He knocked over the cloven Genlock, and heard the coarse voice of Oghren to the side. He took the 'fight like a Dwarf' comment as a compliment. He gave a light punch to his bearded comrade's shoulder. "What? Drunk and off balance?" he quipped above the roar of battle. The Dwarf's following offer to fight together wasn't one he could refuse. 

Probably even if he wanted to, he noted as he saw the advancing Darkspawn. Years of frustration and inner turmoil boiled up at the sight of the huge army before them. He gripped his sword hilt tighter, and Gideon barked in a challenge. [i]Even if I wanted to? I'd never want to[/i]. 
He ran forward, powerful legs pumping and sending him gaining and then passing the short strides of Oghren. He skidded to a stop just before he was within sword range of the Genlock Alpha, sidestepped and took a feel for how it moved, sword out wide. Almost predictable, the Alpha gave a vicious diagonal slash. He whipped his sword across, catching the other sword by the base of his blade, near the hilt. Suddenly he stepped forward, pressing the aloft blade to the monster's throat and shoving forward to embed the two hander's edge into its throat. The noise of its gurgle and seeing it reach for its torn esophagus was more satisfying than he'd have admitted in front of fairer company. 

He then saw the very curious sight of Nicolette wade through the battle, her voice carrying to his ears. He shrugged. He would have thought she'd be a good example of company that he'd keep quiet around, but this girl didn't seem too shy of bloodshed either from the looks of it. Gideon yapped excitedly, then sprang forward and launched himself into a small group of Genlocks that had approached too close for comfort. He barreled into them, kicking and biting and ripping. It was a sight that always impressed the soldier. This was the same dog that peed and put out too many campfires, he thought to himself. Time and urgency seemed to return to him in a flood of realization, and both Rannon and Oghren ran forward and cut the disoriented monsters down with fierce strokes, not three strides from Nicolette's position. Crudely made armor sundered under their heavy blades, the sound of metal being punched and broken apart cut through the air.