Malcolm raises his eyebrows at Anders, but he makes no argument or at all any comment about his ridiculous sarcasm and otherwise stands his ground. Maybe stands his ground slightly, slightly closer to Anders. That's fine. It'll make saving the man who helped start a war again a little more satisfying to know he's apparently defying expectations.

"We could start piling stones and then also icing them over to add some weight. Iskandar could at least relieve a little pressure of his own weight, but it would still have to be an incremental thing. No offense, but I am wary of adding much more onto that plate with you already on it, dwarven craftsmanship be damned."