Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

-"Invictus" William Ernest Henley

ONE

"Well I was the one who caught the cow in the first place," Iskierka sneered, "so I do not think it is fair for Volatilus to be eating all of it just because he is so lazy."

"Oh leave him alone," Temeraire snarled glaring at her. He had had quite enough of the Kazilik these past few days and her intolerance towards those of less intelligent was not helping his patience. Poor Volly coward then and sunk his head low to the wood of the dragon deck aboard the HMS Allegiance. Temeraire threw his tail down between the two other dragons and spoke lowly to the small courier.

"Do not mind her, she is only spoiled."

"I am not!" Iskierka snarled, but she curled up upon herself hissing steam from her spikes and said no more. They had been aboard the ship for nearly four months and would not arrive in China for at least a few days. It was nearly sundown now, the sun sprinkled the endless ocean with gold and the wind was turning slightly chilled. Temeraire smiled to himself looking over the rails. He could understand why Laurence loved the sea so much, yet in his mind it still did not compare to flying. Perhaps it was the next best method of transportation. The scene of the setting sun calmed his heart for but a moment. Somewhere in the vastness of his heart and mind, the celestial could see the horizon of their destination and its purpose. A trade, one that had been presented exclusively to him after Laurence had been re-granted his titles, rank and capitol for saving them all in the battle of Waterloo. Napoleon and the French were defeated; Lein had escaped back to China but all was not well.

The emperor of China was sour with the loss of their French allies and furious at Great Britain, (so he said in his letter. It was plain that his true fury was directed more towards Temeraire and Laurence themselves.) The nation of China, with one of the most powerful navies in the world had threatened Britain that unless they should somehow repay them for Temeraire's refusal to stay, they would attack with their full force. After much deliberation, cooperation and tactic it had been decided. Temeraire and Iskierka would have and egg, and it would be hand delivered to the emperor. This was no small request on either of the dragon's parts. Ever since their relations in South America had resulted in nothing, the two of them had regarded each other with an air of smugness and on Temeraire's part, embarrassment. After his victorious deeds at Waterloo however, Iskierka had come to him and the two had decided to try once more. This time, to Temeraire's relief, it had worked.

Iskierka had the egg within three weeks at sea, much to the discomfort of the sailors. Temeraire himself felt rather awkward for he did not realize it was such an ordeal. Granby was up all night at Iskierka's side while she roared out her discomfort. She had been rather quiet and subdued thereafter, almost tired though she would not admit it. Temeraire had puffed out his ruff and his chest with pride when he had seen it. It was beautifully black with the red leopard stripes that Iskierka's scales were. She had licked the egg all over gently, and coiled herself around it. All the crew amazed that Iskierka of any dragon would have even an ounce of maternity. The egg was at present, resting in the cabin of the ship tucked and nestled with blankets to keep it warm. It had been relatively easy to take it away from her some hours after it was laid. She had consented to it with the promise that she should be informed of its progress and kept warm.

A soft touch on his foreleg dragged Temeraire from his thoughts as he looked down to behold Laurence.

"Beautiful isn't it my dear?"

"Indeed." Volly clumsily barreled towards them nuzzling Laurence so hard he nearly fell to which Temeraire growled and helped Laurence to his feet with a claw. James, Volly's captain made his way to them and shook his head.

"Easy there you clumsy brute, sorry about that Laurence." Laurence shook his head and dusted himself off, smiling as the cold wind blew through his hair.

"It's quite alright James. I had just come to say hello to Temeraire. Will you and Volly be staying for dinner this evening; Gong Su has prepared something good by the smell of it." To Temeraire's guilty dismay, James accepted the invitation. It was not that he did not like James and Volly, he appreciated their company greatly. It was only that Volly did not do very much hunting, and he was forever asking for cows which could be bothersome. Temeraire would have liked to spend an evening with Laurence reading. He knew it was selfish and wrong of him and so he said nothing, looking once more now over the moonlit waters. James and Laurence talked some more before he parted to see about the progress of this said meal. At last Volly had fallen asleep, Iskierka brooded about something unimportant no doubt and Granby was mulling about on the starboard side reading a book. He had Laurence to himself.

"My apologies my dear, they flew such a long while, it was only polite. How fair you, I have not seen you all day. I would have liked to, but it was the dratted meeting that Riley kept me in all day with the Chinese embassies."

"How did it go?" Temeraire asked, truly interested. He did not think it was at all polite that he had not been invited; it was his egg that was being traded after all.

"It was well, only they are fuming that there is only one and wish for British troops and goods in place of it." Temeraire thought on this before replying.

"Well I suppose I could speak with Iskierka if she is not being so unreasonable. I think it is quite enough that they should have one of my eggs. Besides eggs are not so common as capitol or prizes, it takes some doing and I not know how we managed the second time or what made it work." Laurence was getting rather flush in the cheeks so much that Temeraire could see the redness even in the purple night. "Well it is true!" He said defensively. His captain nodded and patted his foreleg.

"Of course it is my dear. I am very proud of you for having sired and you should be proud of yourself! I am sure you and Iskierka, or whomever else you wish, will have many eggs in the future to keep for the corps."

"And what about eggs for ourselves?" Temeraire inquired. "It is not as though Harcourt's egg was bought and sold like a sword or robe or other piece of material. What if I should wish to have a hatchling so that I may teach it to fly and write poetry and such?" Laurence was silent for a long time, Temeraire could tell he was thinking; the way he looked out over the horizon as the ship glided on the water.

"Forgive me my dear, I did not realize that dragons had such desires." Temeraire nudged him,

"It is alright, I am only glad that you are here with me now. But you had better go and get yourself something to eat, and put on another blanket: it is very cold." Laurence laughed and stroked his cheek.

"Look at you, parenting already! I will ask Gong Su about setting some of our cuisine aside for you." With that they parted, but not for long. The night was cold, but not unbearably so. They made a festivity with Gong Su's meal and drank some ale and told stories. Laurence even got out his violin, and Granby his viola which they played long into the night until at last Temeraire felt himself very tired and bid goodnight to Laurence. He turned his head and began to curl himself up when Iskierka hit him gently with her tail and he could see that she lay on her side and had one of her wings open to him.

"It is awfully cold," she said with a hint of gentleness. Temeraire glanced at Volly. James had let the little creature try some of his ale and he had fallen into a deep and ungraceful slumber. He looked once more at Iskierka, whose steam rose with the clouds, up into the stars and whose eyes reflected in the dark night like a cat's. He gave up and went over to her side, curling himself up and put his head close to hers.

"Goodnight Iskierka," he whispered closing his eyes. A warm slick tongue slid over his nose and she let her wing fall down around him. It shield him from the cold, and from whatever lay ahead.

Chapter one of Invictus! I will go back and make edits after I have completed the rest of the story! I had just read the first chapter of Blood of Tyrants which was released yesturday and I just had so mny emotions! I was re-reading parts of the series from the books I already have and realized that there have been many instances in which Temeraire believes that Laurence is dead but not one that is vice versa in which Laurence thinks that Temeraire is dead. *hint hint foreshadowing hint hint*

Reviews and comments always appreciated! 3