Ouroboros Spine Finding my purpose

Valiant gazed dubiously at the bird, having never communicated with one himself. But maybe it was — what was Dutch always talking about? Maybe it was women's magic.

That didn't make him any less inclined to be skeptical of the creature.

These worries fled his mind as soon as she revealed her true destination. The willows. Valiant had gone back a few years ago, and truly, that had been enough for him. The smell of roses still made him feel faintly sick, if he let himself think too much about it. He had been toying until then with the idea that he might accompany Minnow on this trip, as a guard if nothing else. But he didn't want to see the willows again, and he thought that this was something Minnow might like a little privacy for.

Mostly, he took it as another sign. He couldn't hold on so tight it strangled her.

"Are you gonna be okay with that?" he asked, his voice soft to keep the conversation private.