The Assassin and the Desert is one of the five novellas taking place prior to the Throne of Glass. It was first released as an e-book on March 30'th 2012. It is the first novella in the bind up The Assassin's Blade.
Synopsis
After their stunt with Captain Rolfe of Skulls Bay Celaena and Sam returned to the Assassins's keep and are severely punished by their master, the King of the assassins Arobynn Hamel . Celaena, after being beaten prutalmente was forced to train in the red desert together with the master mute. Among the hot sun and the sand dunes Celaena holds a friendship that leave more than a few broken bones.
Plot
After the debacle in Skull's Bay, Celaena Sardothien is sent to train with The Silent Assassins as punishment by the King of Assassins, Arobynn Hamel. With only a month to gain the approval of The Mute Master, she trains vigorously with the other acolytes including her new friend, Ansel of Briarcliff, but still has yet to train with The Mute Master himself.
Growing frustrated with The Master's inattention, Celaena decides to accompany Ansel to Xandria in order to negotiate a treaty with its ruler, Lord Berick. Seemingly unhappy with the negotiation, Ansel steals one of his prized Asterion Horses, forcing Celaena to steal the other horse in their escape. Confronted by The Mute Master for their theft, Celaena takes the blame so as not to jeopardize Ansel's place at the Keep. With the truth evident in her eyes, The Master decides to finally train Celaena himself which creates tension between her and Ansel.
When Ansel drugs Celaena and leaves her in the desert, she quickly realizes that something is amiss and races back to the assassin's fortress,only to find herself in the midst of a battle, many of her fellow assassins injured or dead. Hoping to save The Mute Master, she arrives at his chambers just in time to see Ansel preparing to execute him. In their ensuing battle, Celaena uses her newly acquired techniques learned from The Master, and disarms Ansel. Deciding to spare her, Ansel flees The Keep of the Silent Assassins to reclaim Briarcliff while Celaena returns to Rifthold, gifted with The Mute Master's seal of approval and trove of gold as payment for his life debt.