A sudden flare of tension rose up immediately after Ordhan answered. The dwarf's frown was almost polite, but the look in her eyes showed that she had been truly offended. Even though it was not he who said it, Ordhan felt somewhat guilty. Things must have been pleasant enough before he came, and there had been tension ever since.
Ordhan might have been surprised a month ago to hear that the young dawrf woman was a Grey Warden recruit. But Falina was also to join their ranks, and before her he learned of Lalin, whom he was still having a hard time thinking of other than her rock-throwing self. "Warden-Commander Alistair would recruit no one who did not deserve it," Ordhan said with unshakable certainty after the elf replied.
Most of what the Crow said went completely over Ordhan's head. He puzzled over the last words for a moment, baffled, before dismissing them for the question that had been asked. It was not the first time the question was put to him. Not for the first time, he had no answer. "It is not mine to decide. The Warden-Commander chooses those who would be worthy. It will not stop me from fighting beside you," he said. There was a note of trust in his voice. Crow or no, a Grey Warden was a Grey Warden. The moment the elf received the title, any suspicion Ordhan felt would seem like treason.
"I am honored to meet you both." He bowed again. "I am Ser Ordhan. May I ask your names?" Courtly manners were easy to fall back on when conversational ability failed.