Temeraire looks briefly perplexed; what could be so distressing about Galahad riding him? "He is the son of Arkady and Wringe, and we brought his egg to Australia with us so as to help start an aerial corps there. Arkady was insistent that his egg should have a very rich captain, and I suppose that Caesar took that to heart; as he immediately enquired after Rankin's prospects as soon as he met him." If a dragon could roll his eyes, Temeaire would be.

"Rankin is --an awful man. He abused and starved poor Levitas, his old dragon, and did not even care when Levitas was dying; he was not even there until Laurence made him go."