twork\tin\tsilence.\tAfter\ta\tmoment,\tCelaena\tspoke.\t\u201cEven though\tthey\ttease\tyou,\tyou\tstill\twant\tto\tbe\twith\tMikhail?\u201d Ansel\t shrugged\t again,\t flinging\t dung\t into\t the\t pile\t she\u2019d\t gathered\t into\t the wagon.\t \u201cHe\u2019s\t an\t amazing\t warrior;\t he\u2019s\t taught\t me\t far\t more\t than\t I\t would\t have learned\t without\t him.\t So\t they\t can\t tease\t me\t all\t they\t want,\t but\t at\t the\t end\t of\t the day,\the\u2019s\tstill\tthe\tone\tgiving\tme\textra\tattention\twhen\twe\ttrain.\u201d","That\tdidn\u2019t\tsit\twell\twith\tCelaena,\tbut\tshe\topted\tto\tkeep\ther\tmouth\tshut. \u201cBesides,\u201d\t Ansel\t said,\t glancing\t sidelong\t at\t Celaena,\t \u201cnot\t all\t of\t us\t can\t so easily\tconvince\tthe\tMaster\tto\ttrain\tus.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\t stomach\t twisted\t a\t little.\t Was\t Ansel\t jealous\t of\t that?\t \u201cI\u2019m\t not entirely\tsure\twhy\the\tchanged\this\tmind.\u201d \u201cOh?\u201d\t Ansel\t said,\t sharper\t than\t Celaena\t had\t ever\t heard\t her.\t It\t scared\t her, surprisingly.\t \u201cThe\t noble,\t clever,\t beautiful\t assassin\t from\t the\t North\u2014the\t great Celaena\t Sardothien,\t has\t no\t idea\t why\t he\u2019d\t want\t to\t train\t her?\t No\t idea\t that\t he might\t want\t to\t leave\t his\t mark\t on\t you,\t too?\t To\t have\t a\t hand\t in\t shaping\t your glorious\tfate?\u201d Celaena\u2019s\t throat\t tightened,\t and\t she\t cursed\t herself\t for\t feeling\t so\t hurt\t by\t the words.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tthe\tMaster\tfelt\tthat\tway\tat\tall,\tbut\tshe\tstill\thissed,\t\u201cYes, my\tglorious\tfate.\tShoveling\tdung\tin\ta\tbarn.\tA\tworthy\ttask\tfor\tme.\u201d \u201cBut\tcertainly\ta\tworthy\ttask\tfor\ta\tgirl\tfrom\tthe\tFlatlands?\u201d \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t say\t that,\u201d\t Celaena\t said\t through\t her\t teeth.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t put\t words\t in\t my mouth.\u201d \u201cWhy\t not?\t I\t know\t you\t think\t it\u2014and\t you\t know\t I\u2019m\t telling\t the\t truth.\t I\u2019m\t not good\t enough\t for\t the\t Master\t to\t train\t me.\t I\t began\t seeing\t Mikhail\t to\t get\t extra attention\t during\t lessons,\t and\t I\t certainly\t don\u2019t\t have\t a\t notorious\t name\t to\t flaunt around.\u201d \u201cFine,\u201d\t Celaena\t said.\t \u201cYes:\t most\t of\t the\t people\t in\t the\t kingdoms\t know\t my name\u2014know\t to\t fear\t me.\u201d\t Her\t temper\t rose\t with\t dizzying\t speed.\t \u201cBut\t you\t \u2026 You\twant\tto\tknow\tthe\ttruth\tabout\tyou,\tAnsel?\tThe\ttruth\tis,\teven\tif\tyou\tgo\thome and\tget\twhat\tyou\twant,\tno\tone\twill\tgive\ta\tdamn\tif\tyou\ttake\tback\tyour\tspeck\tof territory\u2014no\t one\t will\t even\t hear\t about\t it.\t Because\t no\t one\t except\t for\t you\t will even\tcare.\u201d She\t regretted\t the\t words\t the\t instant\t they\t left\t her\t mouth.\t Ansel\u2019s\t face\t went white\t with\t anger,\t and\t her\t lips\t trembled\t as\t she\t pressed\t them\t together.\t Ansel threw\t down\t her\t shovel.