[He's just being realistic, okay. He hesitates, then tightens his arms around Signless]

I knoww you havve a lot a protectivve feelins about your friend, Signless. And he's fragile in his owwn wway. He needs your help. But has it occurred to you that you might hold him back a little by shielding him so much?

[He lets out a sigh] There's no one in the city I knoww of wwho wwants to make him more of a slavve or exploit his wweakness.