[On the contrary, now that this is cleanly back to strategy, Aral relaxes with a bit of a mental note to come back to that not-so-small announcement later.]

Exactly. His own devotion and the intensity of it has hardly been a new development, and was always a factor. The very fact that you were threatened as well justifies the additional security.

I can hardly expect him not to react. No... I should say that I will not expect him to go without reaction or action. However, in the very worst case - that all measures fail, I would say the safest place for him will be the metaphorical tac room.