\t For\t a\t moment,\t Celaena\t thought\t that\t she\u2019d\t attack,\t and even\twent\tas\tfar\tas\tslightly\tbending\ther\tknees\tin\tanticipation\tof\ta\tfight. But\t Ansel\t stalked\t past\t her\t and\t said,\t \u201cYou\u2019re\t just\t a\t spoiled,\t selfish\t bitch.\u201d With\tthat,\tshe\tleft\tCelaena\tto\tfinish\ttheir\tmorning\tchores.","CHAPTER 9 Celaena\t couldn\u2019t\t focus\t on\t her\t lesson\t with\t the\t Master\t that\t night.\t All\t day, Ansel\u2019s\twords\thad\tbeen\tringing\tin\ther\tears.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\tseen\ther\tfriend\tfor\thours \u2014and\tdreaded\tthe\tmoment\twhen\tshe\u2019d\thave\tto\treturn\tto\ther\troom\tand\tface\ther again.\tThough\tCelaena\thated\tto\tadmit\tit,\tAnsel\u2019s\tparting\tclaim\thad\tfelt\ttrue.\tShe was\tspoiled.\tAnd\tselfish. The\tMaster\tsnapped\this\tfingers,\tand\tCelaena,\twho\twas\tyet\tagain\tstudying\tan asp,\tlooked\tup.\tThough\tshe\u2019d\tbeen\tmirroring\tthe\tsnake\u2019s\tmovements,\tshe\thadn\u2019t noticed\tit\twas\tslowly\tcreeping\ttoward\ther. She\tleapt\tback\ta\tfew\tfeet,\tcrouching\tclose\tto\tthe\troof\u2019s\twall,\tbut\tstopped\twhen she\t felt\t the\t Master\u2019s\t hand\t on\t her\t shoulder.\t He\t motioned\t to\t leave\t the\t snake\t be and\tsit\tbeside\thim\ton\tthe\tmerlons\tthat\tran\taround\tthe\troof.\tGrateful\tfor\ta\tbreak, she\t hopped\t up,\t trying\t not\t to\t glance\t down\t at\t the\t ground\t far,\t far\t below.\t Though she\twas\twell\tacquainted\twith\theights,\tand\thad\tno\tproblems\twith\tbalance,\tsitting on\tan\tedge\tnever\treally\tfelt\tnatural. The\tMaster\traised\this\teyebrows.\tTalk,\the\tseemed\tto\tsay. She\ttucked\ther\tleft\tfoot\tunder\ther\tright\tthigh,\tmaking\tsure\tto\tkeep\tan\teye\ton the\tasp,\twhich\tslithered\tinto\tthe\tshadows\tof\tthe\troof. But\ttelling\thim\tabout\ther\tfight\twith\tAnsel\tfelt\tso\t\u2026\tchildish.\tAs\tif\tthe\tMaster of\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins\twould\twant\tto\thear\tabout\ta\tpetty\tsquabble. Cicadas\t buzzed\t in\t the\t trees\t of\t the\t keep,\t and\t somewhere\t in\t the\t gardens,\t a nightingale\tsang\ther\tlament.\tTalk.\tTalk\tabout\twhat? She\t didn\u2019t\t have\t anything\t to\t say,\t so\t they\t sat\t on\t the\t parapet\t in\t silence\t for\t a while\u2014until\teven\tthe\tcicadas\twent\tto\tsleep,\tand\tthe\tmoon\tslipped\taway\tbehind them,\t and\t the\t sky\t began\t to\t brighten.\t Talk.\t Talk\t about\t what\t had\t been\t haunting her\tthese\tmonths.\tHaunting\tevery\tthought,\tevery\tdream,\tevery\tbreath.\tTalk. \u201cI\u2019m\tscared\tto\tgo\thome,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tat\tlast,\tstaring\tout\tat\tthe\tdunes\tbeyond\tthe walls. The\t predawn\t light\t was\t bright\t enough\t for\t her\t to\t see\t the\t Master\u2019s\t brows\t rise. Why?","\u201cBecause\teverything\twill\tbe\tdifferent.\tEverything\tis\talready\tdifferent.\tI\tthink everything\t changed\t when\t Arobynn\t punished\t me,\t but\t \u2026\t Some\t part\t of\t me\t still thinks\t that\t the\t world\t will\t go\t back\t to\t the\t way\t it\t was\t before\t that\t night.\t Before\t I went\tto\tSkull\u2019s\tBay.\u201d The\tMaster\u2019s\teyes\tshone\tlike\temeralds.\tCompassionate\u2014sorrowful. \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t sure\t I\t want\t it\t to\t go\t back\t to\t the\t way\t it\t was\t before,\u201d\t she\t admitted. \u201cAnd\tI\tthink\t\u2026\tI\tthink\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tscares\tme\tthe\tmost.