Laurence was startled to find a commander who had so little prejudice against unharnessed dragons that he had somehow conceived both to recruit them and make use of them in such a fashion. He wondered if the man could have some experience of the Corps, if he had a relation, or had perhaps lived near a covert. The system made for a good solution twice over: both to keep the dragons from roving wild across the countryside, pillaging, and to strengthen his own militia force greatly. It did puzzle Laurence to see a dragon on watch duty; but perhaps it would serve all the better to put off any spies.

Miller's expression, from where he sat perched on the Regal beside Devastatio, stroking the injured dragon, suggested he was less impressed than scandalized to see such beasts without harnesses, and serving in such a role.

For his part, the Regal did not seem to think much of it either. ‘I am sure I don't know what the world is coming to,’ he said, shaking his head as he padded along. ‘It is all well and good to be talking on about pavilions and such,’ and Laurence's heart leapt, even before the Regal brought them into the clearing at the centre of the camp and said, ‘Temeraire, there are some fellows here to see you.’ Laurence flung loose his carabiner straps and leaped down from Elsie's back, to see the great black head swinging around towards him.

‘It is very good to have an eagle,’ Temeraire said. It was a particularly bright gold now that they had washed all the mud from it. Everyone had been ready to help, and the standard with it was very handsome too now that the men had brushed it clean. It would be quite a wrench to sell it, he felt, and the way everyone else looked at it he knew they felt the same. ‘But we must not begin to expect that we will have things all our own way. There have not been very many French dragons to fight yet, because they are all busy carrying the men about, but sooner or later we will have to manage them.’

‘I have some notions which we might like to try,’ Perscitia said, ‘when we have more to fight—’

‘Temeraire,’ Requiescat said, coming into the clearing behind him; Temeraire looked around and saw an injured Winchester on his back, and another trotting along behind him, carrying his old ground-crew master.

Requiescat continued to talk, and Perscitia was going on about pepper, but Temeraire did not understand either of them; their words did not seem to want to make sense. Laurence was coming towards him; but Laurence was dead. Then he was saying, ‘Temeraire, thank Heavens; I have been trying to find you these last four days.’