The Reapers quarrelled amongst themselves, and finally decided that Chalcedony and Gladius should come. Cantarella, staying behind, would take charge of the rest, and have an epaulet. Moncey got one for command of the couriers; it was nearly as large as his head but pleased him very well and Minnow also.

So there was no quarrelling or ill-feeling in the end, which Temeraire felt was a credit to his arrangements. ‘We are a very handsome company, are we not?’ Temeraire asked Laurence, hoping to find him satisfied. ‘It is a pity about Iskierka, but no one could quarrel with our choices, I am sure.’

‘Yes,’ Laurence said.

‘I have been thinking,’ Temeraire said, with a sidelong look; he hoped he would not seem selfish, ‘how well it might be, if we got back the rest of our crew. Not that we are not perfectly comfortable as we are,’ he added, ‘but a few more bellmen to manage some bombs … and it might be convenient to have Winston back, to help Fellowes—’

‘Those who wished to return have done so,’ Laurence said. ‘I cannot demand any man serve with a traitor.’

‘Oh,’ Temeraire said, ‘But—’ and stopped. It had not occurred to him that the crew had chosen not to come back, that they might want rather to be elsewhere, on another dragon with another captain. It seemed very strange to him, when he was now a commodore, and must surely have been more impressive. He wondered if perhaps Laurence was mistaken, or if he was simply shy of asking for them. Perhaps they did not even know that he and Laurence were free. ‘But surely Martin, at least, or Ferris, would come?’ he said.

Laurence was very still for a moment, and then he said, ‘Ferris has been dismissed from the service.’ The admirals imagined that Ferris had been of some help, even though he had done nothing whatsoever.

‘But then where is he?’ Temeraire asked. If Ferris were not with some other dragon, it stood to reason he would rather be with them. But Laurence said with finality, ‘Any communication from me must be wholly unwelcome.’

Temeraire did not press him further, but privately he thought that perhaps he would write to Ferris, if he could get Emily or Sipho, perhaps, to take down a letter and find out Ferris's direction …

Then a dragon he knew a little from Dover, Orchestia, landed in the courtyard. She was back from a patrol, and his own midwingman, Martin, was with her crew, his bright yellow hair standing out against his green coat.

‘Mr. Martin,’ Temeraire called out, seeing him go by, thinking perhaps to ask him over and see if he knew that Temeraire had been made commodore; and inquire whether he was quite sure he would not prefer to go with them.