Since he does not say it, she does not have to decide whether to protest or lie. Or both.

If she knew, she would be grateful.

"That's something," Ysalwen says, after a moment. "That's a start. You -- I'm glad. I'll want to hear what you make of it. When -- "

Well.

"When -- if -- should you come back."

Or maybe he'll come back dead. It's happened for worse people. Though maybe that's it's own form of suffering, too. Andraste's ass!