"Perhaps the sheer fact that you and I are getting on might be enough to make them think twice. At least, if I tell them that you're under my protection, they'll be too busy berating me to worry about you wandering off."

Sparhawk seems quite happy with his reasoning, at least until the significance of what Martel said penetrates his brain. "You don't expect more than you earned? You mean you expected me to want you dead if I ever came here? What would you have done if I greeted you with an embrace?"