He could bristle at that in turn, about how just because he's a templar or a Southerner doesn't mean he can't befriend a mage from Tevinter. Some instinct keeps him quiet on that. It's foolish to assume every little thing is about him at all. It could just as easily be something unrelated, and then he'd look a proper ass.

It's much easier to rise to the less emotionally charged bait about the guards. He does it with a will. "Please. Just watch Guardsman Hendyr. If he doesn't take at least three servings of ram tonight, I'll owe you a gold piece. And no cheating and asking him not to ahead of time. I'll be watching."