"Yes. That," Alacruun replies, lips pressed into a thin, humorless smile, "Being treated like some sort of pet hawk or an attack dog, with the possibility of having my mouth sewn shut if I ever felt like achieving something for myself. No better than the Quiet. Worse, in a way, although at least the Quiet have the contentment of not truly knowing what it is they've lost..."

Both make his skin crawl, honestly. One large hand curls into a fist.

"I have had quite enough of prisons in my lifetime. I won't allow myself to be chained again."