"Performing an ancient Winathian ritual celebration," Lyle deadpanned back, having resumed his scritching duties upon determination that the room wasn't obviously booby-trapped. Aside from being home to a very sneaky cat, obviously. "I believe it translates to, in Interlac, "look, there's a kitty, let's pet it"."

He appraised the older man as he spoke. Another Tribute obviously, and clearly not one who'd made it to the age he had in a soft and coddled environment. But he seemed more nonplussed than about to go into a murderous rage, so Lyle continued rubbing the cat's ears.

"I haven't seen a cat with this coloring before, or this pattern."