...Martel begins to laugh, quietly. "That's either the stupidest, maddest thing I've ever heard, or the most brilliant."

Well. It is - and it's not as though the idea of alcohol loosening the tongue that way is a particularly new one, or even one that Martel's personally unfamiliar with. Of course, he's more likely to keep himself sober for fear of it...in any case, the alcohol explains the careful choosing of words. He's readily acquainted with losing track of his own under the same circumstances.

"Walk with me, Sparhawk. This is no place for that conversation."