For three seconds that feel like twenty, Alistair considers lying. It would be a very easy lie--one letter--and arguably a harmless one. But if Zevran doesn't have ears everywhere, Leliana certainly does. It will be less harmless if it comes back around that way. If it's something Zevran decides Alistair believes anyone should be ashamed of.

So, "He," he says, awkwardly but without emphasis, something he wants to brush quickly past, "called me Your Highness, so I left."

That's not a lie. Not entirely. It was only an attempt at friendly cheekiness that Alistair might have handled better if he were in a better mood, though, and more than anything an excuse to get offended and disentangle himself without admitting that he was the problem.

"I don't want to talk about it," he adds, in case his scowling at the water in front of him didn't make that clear. "Congratulations on your--brandy."