The drape of his arm across her shoulders shifts slightly, accommodating the motion before he readjusts and draws his arm back. It is more trade than parting; he catches her hand at first moment.

"Corralling the entirety of the Free Marches will be difficult," John says, though there's no censure in his tone. Difficult is a baseline, at this point. Everything they want to do is difficult. "But it's one way to put pressure on them. Maybe the only way, since from what I can gather most of them are preoccupied to complete uselessness by their wealth."

Even those that are likely sympathetic to Tevinter, rather than just lining their pockets.

"It's a good idea. You should take it to Rutyer, though I wouldn't lead with Flint's name, or mine."