Cadi felt a little of the the tension in her arms and hands, as much from forcing them still when they wanted to reach for her weapon and shield as from the fight itself, ease away as she watched the dwarf sheath his sword. She didn't miss that he'd positioned himself between her and the mage, though, and Cadi reminded herself not to relax too much. Her rescuers might still turn out to be enemies, or label her as one if she said something they didn't want to hear. And between the fight and the travel that had preceded it, she'd probably want to fall down as soon as she stopped worrying.
The band of... soldiers?-- no, they were too odd a group, and they wouldn't be merchants with two mages in their midst and far too many fighters-- seemed intent on making her more at ease, though, at least if she read that compliment right. Cadi bit back half a dozen replies on the lines of either “you're a dwarf; seeing another beserker can't possibly be that interesting” or “please tell me everything you have ever heard about the beserker style right now”. Instead, she said, “Thanks. You're quite good yourself,” since it was the only thing she could think of that wouldn't risk annoying several armed or magically talented people.
After that, the dwarf apparently got over the shock at seeing an elf who didn't trip over her own sword or the urge towards flattery-- Cadi still wasn't sure what had motivated that strange comment-- and moved on to more practical topics. She spent a moment trying to remember the name of the village she'd received her pay at before deciding it wasn't important. “North and east, mostly east,” she replied.
Something about her answer, or maybe his question, bothered the man, because her turned back to his companion and muttered something that Cadi didn't quite catch.
She used the lull to scan the rest of the strange collection of people. Two more dwarves-- though neither had decided to join the interrogation, a second mage, a handful of humans, and an an elven man. He looked a few years younger than her, but old enough that she would have known him if he'd been born in Denerim, so he Dalish or from one of the handful of other alienages. Still, it was comforting to not be completely surrounded by shemlans. She nodded politely when he introduced himself.
“Cadi Seris,” she replied. “I'm not sure who they were. There was a group of kidnappers and robbers in the area not long ago. They were supposed to all be dead or gone,” -not a lie but suitably ambiguous in case her saviors had issues with mercenaries- “but there might have been more that I hadn't heard about.” Cadi shrugged. “Or they might have been someone else.” That was a nasty thought that hadn't occurred to her before: the possibility that those men might have been locals outraged at the sight of an armed elf, or worse, inspired by the opportunities posed by a lone elven woman.
Cadi decided she didn't want to consider possible explanations anymore and shoved that thought to the back of her mind. Conveniently, a distraction presented itself in the form one of Jaden's companions walking up to them and insisting they move on. Which was odd, considering that the rest of the group seemed content to loot the bodies or ask her questions, but no odder than anything else about the group. He'd offered to let her accompany them, though, so maybe he was planning to continue the interrogation later. Cadi considered turning him down to avoid further questions and the possibility, however slight it was starting to seem, of being knifed in her sleep, but he had a point about protection. And liar he might have been, but at least her last client had paid well enough that she could afford to pass up on the chance of work between here and Lothering. “Sure,” she said. “Thank you.”
Cadi picked her shield up, slow and careful enough that anyone still twitchy wouldn't mistake it for an attack, and strapped it to her back. Apparently they were leaving soon. She blinked back the first hints of fatigue – or maybe just severe confusion-- and nodded absently at the human woman who wandered over. It had been a very strange day. Hopefully it would be over soon.