Ostrero explains to Stenfalk about S. and mentions “how S. denies any connection to Vevoda but has not offered any information about where his true interests lie.” Once again pointing out the unknowns of S. but this time through a person besides S. Stenfalk takes clothes out from a valise and offers clothes for S.

In the margins, Eric points out

“as w/sailors: putting on borrowed clothes –> adopting an identity?”

This hints the start of the S. and Vevoda rivalry officially starting as he puts on the clothes of Stenfalk. Eric underlines the quote Stenfalk says to Ostrero and Pfeifer “you don’t let a man catch his death of cold. No matter who he is or isn’t” and mentions a reference

“Ekstrom’s novel The Prince of Ankararsvik (prince exiled for letting commoner freeze to death) Empathy like this is rare in VMS’s works.”

Not only through the gesture of offering his clothes, but also his words to his allies, Stenfalk shows empathy that might hint on the allying relationship between Stenfalk’s reference, Ekstrom, and S.’s supposed reference, Straka.