"That's what it looked like to me," Childermass speaks up, having refrained from saying much beyond when he needed to scold Zangetsu for his, well, exuberance. He hasn't opted into returning to a human form just yet, so technically still a dog but he's since shifted to his crow form.

He's been flitting around during the rush to get here, perching on this shoulder or that when needed, flying into faces and turning back into a dog to surprise and bowl over Scholars where he could. It's a strange way to do battle but spooking an Honorable into running away is his preference, even if they are just animals.

"I wonder if we might just be able to talk our way past him."