I mean his character is very arrogant. He probably believes that it's beneath him to do the hard work of killing them, so he gets the player character to do it instead, safe in the belief that he can best them when the moment comes. He's presumably the leader of the Roundtable Hold for a reason, which is to say he's capable in combat as well as seeking knowledge. He evidently thinks he's got what it takes to take care of some up-and-coming Tarnished. He's very wrong.