When Grewie heard of the incident that occurred, he considered the implications.
Alexandra claimed she was testing the Wardens...but was it a test, or was all as it at first seemed? Regardless, Grewie was less confident than ever about the loyalties of the Blades. He considered this for a moment, then brought his proposal to the king.
"My liege, I have a request regarding the escort I have been assigned to travel through the wilderness. Firstly, I have been made aware that the Blades will have other tasks once they have finished escorting me, as is independently indicated by the large number being sent with me. However, I suspect that raiders and bandits will be a danger to me beyond wherever our paths must part as well as on the journey home. Secondly, the Blades are spies first and warriors second; I would sleep more soundly if I knew some who devoted their lives to excellence on the battlefield were guarding over me than if only several glorified spies were. Thirdly, I may still face dangers in the enemy nation, and therefore must be protected; but if I was protected only by the Blades, who you may have noticed are all women, they would think much less of me and, by extension, you and our kingdom.
"The solution to all three of these issues is simple and the same: Send some soldiers along with me as an escort. I do not require many--you may remember that I protested that ten blades were too many for my singular person back when they were initially assigned--but such guards would assuage these issues, increasing the security and certainty of the success of this mission."