[ disarming, sure. it's disarming enough to give gabranth pause, pause enough to turn at look directly at his companion with a raised eyebrow. ]

Much as I appreciate your candor, I do believe I shall be the one handling your protection.

[ he is the one with a paladin asterisk, after all. even though he is somewhat less accustomed to bearing a shield than a sword, he has no small amount of confidence in his own ability to do just that. still... ]

Still, your academic training certainly won't go amiss.