There never was one

He easily caught every outward signal she offered and found he was pleased that she’d eventually softened at his presence. Despite the fact that they had only met once before, he counted himself a very good judge of character and highly proficient in picking interesting individuals out of a sea of dull, shallow breaks. She was a force to be reckoned with, for better or worse, and he stepped into place at her side as though they hadn’t actually parted ways well over a month ago.

Frankly, I didn’t intend to consider guarding anyone else’s mountain, he said with a rumble of amusement. You had my foremost attention the moment I offered it. I only took the time to survey the region with particular emphasis paid to the pests you mentioned. Those I found, at any rate, he murmured deeply, feeling no need to explicitly state the absence of the Vale wolves when he assumed she would already knew they were no longer there. He then cast his gaze sidelong at her as they walked. It seems I missed your founding party. I meant to bring a gift in acknowledgement of it, but I’m afraid you’ve found me empty-handed. The forest has been quiet this evening.