"Still my favorite," Alistair declares, before giving Cullen another quick kiss on the cheek. Setting the whetstone aside, he scraps a thumbnail over one of the small rust patches near the tip of the blade; maybe he ought to pass that off to a professional, he thinks. No use removing the rust if he accidentally removes some of the etching with it.

"I wonder why Queen Anora thought it was appropriate." That's only a little dry. "Passing this along to the Inquisitor instead of keeping it at the palace. I suppose with Cailan being gone, and me plugging my ears and going 'la la la can't hear you' every time Maric's name came up...still, though."

He looks up.

"Did it happen while I was in the Fade?"