Book 2, Chapter #2: To the Manor Borne
After waking, Cato took a few minutes to rethink, one more time, what magics he should prepare. Opening his spellbook, he studied Mirror Image, and then took a deep breath, starting to read the arcane words of power and begin the laborious casting that he would finish in a flash if it was needed. It felt strange to be doing so, as the young mage had studiously avoided all illusion magics since that fateful day with the Hellknights so long ago. But nothing happened, or seemed to happen to the mage and he worked through the strange words. He didn't feel any different, but he wasn't sure what he expected to feel. At the back of his mind, the wizard supposed he was worried he'd be tempted towards the kind of psychic torture that his ex-commanding officer Lucius Winters had so enjoyed. But Cato shook his head as he completed the last of the preparations and the energies of the spell were safely contained in his mind. He truly believed that magic was nothing but a tool, and everything was in how you used it. Paging through his spellbook, he chose another spell and bent over his work, studying it.
Finally done, Cato descended into the common room of the Rusty Dragon, just in time to see Pisca starting her monologue. Observing the reactions of the patrons, Cato gathered a plate of food, though substantially less than Kellan's generous portions and slumped into a place next to his companion.
After a few bites of the hearty breakfast, Cato leans back, observing Kellan. "As worried about this as I am? I'm not sure if Pisca's monologue there is going to help, but it certainly can't hurt. Sandpoint needs all the encouragement it can get at times like this."