There never was one

Not a single word of annoyance was uttered further. At her reply, he considered the idea that he hadn’t arrived any later than necessary, at least for the purposes of delivering the support he’d offered her. While he might have otherwise been present to advise her against putting her trust in the wolf that had eventually betrayed her values, it was arguably her mistake to make. She was half his age and he doubted she’d spent much time in the upper echelons of leadership despite her formidable capabilities. She recognised her misplacement of trust and would not be nearly so quick to make the same error in judgment a second time.

On the path along the way she asked him about his ambitions, which he took as a question of how much investment he was willing to make as opposed to what he wanted if he stayed. To guard your mountain the way I stood guard over Lilac Valley, he said without reservation. The sentiment to that was fairly deep and he doubted that she would understand it in that moment. He would let her come to know on her own. You need only ask for more. However, I’m certain I’ll be of greater use if you wouldn’t mind telling me about those who already follow you, he prompted.