In The Assassin and the Desert, Celaena has been punished for her role in messing up the slave trade Arobynn was planning. As part of her punishment, she has been sent to the Mute Master and is tasked with coming back holding a letter of recommendation. If she doesn’t, things could get worse for her. On top of a month long trek across the desert to get there, Celaena has no idea what happened to Sam after her beating.

Celaena takes the month she has with the Silent Assassins to convince the Master to train her and along the way meets Ansel, another girl who is training to be an assassin and they build what Celaena thinks is the beginning of a solid friendship. When things take a turn at the Keep, Celaena has to make a decision that will impact how she interacts with people going forward. It is also one that helps her in the long run. As she ends up saving the Mute Master, he recognizes her strength and provides her with a way to get back her independence/freedom from Arobynn.

Another great peek into Celaena's background.