Echoes of Betrayal is a direct continuation of Kings of the North. Arvid, the member of the Thieves Guild who helped Paksenarrion is trying to retrieve the necklace that had been stolen in the previous book. He is not initially very effective and he ends up in a great deal of trouble. Also, he is hearing the voice of someone who is probably Saint Gird. Gird would like to discuss Arvid’s life choices up to this point, but Arvid spends a great deal of time with his fingers stuck in his metaphorical ears in the hope that Gird will eventually get bored and go away.

(Spoiler: He does not.)

You cannot defeat Gird in a stubborn-off. He is simply the best there is.