Page 103 of Hellbound

“Oh, I know about his compulsion.” Varka rapped her finger against several aged journals laid bare on the table. “I gathered as many books written by bondsmiths as I could over the years, anything to preserve them from Karsan’s blight.”

Ksenia stepped in closer, taking in texts she thought had been destroyed. The depth of Varka’s preparation and knowledge was immense.

Varka circled the table slowly, eyes flitting to various books. “I’ve stayed away from Hearth for years, and I know the compulsion can wear off with time because that’s what happened to me.” Her eyes flared. “And that’s how I operated within the Bound Eye right beneath his nose. I suspect Karsan himself doesn’t know the exact limits of his compulsion either, and I intend to keep it that way.”

Ksenia had suspected as much, but was relieved to hear the confirmation from Varka’s own mouth.

Varka had reached full circle around the table and was back in front of Ksenia. “And that’s how I knew you were a bondsmith. You had to pledge fealty to get to the citadel.” Her smile was toothy. “And it’s the only way that what happened next was possible: You tried to attack the bastard prince on Hearth’s doorstep and spoke freely against the king.”

Ksenia’s eye twitched as she turned over the possibilities in her head. “But how did you avoid the bloodletting then?”

“I’m rich. And you think you’re the only one who knows about the secret passageways within Hearth? And the Vein?” Varka chuckled. “Karsan has become lax, complacent in his security. He’s dependent on Radegast.” Her gaze sharpened on Ksenia. “He thinks he controls everyone. You included.”

“Naturally,” Ksenia replied.

“His loyal Sevrant—a bondsmith—who has to learn every vulnerability in the castle.” Varka’s fingers traced an architectural diagram on the table.

Ksenia leaned in. “Who decides which ones get fixed, which ones get left alone.”

“A courtesan in his inner circle who reports back on secrets she learns, or maybe not.” She paused. “You’ve killed for him. You almost died for him. My only sorrow is that I didn’t find you sooner.”

“But you found me, regardless,” Ksenia finished.

“How appropriate it will be when his weapon turns on him.” Their eyes locked with a smile.

Varka leaned against the edge of the table. “So, then. Now that you know I’m a Bound Eye operative, and I know you are a bondsmith, I have a plan.”

She spread out a map and several dossiers before Ksenia.

“His power rests on three pillars,” Varka began. “His hold on the faithful, his hold on the coin, and lastly, his hold on the woman who steadies him.”

Ksenia riffled through the dossiers. “You want to isolate him.”

“I want to drive him to paranoia,” Varka corrected. “He will start seeing threats everywhere and tighten his circle until there’s no one left, which will leave him open for attack.” She held Ksenia’s gaze. “As a double agent in his inner circle, you’re the only person immune and capable of assassinating him.”

Karsan never let Radegast out of his grip.

But isolated? Maybe. Maybe she had a shot.

This was a massive risk.

Ksenia wished to believe what Varka claimed about being free of Karsan’s compulsion, but all it took was one drop of blood to pull her back under.

Then, anything Varka knew or kept secret would be laid bare to Karsan if he knew what to ask.

Ksenia licked her lips. “I’ll agree to this only if you continue to remain far away from Hearth and Karsan. The knowledge you have is too risky to fall into his hands.”

Varka rolled her eyes. “Believe me, I’ve been avoiding him successfully for years.”

The noblewoman extended her forearm to Ksenia, who grasped it firmly in return.

“Three pillars, then we kill the king.” Ksenia smiled.

28

Dawn arrived, and the clouds painted the sky pewter through a steady mist of rain.

Ksenia had packed her meager belongings from Beranek Manor. The Sevrant’s position was by the side of the king, and that required moving to Hearth, deep in the belly of the beast.