\u201d The\t Master\t smiled\t at\t her\t reassuringly,\t then\t rolled\t his\t neck\t and\t stretched\t his arms\tover\this\thead\tbefore\tstanding\tatop\tthe\tmerlon. Celaena\ttensed,\tunsure\tif\tshe\tshould\tfollow. But\tthe\tMaster\tdidn\u2019t\tlook\tat\ther\tas\the\tbegan\ta\tseries\tof\tmovements,\tgraceful and\twinding,\tas\telegant\tas\ta\tdance\tand\tdeadly\tas\tthe\tasp\tthat\tlurked\ton\tthe\troof. The\tasp. Watching\t the\t Master,\t she\t could\t see\t each\t of\t the\t qualities\t she\t had\t copied\t for the\t past\t few\t weeks\u2014the\t contained\t power\t and\t swiftness,\t the\t cunning\t and\t the smooth\trestraint. He\twent\tthrough\tthe\tmotions\tagain,\tand\tit\ttook\tonly\ta\tglance\tin\ther\tdirection to\t get\t her\t to\t her\t feet\t atop\t the\t parapet\t wall.\t Mindful\t of\t her\t balance,\t she\t slowly copied\t him,\t her\t muscles\t singing\t with\t the\t rightness\t of\t the\t movements.\t She grinned\t as\t night\t after\t night\t of\t careful\t observation\t and\t mimicry\t clicked\t into place. Again\t and\t again,\t the\t sweep\t and\t curve\t of\t her\t arm,\t the\t twisting\t of\t her\t torso, even\t the\t rhythm\t of\t her\t breathing.\t Again\t and\t again,\t until\t she\t became\t the\t asp, until\tthe\tsun\tbroke\tover\tthe\thorizon,\tbathing\tthem\tin\tred\tlight. Again\t and\t again,\t until\t there\t was\t nothing\t left\t but\t the\t Master\t and\t her\t as\t they greeted\tthe\tnew\tday. An\thour\tafter\tsunup,\tCelaena\tcrept\tinto\ther\troom,\tbracing\therself\tfor\tanother fight,\t but\t found\t Ansel\t already\t gone\t to\t the\t stables.\t Since\t Ansel\t had\t abandoned her\t to\t do\t the\t chores\t by\t herself\t yesterday,\t Celaena\t decided\t to\t return\t the\t favor. She\tsighed\twith\tcontentment\tas\tshe\tcollapsed\tatop\ther\tbed. She\t was\t later\t awoken\t by\t someone\t shaking\t her\t shoulder\u2014someone\t who smelled\tlike\tmanure. \u201cIt\t had\t better\t be\t afternoon,\u201d\t Celaena\t said,\t rolling\t onto\t her\t stomach\t and burying\ther\tface\tin\ther\tpillow. Ansel\tchuckled.\t\u201cOh,\tit\u2019s\talmost\tdinner.\tAnd\tthe\tstables\tand\tpens\tare\tin\tgood order,\tno\tthanks\tto\tyou.\u201d","\u201cYou\tleft\tme\tto\tdo\tit\tall\tyesterday,\u201d\tCelaena\tmumbled. \u201cYes,\twell\t\u2026\tI\u2019m\tsorry.\u201d Celaena\tpeeled\ther\tface\tfrom\tthe\tpillow\tto\tlook\tat\tAnsel,\twho\tstood\tover\tthe bed.\tAnsel\ttwisted\ther\thands.\tShe\twas\twearing\ther\tarmor\tagain.\tAt\tthe\tsight\tof it,\tCelaena\twinced\tas\tshe\trecalled\twhat\tshe\u2019d\tsaid\tabout\ther\tfriend\u2019s\thomeland. Ansel\ttucked\ther\tred\thair\tbehind\ther\tears.\t\u201cI\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tsaid\tthose\tthings about\tyou.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\u2019re\tspoiled\tor\tselfish.\u201d \u201cOh,\t don\u2019t\t worry.\t I\t am\u2014very\t much\t so.\u201d\t Celaena\t sat\t up.\t Ansel\t gave\t her\t a weak\t smile.\t \u201cBut,\u201d\t she\t went\t on,\t \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry\t for\t what\t I\t said,\t too.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t mean it.