In the back of the group with Eva, Gareth leaned over and whispered to the maiden, "By spirits, it is [i]I[/i] who seeks audience with the regent, Sophia..." In reality, it was necessary for Harker to talk to Wallace in private; the one whom they sought for information would confide more in Gareth whom Canti would obviously trust more. He remained alert, his eyes scanning the area around them during Sophia's initial exchange with the guards, although an attack in the middle of the day was highly unlikely anyway.