"Won't they just think you're mad?"

"I won't come out."

Sigh.

"It can't be under the offering table," says the priest, "it's unusable for the purpose with a living thing touching it. We have to check the table for snails every morning."

"Of course. Where's the nearest place it can be -"

"I suppose if it wants to hide it could go behind the statue there?"

"Segda, why don't you go to the statue. I'll go with you."

"No no no."

"Fine, where do you want to go? You can't stay here."

"I'm hiding."

"I am supportive of you hiding but you have to hide somewhere else."

"If I come out they'll see me."

"They're not looking over here."

"They might though."

"If they do I will carry you away from them so they can't hurt you."

"Are you going to fight them?"

"If I need to to keep you safe."

Segda creeps out from under the table.

Iris can stand between Segda and the strangers if it wants to go hide behind the statue instead.

The strangers do not see Segda through Iris. Segda hides behind the statue.

Iris is so relieved.

"Thank you," says the priest. "What radicals are you and your little stranger?"

"I'm from very far away, all the terminology here is unfamiliar."

"Well, what do your people call them?"

"I put 'ranger' and 'rogue' on the forms."