To expand on the safehouses, they both need a symbol of the King, usually a crest, and a passphrase to reveal the entrance. So one has to speak the passphrase near a safehouse entrance and then use the crest as a key to enter. So even if one had a crest in some shape or form, like a ring, hilt of sword belonging to a Royal Guard, or the palm of Royal Guard's gauntlet, etc. Anyone in direct employ of the King. The kings spies and assassins would have rings to gain entrance, and were the main users of the safehouses.