He nodded. "There was a lot of resentment at first. I had an uphill fight on my hands." He didn't seem as though he resented the fact. He had expected it. Promotions like that didn't happen without people doubting and talking.

"No, her rank...that has nothing to do with what I meant," he agreed. Meredith wasn't the sort who was supportive for empathy's sake alone. If she hadn't believed him up to the task or useful, he wouldn't have received the time of day from her. He knew that.

"It helped a lot, having someone see me in a way I had a hard time seeing myself. Eventually, I didn't need that any more. I'm still grateful. I doubt I need to tell you what that's like. You've gained the admiration of an impressive array of people difficult to impress in your time in Kirkwall, well before this Champion business."