Disclaimer: Temeraire and all characters were Created by Naomi Novik. I'm just a fan, imitating.

This story is set in the beginning of Victory of Eagles; SPOILERS

Chapter 2

In which Mr. Granby makes a fool of himself.

It was still dark the next morning when Jane set out and only the edges of the Eastern sky showed the early morning light, pale and cold. Tharkay's tent was distinct among the few others pitched in the covert, not only by design but also by its solitary location against the trees. Jane was relieved to find that he already had a small fire going in front of it and that she would not have to wake him at so inopportune an hour. He stepped out of his tent carrying a washbasin in his arms and what looked like a piece of stick in his mouth. He glanced at her but continued to walk around the side of the tent before setting his basin down. He stood looking at her as she drew near pulling the folds of his coat more closely around himself. He took his stick out of his mouth and nodded in greeting.

Jane offered a terse smile, "Good morning Mister Tharkay," she said, "I'm sorry to intrude on you so early in the morning, but as I will be occupied for the rest of the morning and the better part of the day, this was my only chance to warn you."

Tharkay's dark eyes bored into her, though she could read neither anger nor mirth in his expression. Jane realized then that he made her uncomfortable and she almost decided not to deliver the message. He crossed his arms over his chest, the jacket he wore was in the oriental style quilted and baggy, and added an intimidating amount of bulk to his figure. He was taller than she was, but not quite as tall as Laurence. He had a lean angular face with the high wide oriental cheekbones and his eyes were narrow and dark in the pale light. A beard grown wild though rather patchy during his travels marred his jaw, while his dark hair hung loose belying his Asian roots with a conspicuous amount of wave. He looked every bit a savage.

Jane cleared her throat, "Admiral Sanderson has lately taken my post, and I spoke with him yesterday about your payment. He wishes to meet you tonight. You'll join us for dinner in the officer's mess?"

Tharkay only nodded.

"And it would behoove you to try and present yourself more properly," She said and felt guilty as soon as the words were said.

Tharkay grinned broadly, "Is there something wrong with my dress now?"

Jane was startled though whether from his smile or his comment she wasn't sure, "I trust you can come up with something suitable. I have to go now, Mister Tharkay, I will see you tonight." Tharkay just turned and put his stick back in his mouth while Jane took a step toward leaving then she paused and called to him, "It's only that I worry for your sake how Admiral Sanderson will receive you. He may not be as willing to accept…" Jane trailed off feeling more the fool for having to explain.

He was looking at her again moving the stick around in his mouth and looking rather silly. He nodded and waved her off and Jane had to be satisfied with that.

The day did not brighten but remained gray and overcast. The coast was a solid and peaceful line of gray sand and a white strip of foam at the water's edge. With the slightest incline to her signalman Jane turned the formation out over the channel. She raised her head into the wind, letting Excidium lead the patrol, and closed her eyes. She relaxed.

The wind whipped back her hair and the years. Laurence's treason was forgot, the French were withdrawn from the borders; there were no cares, no worries and she was just a girl and her dragon chasing a cloud across the sky.

"Admiral sir! Two points starboard!" The lookout called.

Jane opened her eyes and squinted into the horizon. Excidium slowed his flight and the signalman motioned quickly with the flags to bring the rest of the formation in.

"It's that fool Arkady," Excidium's voice boomed, "Looks like he's after the ships again."

Jane rolled her eyes but then brought the formation off course to intersect the feral dragons. She was surprised to find, when they were close enough to see, that the ferals had a few officers with them. Jane saw a very exasperated Dunne look up from Arkady's back. She pulled out her speaking trumpet and called to them.

"And Halt!" She said and several of them backwinged just at the note in her voice, as none of them had any command of English, save perhaps Arkady who was glad to use the few phrases he had learned.

"A prize for us!" Arkady said and then hissed. Dunne, however, perked up suddenly and called back through his speaking trumpet.

"Sir, you must make them stop! Captain Granby is at the Strait near Calais. Iskierka has left the formation, they continued north."

Jane swore. This was the absolute worst time for her to be provoking the French. Jane motioned her First Lieutenant forward. They could not afford to lose Iskierka, however willful she tended to be nor could they afford to risk Excidium. Jane raised the trumpet to her lips, "Get those beasts to land, Dunne!"

