The Bard suddenly froze as he was about to act. His soul was being drawn from his body, bit by bit.
"A Demon's lackey thinks he's fit to speak to me?"
Aidan was at the end of his strength, but he refused to yield. Holding up the Eye of Rudolf, he continued pulling out the Bard's soul.
"You... can't... ah—"
The Bard's face twisted with anger as his soul was sucked into the Eye of Rudolf.
Aidan swayed but managed to steady himself. He looked back at Annan, still a black speck in the distance, then walked toward the World Tree. It no longer seemed so far away.
The World Tree's roots rose and fell like mountain ranges. The figure walking among them looked impossibly small.
At last, Aidan stopped before a root as tall as a city wall, though it was insignificant to the World Tree. He turned toward Annan and Tadel, who were racing after him, and could almost make out the desperation on their faces.
"I won..." Aidan whispered, taking out the Eye of Rudolf.
The sleeping Young Dragon's soul was drawn out. Starting at its wings, it dissolved bit by bit into shimmering light that fell across the World Tree's roots.
Such nourishment meant next to nothing to the World Tree... but it would drive all the Elves mad—
The child of a Demigod had been absorbed as nourishment by the World Tree.
Aidan looked back at Annan and Tadel as they finally reached him.
"Here. Take her back."
He kept his word and released Irilanze's soul, letting her drift toward Annan.
Annan cupped Irilanze's soul in his hands. His expression was grave and uneasy, but relief showed plainly on his face.
"Are we still friends?" Aidan asked him.
Annan carefully put her away. "Not anymore,"