Wallace squinted in contemplation as Gareth spoke to him in code. It was beyond oblique, for sure, the kind of wording that drew attention to it simply by being, although the fact that he himself was having trouble making heads or tails of what the boy had said was assurance that it was well obfuscated. His confusion stemmed from knowledge, and trying to bridge the gaps in what was happening versus the possible conclusions of someone with the information Gareth had access to. Slowly, he pieced together his hypothesis and settled on remaining resolute and proper with a quick nod towards Gareth. "Perhaps we should not be so quick to turn away help. I am sure the princess does not intend to take up the sword, there is much we can do to ensure her safety and accommodate a brave effort to protect Lyok's honor." Whether or not that was what they actually did, it was what experience told him to say and he counted on Gareth to sort out the rhetoric as he turned directly to Sophia and bowed. "Your zeal is commendable, your grace. I shall see to it a detachment of the guard is left to your protection, to supplement the retainers from the Order." In truth, he wanted the Lyokis to remain. Mixing Arcartus into things had been a bit drastic but drama with an off-continent empire would be extraordinarily high profile with a response time that was slow enough to be manageable. Arcartus, for all he knew, was already at the doorstep. The only card he held against them was that he knew exactly what they would be coming for.