There was little reason to fear Catsovi's impatience on his own behalf, but Martin's mind was turned outward, seeing those trace visions of things to come, tied to such a twisted and powerful man. He saw dark and foreign things, tied to that single person with strange threads. That khet...

Air and light: There was a great heat filling in the space before that dark person, and light pierced through like water soaking cloth.

Fingers, hands, a muzzle, burning eyes. The three things that comprised Martin manifested with no sound but that of a deep breath, breathing him into Exsilium again. His faces were already set with the knowledge perceived, and at the boy's side, the lion's teeth bared.

Words came, undeniable yet inaudible: You call me for no good purpose.