But there was no sign of Celeritas. The old training-master did not sleep in the courtyard, but in a private mountainside cave. But he might come out to see them all, Temeraire thought, with some anxiety. He had not been happy about lying to Celeritas when they had come to steal the mushrooms, and he had never had the chance to apologize properly. He was quite sure Celeritas would have understood and approved of the mission. At least he was as sure as he could be, because anyone could take an odd start. But Celeritas might still be angry over being tricked into letting them in, unchallenged.

‘He is not here anymore,’ a Winchester said; he was not anyone Temeraire knew. A small bright-eyed courier-beast, in harness, he perched upon the wall behind them, out of the way of the confusion. ‘I think he has gone to the breeding grounds in Ireland.’

‘But whyever would Celeritas go to the breeding grounds?’ Temeraire protested. The little Winchester only fluttered out his wings in a shrug. ‘It is very boring in the breeding grounds,’ Temeraire said to Laurence. ‘I do not understand why he should have left his post here.’

Laurence did not say anything for a moment, and then he said, oddly without conviction, ‘Perhaps he grew tired of the work.’

He said nothing else, nothing more reassuring, and Temeraire looked at him sidelong. Laurence was sitting upon one of the low benches by the wall, looking again at the gold ring which he had brought back from London. He had not said where it had come from, and Temeraire felt a little shy of pressing him. Laurence seemed so very unhappy and Temeraire did not understand why. They were together, not pent up anywhere, and soon they would have a splendid battle to take back their territory; and then the Government would pay them money. So there was nothing to be sorry about, except perhaps that they had retreated in the first place, but the rest would make up for that.

Temeraire sighed, and warned the squabbling Reapers, ‘You had better leave some room. Maximus will be here soon, with the rest of the Corps. Should Lily not be here already?’

Laurence raised his head. ‘They all should,’ he said. ‘They were ahead of us.’

He went into the citadel to try and gain information from the other officers. Meanwhile, Chalcedony, Gladius and Cantarella finally won out over the other Reapers and settled themselves down, so the Grey Coppers, Winchesters and ferals could now squeeze themselves in among the rest. Moncey and Minnow had settled themselves on Temeraire's back, and he felt quite ready for a proper drowse.