Yet as one of the former Karginfulk, accepted by Arcolin as such, Dattur was legitimately his problem, as much as any of his other oathbound vassals. Which meant that Arvid Semminson was also his problem, even as Marshal Steralt had suggested, but for a different reason. He himself had just told Dattur to serve Arvid until Midsummer, but Dattur said his Law—honored by the Code of Gird—required him to be with his prince.

Asking himself “What would Kieri Phelan do?” wouldn’t help at all. Kieri had never faced this, and he could not imagine Kieri being any less dumbfounded than he was himself. A thief—or former thief in the throes of spiritual crisis—and a gnome traveling with the Company?

He thought in silence for a few moments; neither Dattur nor Arvid spoke as he felt his way toward some decision that might work. He looked at Arvid first. “Marshal Steralt—and you—think you should become Girdish. But if you stay here, you are in danger from the Guild. You’ve been doing work for Fox Company. If you came with us—” Arvid opened his mouth, but Arcolin shook his head and went on talking. “Do you know what a sutler is?” Arvid shook his head. “A merchant who buys supplies for a military unit,” Arcolin said. “It would take work off my staff to have someone we could send to buy supplies.”

“But I’m—you know my background—”

“And both Captain Selfer and the innkeeper here say you’ve been honest the whole winter. I don’t expect you’ll cheat me. Every Foss Council city has at least one grange; you could start your Girdish training there. That way Dattur—” He looked at the gnome. “—could serve you until Midsummer and not have to make a solitary journey to find me thereafter, since Dattur wishes to stay with his … prince. You will live in the camp, both of you. I will stand sponsor for you to the grange.” He looked hard at Arvid, who nodded.

“I will come, then. I can see no better alternative.”

Dattur nodded when Arcolin looked at him. “It is that it is a good plan. Worthy of prince. Is prince willing to learn Law?”

“Yes,” Arcolin said. “Though I will have little time to study, I will study Law and language both, with your aid.”

“When do we leave?” Arvid asked.

“Day after tomorrow,” Arcolin said. “You can ride in one of the supply wagons.”

Arcolin wrote a long letter to King Mikeli that night and next morning sent it off with the fastest courier he could hire. “All I meant to do was save them from starvation and freezing,” he concluded. “My liege, when I come to Autumn Court, I will bring with me the gnome Dattur, who can testify to my surprise when he told me that to these gnomes I am accounted their prince because of the gift of stone-right.”