\u201d Ansel\t nodded,\t glancing\t toward\t the\t shut\t door,\t as\t if\t she\t expected\t someone\t to be\tthere.\t\u201cI\thave\tlots\tof\tfriends\there,\tbut\tyou\u2019re\tthe\tfirst\ttrue\tfriend\tI\u2019ve\thad.\tI\u2019ll be\tsorry\tto\tsee\tyou\tgo.\u201d \u201cI\t still\t have\t five\t days,\u201d\t Celaena\t said.\t Given\t how\t popular\t Ansel\t was,\t it\t was surprising\u2014and\tsomewhat\trelieving\u2014to\thear\tthat\tshe\u2019d\talso\tfelt\tslightly\talone. Ansel\tflicked\ther\teyes\tto\tthe\tdoor\tagain.\tWhat\twas\tshe\tnervous\tabout?\t\u201cTry\tto remember\tme\tfondly,\twill\tyou?\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll\ttry.\tBut\tit\tmight\tbe\thard.\u201d Ansel\t let\t out\t a\t quiet\t laugh\t and\t took\t two\t goblets\t from\t the\t table\t beneath\t the window.\t\u201cI\tbrought\tus\tsome\twine.\u201d\tShe\thanded\tone\tto\tCelaena.\tAnsel\tlifted\ther copper\tgoblet.\t\u201cTo\tmaking\tamends\u2014and\tfond\tmemories.\u201d \u201cTo\t being\t the\t most\t fearsome\t and\t imposing\t girls\t the\t world\t has\t ever\t seen.\u201d Celaena\traised\ther\tgoblet\thigh\tbefore\tshe\tdrank. As\tshe\tswallowed\ta\tlarge\tmouthful\tof\twine,\tshe\thad\ttwo\tthoughts. The\tfirst\twas\tthat\tAnsel\u2019s\teyes\twere\tnow\tfilled\twith\tunmasked\tsorrow. And\tthe\tsecond\u2014which\texplained\tthe\tfirst\u2014was\tthat\tthe\twine\ttasted\tstrange. But\tCelaena\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ttime\tto\tconsider\twhat\tpoison\tit\twas\tbefore\tshe\theard her\town\tgoblet\tclatter\tto\tthe\tfloor,\tand\tthe\tworld\tspun\tand\twent\tblack.","CHAPTER 10 Someone\twas\thammering\tagainst\tan\tanvil\tsomewhere\tvery,\tvery\tclose\tto\ther head.\t So\t close\t that\t she\t felt\t each\t beat\t in\t her\t body,\t the\t sound\t shattering\t through her\tmind,\tstirring\ther\tfrom\tsleep. With\t a\t jolt,\t Celaena\t sat\t up.\t There\t was\t no\t hammer\t and\t no\t anvil\u2014just\t a pounding\t headache.\t And\t there\t was\t no\t assassins\u2019\t fortress,\t only\t endless\t miles\t of red\tdunes,\tand\tKasida\tstanding\twatch\tover\ther.\tWell,\tat\tleast\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tdead. Cursing,\tshe\tgot\tto\ther\tfeet.\tWhat\thad\tAnsel\tdone? The\t moon\t illuminated\t enough\t of\t the\t desert\t for\t her\t to\t see\t that\t the\t assassins\u2019 fortress\t was\t nowhere\t in\t sight,\t and\t that\t Kasida\u2019s\t saddlebags\t were\t full\t of\t her belongings.\tExcept\tfor\ther\tsword.\tShe\tsearched\tand\tsearched,\tbut\tit\twasn\u2019t\tthere. Celaena\t reached\t for\t one\t of\t her\t two\t long\t daggers,\t but\t stiffened\t when\t she\t felt\t a scroll\tof\tpaper\ttucked\tinto\ther\tbelt. Someone\thad\talso\tleft\ta\tlantern\tbeside\ther,\tand\tit\ttook\tonly\ta\tfew\tmoments\tfor Celaena\tto\tget\tit\tlit\tand\tnestled\tinto\tthe\tdune.\tKneeling\tbefore\tthe\tdim\tlight,\tshe unrolled\tthe\tpaper\twith\tshaking\thands.\tIt\twas\tin\tAnsel\u2019s\thandwriting,\tand\twasn\u2019t long. Celaena\tread\tthe\tletter\tthree\ttimes\tto\tmake\tsure\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tmissed\tsomething. She\t was\t being\t let\t go\u2014but\t why?\t She\t had\t the\t letter\t of\t approval,\t at\t least,\t but\t \u2026"]
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