"In my life very little has been offered without expectation, spoken or not, of repayment of some sort. I try to make a point of knowing the expected currency before agreeing to any exchange." It was said lightly, gently, not to remark upon the exchange offered but rather his reason for needing to give something in return. Being indebted to anyone was not something he relished the thought of, not even so fine and kind a Lady as this. The finer and kinder, the more reasonable the request seemed at first blush.

The worst came after.

"Both I shall offer to you whenever you wish. I know much of this world and am glad to speak on it- not all of Thedas is so mired in sorrow." The world was a dark place, true, but there was beauty and life to be found even in the deepest of shadows. If Zevran did not believe that he would have gone mad long, long ago. "I would know the name of my new friend, and offer mine in turn. Zevran Arainai, my Lady, at your service."