Possible Clues:

• Break from the action
• Peter is it per se, possibly a welcome delay
• Break for a little telepathy during ceremony
• Short let-up
• Rest, half of that being lost with bad feeling
• Relief from ritual including clairvoyance
• Short time-out
• For half the pine trees about to be felled, a reprieve
• Relief troops with offensive intentions
• Stop ritual admitting clairvoyance