"Ach, they don't like cats" Silas lied to Nicola as James continued croaking desperately at his friend "it probably thinks we're going to eat it or something is all."
"Yuck" Nicola winced at the thought "so it didn't used to be human then?"
"No, not at all!" Silas was a worryingly convincing liar "we're the only animals that can talk here lassie"
"So I guess we should stick together right?" Nicola sensed an ally, James wasn't at all sure Silas' intentions were honourable.
"Aye, I like your thinkin'" Silas sounded like the proverbial cat that got the cream "Come on, I'll give ye a tour of the house"
As the two cats trotted off James was left frustrated and confused. Why had Silas, who had been seemingly helpful to him before, suddenly betrayed him? Fear of Elspeth? A selfish desire to keep Nicola to himself?
Either way James needed his voice back. Being a talking toad was bad enough, but his inability to communicate with humans, even transformed ones, left him feeling completely helpless and alone. Surely his punishment should be over now, unless Elspeth wanted to continue to hide his identity from Nicola? She hadn't exactly proven trustworthy so far.
It was at this point Elspeth came back into the room. She approached James directly, and cheerily as ever.
"Well, what an eventful day I'm having. Two new houseguests at once!"
James ribbited, hoping somehow the witch could translate his toady noises as a polite request to at least be given his voice back.