That sad smile deepened. No, he didn't answer her question. How could he? She wanted to know for sure her family would be safe, and that was something he could not promise her. He had already failed to protect his own family. Another deep sigh came from him.
"I... I do not know if your family will be safe by the end of this. I can't guarantee anything to you. I can't guarantee that my plan will work. I can't guarantee that Higgs won't use this station as he pleases. But... Nothing in life is guaranteed or safe." Erandur paused for a moment again, his newly saddened eyes slowly drifting their way toward his cane. "Every tick of the clock, something changes."
He was rambling, so he stopped himself for another moment.