Hi and who is Philonikes?

[pogopuppy100.livejournal.com]

Hi, I've been lurking on Sounis for a few months now and I finally worked up the courage to make myself a LiveJournal account thing so I can join.  So I just want to apologize in advance for all the mistakes I'll probably make trying to use it.  But I love Megan Whalen Turner's books and all your discussions so much I decided to join anyway.  I started with The King of Attolia and really liked it.  I then read The Thief, was somehow still completely surprised by the ending, and fell in love.  But there is one thing I just don't understand, and I know you guys will be able to help me.  As they are leaving the capital of Sounis, Gen calls out to say hi to his friend Philonikes.  On the first read, it seems like Gen just wants to say hi to his friend, but on each reread it makes less sense to me.  So, what's going on?  Is Gen (1) saying hi to his friend, (2) testing the magus to see what he can get away with, (3) testing the magus to find out if the trip is a secret (and therefore probably to go find Hamiathes Gift), (4) sending a message back to Eddis saying that he got out of jail and all is going according to plan and don't worry, or (5) something that I haven't thought of yet?  And also, how on earth do you pronounce Philonikes?  Help me, please!