Magic. It can get a guy killed.

See? This is why I'm not religious. I couldn't possibly keep my mouth shut long enough to get along with everyone else.

I'm brilliant as well as skilled,' he said modestly. 'It's a great burden, all of that on top of my angelic good looks. But I try to soldier on as best I can.

It was why no sane cat allowed kits to come anywhere near human beings. Humans seemed to feel that it was perfectly acceptable to teach kits to accept food from their hands as a matter of course, rather than teaching them the importance of hunting skill and self-reliance.

Coz,' he said. 'You really must learn to shut your mouth from time to time. You'll taste less shoe letter.

Littlemouse was in danger, doubtless a prisoner, and the humans could not be trusted to handle her rescue with appropriate violence. They might be willing to leave someone alive, and Rowl was not prepared to tolerate incompetence where his personal human was concerned. He had just gotten her properly trained.