"I think you and your family ought to sit down, first," he said. "All this may be … a bit hard to swallow."
***
As it turned out, it was nigh impossible to swallow, as Tescadji and Jenius recounted the tale of their investigation, the ensuing slaughter in the marketplace, and the violence outbreaks all over the Five Nations.
"But this is horrible!" Noroa shrieked, gasping hold of Garen with one hand, and grabbing her swollen abdomen with the other. Several times, she glanced anxiously at the door, as if a lynch mob would appear at any moment.
"It's worse," Skori said grimly. "It's history repeating itself."
"We hope not," Jenius said. "So far, the violence in Rogart has been minimal, but we've been getting reports of escalated incidents all across the race board in the Republic. The priests left your house either because they wanted to go into hiding themselves, or because they might have been showing their true colors."
"I'd advise you to watch yourself, sir!" Garen warned, glaring challengingly at Jenius. "Some of those elves just happened to be my closest friends."
"I did not wish to insult them or you," Jenius assured him. "I was merely stating one of two theories."
"Theory or not," Tescadji said. "The bottom line is this. We need to get you to a safe house. There are many left that we used to use for fugitive androids before the war, and so you will be able to use it until the entire thing blows over. You'll be well cared for during that time."
"But what if it doesn't blow over?" Skori said, making no attempt at hiding the air of foreboding in his tone. "We could be stuck there for a very long time."
"Long-term preparations will be made, then," Jenius replied. "I sympathize with you, Skori, and I don't like it any better than you do, but the truth is that your family is probably not safe here in the open."
"Well, I for one, refuse to go!" Alaema said, for the first time, making her opinions known among her family. "I have business to attend to, and-"
"Sister, you will do exactly as we say!" Both Skori and Noroa barked in unison. Alaema, in turn, seemed to shrink several inches into the couch's floral patterned cream lining.
"There are things about this situation that have to do with you, child," Jenius said emotionlessly. "But I choose now to spare your family the details that I know until you're all safe." He spread his audience to include the company assembled. "But for now, I suggest that we make haste to leave. Take only what you can bear to part with."