In Philip Pullman's "The Amber Spyglass," a tense moment unfolds as a character instructs Metatron to remain hidden while they approach Asriel, who is wary and potentially dangerous. The character plans to distract Asriel, ensuring Metatron can act without being detected. The intent is to protect a child's dæmon, which Asriel might otherwise allow to escape if he feels threatened.

Despite Metatron's immense intelligence and knowledge gained over thousands of years, his fixation on destroying Lyra and seizing her mother clouds his judgment. In this critical moment, he complies with the directive to stay concealed while the others proceed cautiously, highlighting the precarious balance of power and manipulation in the story.