"I'm trying Captain!" Dunne's exasperated voice broke and Jane pursed her lips in dismay. Excidium lunged forward suddenly and grabbed Arkady by the tail. Jane and most of the others on the crew tumbled as he raised his shoulders and pulled dragging the smaller dragon backward. The crew shouted as one when the Longwing, having expended his momentum, suddenly dropped several feet.

Excidium let Arkady go and flapped his wings to recover his altitude. Arkady wheeled to face him. The little dragon was audacious to a fault and glared defiantly at Excidium. Jane was close enough now to see droplets of sweat on Dunne's forehead.

Excidium growled low and let a tiny spurt of acid, so fine it misted in the cold air, fly past Arkady's head. Arkady jerked his head and screamed. Jane leaned forward and shouted into the speaking trumpet as the other ferals drew in to support Arkady.

"GO! COVERT! LAND! NOW!"

Arkady looked at her in startled recognition, one claw brushed against his dinner plate medal. Jane tried to keep eye contact as best she could on a moving dragon. Then suddenly as they had appeared Arkady and his band and their hapless captains turned and raced back toward England. Jane immediately turned to the Yellow Reaper on her flank.

"Edwards, you have to stop Iskierka. I'm going to take Excidium alone to catch up her formation. As soon as you have her escort her back to the covert. Excidium can finish the watch with Lily's formation until Mortiferus comes to relieve us."

She frowned watching them leave toward the strait; it was difficult to let the chance for action pass. But she couldn't risk both dragons at the same time, nor could she leave Lily's formation open. Excidium too, like all dragons, relished the prospect of battle; but experience prevented him from complaining, and he gave effort in reaching Maximus, Dulcia, Nitidus and the rest of Lily's formation.

"But it's just not feasible!" Jane said hands splayed in exasperation. She was standing on the rise overlooking the covert and the feeding pens where Excidium was worrying the head off of his second cow. Admiral Sanderson, who had not been aloft all day, looked disheveled and tired none the less. Jane glared daggers at him, hoping she could pass along telepathically what he didn't seem to understand from her words.

"The main problem is, and I'm sure Captain Granby will concur," Jane said sweetening her tone as if she were speaking to a child, "that they seem to have accepted her as a member of the band, and not only that, but also as a de facto leader for the band. The lot of them up and followed her out of the covert, even though we had her flying in Lily's formation today. She is just not disciplined enough to work properly in formation."

"But keeping her separate from the wild dragons ought to help right? We can send all of them to the breeding—"

"They fill a useful purpose, sir. With so many dragons lost to the plague, we cannot afford to send away any of them that are willing to fight."

"We're starting to talk in circles Mr. Roland," Sanderson said dismissively, "I will see you later for dinner?"

"Yes sir," Jane said touching her fingers to her forelock. She glared at his back as he shambled toward the Corps clerical office. Jane sighed and walked back to the Officer's Billeting. She left her rooms less than an hour later with a fresh coat and trousers and a note from Granby asking if it was possible he be allowed to respectfully decline attendance at dinner. Jane chuckled to herself as she crumpled the note and walked out to find Iskierka.

It was already dark when she arrived near Iskierka's bon fire. The young dragon was slumbering and content and unaware that the group camped in her vicinity besides her ground crew and service staff included every man that quartered out of doors. Even Tharkay's odd little tent was pitched nearer the group with Iskierka's long tail curled around it.

Jane walked through the close knot of people around the sleeping dragon asking about for Granby. She found him near the fire sitting in a chair propped against his dragon's foreleg. He didn't even bother to hide his dismay at seeing her. He stood when she was near enough to speak and the smell of rum wafting from him was nearly overpowering.

"Evening, sir," he said.

"Yes it is Captain Granby," she said, "Come along now, we have our appointment."

Granby frowned in defeat and followed her away from Iskierka's warmth. Another man left the fire to follow them. Jane led them around to Tharkay's tent. Granby was slow to realize but when he noticed her direction he spoke up.

"Tharkay is here," Granby waved toward him.

Jane turned in surprise, "Oh, I didn't—you clean up well Mister Tharkay."

Tharkay just glared at her in reply.

