Ordhan immediately berated himself when Falina saw his expression. She must have taken his hesitation to heart, out of the context he felt it; for a painful second the cheer on her face faltered before returning. He resolved to guard his face and thoughts more carefully. Brooding and memories were best left to time alone, not marring time spent with a new friend--especially if they resulted in misunderstanding. Falina's attention was now raptly fixed on Bethen.
The knight took the opportunity to smooth away both doubt and guilt from his expression, replacing them with a look of polite interest. That, itself, was a mask for the eager curiosity beneath. How often had he wished he could hear the thoughts of a mage, not a templar or Chantry sister, of the life mages lived and the dangers they faced?
Bethen was cautious, however, as she began her explanation. Perhaps it was Ordhan's presence that gave her pause; if her opinion differed from Chantry teaching, she may hesitate to speak it in front of a stranger. He wished at the same time to be absent, so that she could speak freely, but to hear as well--a pity he could not do both. Her reply was diplomatic, closely following what he already knew, but there was something about her wording that suggested dissent from the common view. Perhaps he was reading too much into it.
It was in silence that he listened to their exchange, attention growing more rapt as the subject drifted towards the dangers mages faced. A thousand questions begged to be asked, but all were denied; hopefully, with Falina's curiosity and infectious enthusiasm, she would learn what he wished to know.