His breath comes in sharp when he's called highblood. It takes him a second to remind himself that was common atribution to all highbloods, not just the one that took "His Grandness". Pointing out that he lacked cull rights didn't help none at all.

But the good thing about being an Avox was that he was trained to not show pain. He draws on that, even though it makes the pen even more unsteady than it was.

don't want no cull right

How does he do this? How does a not-troll explain to another non-troll that he's more?

a friend.
won't hurt you.
you're free
promise

He forces his shaking hands to turn those words to the Helmsman again. His eyes aren't lifted either, even though he knows logically the Helmsman might be the last person to hurt him, to punish.

He adds one more bit.

you have friends here.