There is a slight lift to his lips. He is pleased that she no longer startles so easily. 

Eddie stands up, trying to push his entire head into Blaze for additional pats. 

There is a slight wheezing sound from Sten. 

"Hey," she chides gently, shifting so that he doesn't have to be stood. "Don't stand on Sten's stomach like that, it can't be comfortable for him." She snaps her fingers lower to try and get the mabari to lie down.

He sits, depositing most of his small-pony weight onto Sten’s stomach. He cocks his head at her curiously. 

Sten groans. “I did not come to Ferelden to be a seat for large dogs.”

"Oh! I'm sorry! Eddie, here." She snaps her fingers firmly at her own side.

Eddie happily leaps off Sten, trotting to Blaze to stare up at her lovingly. 

Sten sits up, staring suspiciously at the mabari. “It seems I must take you more seriously as an opponent.”

Eddie barks in the affirmative. 

Blaze giggles again, petting Eddie. "He's crafty?"

Eddie looks offended that she doesn’t think so. 

“More than we give him credit for.” Sten’s eyes narrow at the dog, as if trying to examine him for weaknesses. 

Apologetic strokes and scritches. "Yeah, he's a good boy."

“A devious boy.”

Eddie whines pathetically and buries his head in Blaze’s side. 

“Hmmmph.” 

Sten stands, stretching out his arms. “Will you be continuing your training with the assassin?”

"I-I think so? The knives...make more sense. Not that I don't appreciate what you did to help me!"

“There is no point appreciating something that did not work for you. A fisherman does not appreciate a mill, for it does not help his work.” 

He turns a serious look on Blaze. “You will need help building strength. I can still provide assistance. If you wish.”

"I would like that."

"Even cowardly, dodging tactics require strength." He doesn't actually seem to be against them, he says this more like a statement of fact. 

She shrugs a little, nods, and continues fussing over Eddie.

Eddie's eyes are closed in bliss, and his back leg starts thumping on the ground.

"You are spoiling him."

Blaze pauses for a second, thinks. "Yeah. But that's my choice."