Throne of Glass

Dorian’s mother Queen Georgina would be horrified to learn about the secret competition taking place at Rifthold and the number of criminals currently living in their castle. Georgina tells Dorian that he must marry soon and produce an heir. Deflecting, Dorian replies that there are no princesses left since his father conquered the neighboring kingdoms. Princess Nehemia is unwed, but the Queen considers her an unsuitable match. Plus, Nehemia hates the royal family because of what the King has done to Eyllwe. Georgina wishes that Perrington were not courting Kaltain—she would be a good match for Dorian. Dorian is profoundly bored by the women of the court, his father’s obsession with conquest, and even the tournament for Champion, which he assumes will come down to Celaena or Cain. Dorian feels like an outsider in Rifthold and would be desperately lonely without Chaol. Georgina gives Dorian a list of women she considers suitable for marriage, and Dorian leaves.

Dorian finds Celaena sparring with three guards in the training room as Nehemia watches. Dorian is shocked that Celaena is allowed to be so close to Nehemia while armed, since Celaena is so dangerous. Celaena scolds Dorian for ignoring her and they trade double-entendres about whether Dorian or Chaol is more skilled at “handling [his] sword” (132). Dorian realizes that he is attracted to Celaena. When he tells her that it is not appropriate for her to spar with Nehemia, Celaena tricks Dorian into sparring with Nehemia by acting as their translator. 

Celaena’s attraction to Dorian reminds her of her lover Sam, who was killed shortly before Celaena was betrayed and sent to Endovier. Chaol arrives and, appalled, breaks up the sparring and orders Celaena back to her rooms. Celaena confronts Chaol for not trusting her, Chaol calls her a criminal, and Celaena tells Chaol that she hates him before storming off.

Back at court, Perrington speaks with Queen Georgina as Kaltain laments that she didn’t get to speak with Dorian before he left. When Perrington tells Kaltain about the list of eligible young women Georgina gave Dorian, Kaltain tells Perrington about the arrival of “Lillian Gordaina” at court and implies that Dorian is in love with her. Perrington, who knows Celaena’s true identity, calls the rumored relationship “foolish and impossible” (140), but does not elaborate. Kaltain hides her disgust as Perrington makes sexually suggestive remarks to her, and doubles down on her resolve to win Dorian’s heart.

As Dorian and Chaol walk to dinner, Chaol warns Dorian to stay away from Celaena. Dorian denies having feelings for Celaena and suggests that Chaol is being overprotective. Chaol and Dorian discuss the mutilation of Bill the Eye Eater’s corpse, and Dorian reassures Chaol that Chaol can solve the murder. 

In her rooms, Celaena regrets speaking harshly to Chaol. Nervous after Bill’s murder, she fashions a miniature pike from soap and needles and alters her door hinges to squeak loudly. She then plays the piano to calm her nerves. Swept up in the music while thinking of Sam, her lost love, Celaena doesn’t notice Dorian arrive, and he listens, transfixed and deeply attracted to her, before announcing himself. Celaena, startled, leaps from the piano and threatens Dorian with a billiards cue.

Dorian attempts to make small talk about the competition, and Celaena regrets that Chaol despises her, though she doesn’t blame him, given his job as Captain of the Guard and her history as an assassin. Dorian flirts with her, but Celaena tells him she doesn’t want to add being the Crown Prince’s lover to her already notorious reputation. Dorian and Celaena playfully flirt more, until Dorian suggests Celaena was thinking of a secret lover while playing piano, unintentionally guessing the truth. Celaena tells Dorian to leave, accusing the prince of sponsoring her as Champion for his own amusement. When Dorian attempts to tease her again about her secret love, Celaena tells him about the recently dead Sam. Dorian, realizing his mistake, apologizes and wishes Celaena good luck at the second Test the next day. Dorian falls asleep thinking of his mother’s list of suitable brides.

For the second Test, the competitors race to retrieve a flag from the top of the castle wall. While most of the competitors take the safe, obvious route, Celaena chooses to climb a more difficult path to avoid getting tangled up with the others. Early in the Test, the murderer Ned Clement falls from the wall and dies.

Another competitor, frustrated that Nox is about to pass him on the climb, pushes Nox off his foothold and begins to cut the rope as Nox dangles helplessly below. Celaena, almost to the flag and certain victory, slides down a drainpipe, ties the attacking competitor’s rope around her waist, and dives after Nox just as Nox’s rope breaks.

Celaena catches Nox just as Cain reaches the top of the castle wall and retrieves the flag. Celaena and Nox still complete the task, finishing second-to-last and last. Because Ned fell from the wall and died, no additional competitors are eliminated.

Chaol comforts Celaena, who is annoyed at losing to Cain. The assassin Arobynn Hamel would have been furious with her for saving Nox instead of focusing on winning. Arobynn trained Celaena, sparing no expense, and then expected her to work for him to pay back. Celaena had no choice in the matter. Chaol is horrified, but when Celaena confronts Chaol for not apologizing for calling her a criminal, Chaol maintains that he only spoke the truth.

Celaena passes the next two Tests uneventfully, though she is nervous after learning that a second competitor has been murdered. She continues to improve physically, and although Dorian avoids her rooms, he winks and smiles at her at the Tests. Celaena is suddenly unsure of her ability to win the competition.