Kevan quickly related all that had happened. "What shall I do?" he asked when he'd finished. "Obviously I can't go to—wherever it is—and just steal the girl."
There was a heavy sigh out of the air above his head. "It is a rather difficult task," admitted the voice, "for one of your inexperience. Unfortunately, there are no other agents unengaged at the moment, so I guess there's nothing to do but go get the girl."
"I won't," Kevan MacGreene said grimly. "I've had enough of this. I quit."
"My dear boy," the voice said, "you can't quit. If you're not employed by me, there is no way back here, and without the badge of my office you might find it rather difficult to get along where you are."
Kevan was silent in the grip of frustration.
"Besides," the voice continued sternly, "don't forget that you're a MacGreene. Once removed from the County Ulster 'tis true, but still a MacGreene. Quitting is not for the likes of you."
It was, moreover, the only argument to sway Kevan MacGreene. "Okay," he said wearily, "where do I find this Yggdrasil?"
"Just go due Southeast by Northwest and you can't miss it." The voice sounded pleased with itself.
"And what is Yggdrasil?" Kevan asked.
"The world tree—and that's why you can't miss it. You'll see it miles before you reach it. How much time did Alviss give you?"