“Too much effort,” he replied. “I would recommend my mistress not call me until absolutely needed. If you exert this kind of power continuously, you may weaken yourself for Varia or not be able to command me anymore.”

“Fair enough,” I said. I didn’t feel as though he was close to breaking his servitude, but there seemed no point exerting unnecessary effort. “And now we at least know it works. You can go.” He vanished, and I breathed a little easier.

We continued on, all of us on high alert as we watched the forest for any sign of trouble. Dorian brought his horse up beside mine and said in a low voice, “Was I the only one who noticed Volusian actually advised you of a strategy that would keep you bound to him? Unless things have changed, I’m fairly certain he loathes and wants to destroy you.”

I nodded, thinking back to Volusian’s words. “Oh, that hasn’t changed. But as hard as it is to believe, I think he hates the Yew Land more.”

“That is hard to believe.”

I smiled. “If I did keep him with me nonstop here, it’s possible I would grow too weak to bind him as my servant anymore. True, he’d be able to kill me then—but not while I was in the Yew Land. Because as soon as he broke free, there’d be nothing to pull him back. He’d be banished once again. I think he wants to be here, and I’m the only way to make that happen.”

“Do you think he wants revenge?” asked Dorian.

I recalled Volusian’s animosity when he’d first seen the ambassador’s statues. “Absolutely. Although ... I’m not sure on whom since everyone from that era is dead.”

“Still, you might be courting trouble in allowing him to be here. He might act out on his own—and you might not be able to keep him in check.”

“I know,” I said, wondering what Volusian on a rampage would look like. Not something I wanted to ponder too much. “But he’s still useful to us, which is something I don’t think we can put aside. Besides, this sounds terrible ... but all of us have the same end goals, even him. None of us like the Yew Land.”

“Correction. Volusian doesn’t like the Yew Land. We don’t like Varia.”

“True. Does that mean you think I’m making a mistake in keeping him around?”

“No,” said Dorian, shaking his head. “He’s an asset. And I know how much those mean to you. You certainly told me that enough when I was entranced.”

I groaned and looked away. “I’d been wondering how much you’d remember.”