The three of them walked back toward the Officer's Club with no words between them. Jane looked at Tharkay again, angry at his rudeness. Her compliment had been genuine. His clothing was not particularly fine and though an attempt had been made to find a close fit, the clothing was obviously borrowed. He had shaved and his hair was pulled back and plaited from the base of his neck. He looked civil and tidy—a true citizen.

Dinner proved to be interesting from the start, not that the meal itself was anymore extraordinary than any the establishment served, rather that the company came together at the same time, when often the aviators would dine at their convenience. Granby was well in his cups before they arrived and though he was not nearly as far along, it was apparent that Tharkay too had fortified himself before dinner. Catherine was there too pale and thin and confiding in a bored looking Berkley. Sutton and Little who were engaged deep in conversation of their own, a courier Captain named Meeks who just happened to be in Dover Covert. Edwards was there, and the other Captains in her formation. Jane amused herself by trying to find the logic in gathering this particular group of aviators, pausing only when the mastermind himself joined the table.

Everyone stood when Admiral Sanderson arrived except for Granby who was too drunk to realize and Tharkay who may or may not have known better but felt that he didn't care to oblige. Jane was apprehensive already, this many captains together meant only one thing, the news he had was going to be bad.

Whatever news he had, Sanderson kept it close and aside from the necessary etiquette there was very little said at the table. Jane kept her eye on Granby, whom she now wished she had excused. Captain Sanderson had berated him already for Iskierka's insubordination. Tharkay at least managed to keep him engaged if only to stop him from laying his head on the table.

"I don't want her or any of the wild ones near London, of course not!" Sanderson interjected loudly. He had been chatting quietly with Sutton and Little before his outburst. Sanderson rubbed his eyebrow sheepishly and looked around at the others. Jane kept her mouth shut, not wanting to undermine his authority in front of the other captains.

"We're moving the formations in to London," he said as plates and dishes were being swept off of the tables. "The feral dragons will stay with the small number of crew needed to handle and care for them. Iskierka and her crew will remain here with them."

"Iskierka!" Granby said loudly. He was shushed from four directions before Admiral Sanderson continued.

"They're coming, and now we should look to keeping London out of their hands. Harcourt, you will return to Loch Laggan as we discussed. We can expect movement in the next three days."

Jane looked around at the others; her mouth was pressed into a line. Granby had his head in his hands and she wasn't sure but he might have been crying. Sanderson was still droning on about the small details with the other Captains when Tharkay shot her an inquisitive look and nodded toward Admiral Sanderson.

"Admiral Sanderson," Jane said, "Mister Tharkay is here."

Sanderson looked confused for a moment and then landed his gaze on Tharkay.

"You've brought the dragons," he said, "Admiral Roland tells me that you had an arrangement between the two of you." Tharkay nodded once and when he didn't speak, Sanderson continued, "Now you understand, don't you, that we are in a very difficult position now. You will have to wait until things are under control. We are in the middle of a war, and the tide has taken a very serious turn."

Sanderson's tone was scathing and condescending, like he was reprimanding a child. Jane felt herself blush, embarrassed for Sanderson. Tharkay crossed his arms; anger creeping into his normally impassive face.

"Mister Tharkay, your contributions thus far have been invaluable to the corps. Now, especially with these changes we need you in our service. I'm sure we—"

Tharkay was already shaking his head. He stood up and looked at Sanderson directly and smiled cynically, "I was taken in once with these deceptions, I will not let it happen again."

Tharkay pushed his chair in startling Granby and started for the door.

"You cannot leave England, Mister Tharkay," Jane said more in warning than a threat, "The invasion is imminent, we cannot risk expatriates crossing over into France."

Tharkay stopped at the door and glared at her venomously.

"They could hang you for treason," Sanderson added.

"Well," Tharkay said, cornered, "It is unfortunate that has become au courant as of late. Fortunately, I'm sure I can occupy myself within this nation without throwing in my lot with you."

A hard silence fell on the table and its audience, and Jane found herself completely at a loss. She looked around at the others and they seemed to be avoiding her eye. Then Granby fell from his chair with a crash.

A/N: Updated 7-712. (Mostly just corrections to typos) Thanks for reading!