Well, yes. He doesn't usually end up talking like that. Or at least not that much.

"Guess we need to work on that, then." he says, patting her shoulder a bit, "See, thing is? The Council is fanatic. They have to be, because they have to send little girls to do things they can't. Can't be entirely sane to send girls half your age to fight an' die before they get to be your age. Means that it's up to all of you to keep the balance, but they forget to teach you that."