The buzz of conversation had already resumed; between moves, Laurence observed the room as well as he could without making himself obvious. Now that his eyes were opened, he could see a few female officers scattered in the crowd here, also. Their presence seemed to place no restraint on the general company; the conversation though good-natured was not wholly refined, and it was made noisy and confused by interruptions.
Nevertheless there was a clear sense of good-fellowship throughout the room, and he could not help feeling a little wistful at his natural exclusion from it; both by their preference and his own he did not feel that he was fitted for participation, and it could not but give him a pang of loneliness. But he dismissed it almost at once; a Navy captain had to be used to a solitary existence, and often without such companionship as he had in Temeraire. And also, he might now look forward to Rankin’s company as well; he returned his attention to the chessboard, and looked no more at the others.
Rankin was perhaps out of practice a little, but not unskilled, and as the game was not one of Laurence’s favorite pastimes they were reasonably well-matched. While they played, Laurence mentioned his concern for Temeraire to Rankin, who listened with sympathy. “It is indeed shameful that they should have not given him precedence, but I must counsel you to leave the remedy to him,” Rankin said. “They behave that way in the wild; the deadlier breeds demand first fruits of the hunt, and the weaker give way. He must likely assert himself among the other beasts to be given more respect.”
“Do you mean by offering some sort of challenge? But surely that cannot be a wise policy,” Laurence said, alarmed at the very idea; he had heard the old fantastic stories of wild dragons fighting among themselves, and killing one another in such dueling. “To allow battle among such desperately valuable creatures, for so little purpose?”
“It rarely comes to an actual battle; they know one another’s capabilities, and I promise you, once he feels certain of his strength, he will not tolerate it, nor will he meet with any great resistance,” Rankin said.
Laurence could not have great confidence in this; he was certain it was no lack of courage that prevented Temeraire from taking precedence, but a more delicate sensibility, which had unhappily enabled him to sense the lack of approbation of the other dragons. “I would still like to find some means of reassuring him,” Laurence said sadly; he could see that henceforth all the feedings would be a source of fresh unhappiness to Temeraire, and yet they could not be avoided, save by feeding him at different times, which would only make him feel still more isolated from the others.
“Oh, give him a trinket and he will settle down,” Rankin said. “It is amazing how it restores their spirits; whenever my beast becomes sulky, I bring him a bauble and he is at once all happiness again; just like a temperamental mistress.”
Laurence could not help smiling at the absurdity of this joking comparison. “I have been meaning to get him a collar, as it happens,” he said, more seriously, “such as the one Celeritas wears, and I do believe it would make him very happy. But I do not suppose there is anywhere here where such an item may be commissioned.”
“I can offer you a remedy for that, at any rate. I go to Edinburgh regularly on my courier duties, and there are several excellent jewelers there; some of them even carry ready-made items for dragons, as there are many coverts here in the north within flying distance. If you care to accompany me, I would be happy to bear you there,” Rankin said. “My next flight will be this Saturday, and I can easily have you back by suppertime if we leave in the morning.”
“Thank you; I am very much obliged to you,” Laurence said, surprised and pleased. “I will apply to Celeritas for permission to go.”
Celeritas frowned at the request, made the next morning, and looked at Laurence narrowly. “You wish to go with Captain Rankin? Well, it will be the last day of liberty you have for a long time, for you must and will be here for every moment of Temeraire’s flight training.”
He was almost fierce about it, and Laurence was surprised by his vehemence. “I assure you I have no objection,” he said, wondering