Alistair's eyebrows fly upward. In his surprise, he fumbles the catch, the bag jostling precariously in his grip before he manages to get ahold of it.

Did they -- ? They did.

(That...probably means the news has gotten worse, but Alistair's willing to be appeased. Bribed. Whatever.)

"Right," he says. "Er, lead on, then?"

Before they depart, he glances Cullen's way again: grateful, the smile a little bigger.