Well, she hadn't stabbed him in the back. That much is good, at least. Everything else, not so much.

He tenses when she grabs him, but he doesn't shake her off. She's afraid, and the last thing he wants to do is make it worse, but with the situation the way it is, there's not exactly room to be gentle. "If everything was fine, we wouldn't be here," he says, tone level but urgent. He gestures at the older sali. "He's chasing you, attacking us, and not listening to anyone. Unless you know how to stop him, we have to at least defend ourselves. I don't want you getting hurt either."

Gods, he hopes Jingyi has his half of things well enough in hand.