"The key to a posters gate out of the palace," Ragnar muses, "might be had by simply asking the bar; or if not, by copying it in wax and getting King Teja to make another. A long slim dagger to pierce light armour, also from the Goth. And his possessions, he can start stashing here."

Pause.

"But being kind to him and pleasing him in all possible ways, and encouraging to think more of himself, that's harder and will take longer, but is far more important. But I would say it is nothing if not a labour of love."