Hythlodaeus might have been able to handle the situation if not for that second question. Being pinned down was something he was expecting, if not exactly prepared for, but he freezes at the suggestion, face turning red. The boldness of it aside, the real worst part is that Hades is right: it is something Hythlodaeus would very much so enjoy, and he hates--if such a word could be applied to the situation, really--being confronted with it.

He swallows before answering, desperately trying to think through possible comebacks.

"I thought 'twould be me doing the listening... Agesandros. Was it not a lecture you promised me? The long-overdue censure, mayhaps?" He smiles smugly, as though he's finally spotted the joke. "Ah... Is that why you shielded me from it for so long, my dearest friend? Could you not stand the thought of someone else disciplining me?"