The Assassin's Blade

Celaena Sardothien returns to the Assassin’s Keep in Rifthold with her letter from the Mute Master. She ignores one of the other assassins, Wesley, who tells her Arobynn is busy. She enters his office, and Arobynn gestures for her to sit. She gives him the letter and sits down while he reads it. He makes a quip about expecting her to be tanner. He then apologizes for beating her that night. He says he prayed to the gods for forgiveness, then gives her an apology gift of a brooch. He then tells her he has another gift: an assassination contract on Benzo Doneval, a prominent businessman from Melisande. Doneval is traveling to Adarlan with Leighfer Bardingdale to convince the King of Adarlan to build a road to connect Adarlan, Melisande, and Fenharrow, which would greatly enrich Melisande. Arobynn considers the hit on Doneval a gift to Celaena because Doneval is planning a meeting with a contact in Rifthold to set up an enslavement trade agreement. He also has documents with the names of those opposed to enslavement in Melisande to threaten them into agreeing with the deal. Arobynn claims Leighfer does not believe in enslavement, which is why she has hired Arobynn to have Doneval killed and the documents retrieved.