The withdrawal from Nemet Grove took longer than the battle.
The survivors were sent in small groups through Yggdrasil's roots, each accompanied by a healer and a witch responsible for recording which route they had come from. The captured agents were transported separately, wearing enchanted blindfolds, with their shadows restrained and different seals placed on each of them so that a single failure could not free everyone at once. The Cartographer was the last to be taken away. The Direction Eye remained inside a transparent box carried by Eleonor, while the unconscious woman was transported by Violet and two guards.
Kael remained seated until Sylphie finished closing the most damaged channels.
"You can stand now," she said.
"How generous."
"That does not mean you can run."
"I was not planning to."
Umbra appeared behind the chair.
"Liar."
Kael looked at her.
"You are supposed to defend me."
"I defend you when you are right."
