The Assassin's Blade

Because I’d pick you.”
And then she kissed him.

“My name is Celaena Sardothien, and I will not be afraid.”

second-in-command. Celaena knew ve

She’d caught the dagger, of course, and ever since, Gregori had borne the scar on his cheek from her return throw.

“When you give your master his letter, also give him this. And tell him that in the Red Desert, we do not abuse our disciples.”

“If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything. Some people learn to embrace it—to love it. Some endure it through drowning it in sorrow, or by making themselves forget. Others turn it into anger. But Ansel let her pain become hate, and let it consume her until she became something else entirely—a person I don’t think she ever wished to be.”

“That everything has a price.”

And education and culture were equally important—words could be just as deadly as steel.

“The next time you’re in Rifthold,” she said slowly, “seek out Arobynn Hamel.” The man’s eyes widened. She wondered how he’d react if he knew who she was. “He’ll know where to find me.” She turned from the table.

“But what’s your name?”

She looked over her shoulder. “He’ll know where to find me,” she repeated, and began walking back toward the stall with the pointed shoes

“If Arobynn Hamel is telling the story, then yes, I suppose I did deserve it. I cost him a good deal of money—a kingdom’s worth of riches, probably. I was disobedient and disrespectful, and completely remorseless about what I did.”