Once it seemed that Lalin's purpose for drawing them aside had been finished, Ordhan's attention was upon his surroundings again. As little as he was inclined to subtlety, being such a beacon of attention made him feel vulnerable. That uncomfortable prickling feeling at the back of his neck that plagued him whenever Dolain was near had started again, and again Ordhan found himself repressing the urge to keep looking over his shoulder. He wanted to be closer to the group they left nearby, for peace of mind about them as well as for himself. Still, his expression was patient and his stance formal as he continued to listen to Lalin. He was not certain if following up a lead after so much time had passed would even be worth their while, but only nodded as she suggested it. To be honest with himself, he was not sure what the next step would be if this lead proved fruitless, and any ideas the others had would be better than nothing.
Ordhan followed Lalin's gaze back to their company, but glanced back again as he did so. The young woman's face looked thoughtful, perhaps anxious. This he could read, but not her thoughts. Did she, like him, find herself at a loss at how to proceed, or doubting how they had approached this so far? He was about to ask, but a sudden frown from her gave him pause. She did not finish the comment she began; instead, her expression changed from concerned to angry, and she was off. Alarm replaced confusion when Ordhan saw her take the bow from her shoulder.
He spun to follow, staying a few paces behind as she pressed further into the Alienage. Lalin did not have the manner of someone preparing an attack, but nonetheless he laid a hand on the hilt of his sword. It took him a moment longer to see what Lalin was heading towards. Falina was there, the sight of whom struck a spark of both relief and the same worried pang as when he first realized she had been excluded. The idea of her having gone off alone worried him, but no--there was Davin, so she was not quite alone, but there was also...
Maker, would there be no peace? He should have expected to see Dolain here, since he likely lived here and would have arrived not long before they did, but Ordhan had entertained the foolish hope of having been freed of him when Dolain ran off. A quick glance over the small group (a third elf with dark hair was there, smiling at Davin) showed that the meeting was not exactly friendly. The knight's brow furrowed into a stern expression. He had never seen Falina angry; whatever Dolain had done to earn it fanned the dislike and distrust Ordhan already held for him. The metal of his gloves scraped against his sword-hilt as he tightened his grip. The confrontation seemed to be of mere words, for now, but he knew that could change in an instant.
Neither Dolain nor Falina were the first to strike, however, but Lalin. The bow, swung like a club, barely missed its target, but only drew a defiant grin in response. Ordhan was close enough, by now, to hear their exchange. He knew that Lalin's assurances during their conversation had been heartfelt, but he was surprised (and, admittedly, smug) to see her shouting at Dolain. Of course, the other seemed to pretend she was not angry at all, even daring to embrace her. Ordhan drew closer, more toward Falina than Lalin and Dolain. Protective anger, ignorant though it was, flared strong in his chest, but his eyes softened when he looked at her. He was vaguely aware of Davin and the other elf nearby; was the stranger someone who could help, or simply a friend of their newest companion? He kept silent, certain he would learn before long.