"Why, you look a natural in the harness," says Temeraire, admiringly; it is the uniform, probably, but for a moment she looks a very little like Jane Roland, come to inspect the troops, and the thought lends him a little reassurance as he looks at the bottle again.

It is beautiful, truly; he had been very upset when he heard it had been opened by someone within the palace--as if it had not been in enough danger, in the last few months!--but he can feel his indignance fading as he stares at the ribbons of color, winding about the bottle in delicate patterns. If he is perfectly honest, he might even concede that had he been the one to find the bottle, he might well have opened it himself.

"Yes," he says, taking a tentative step forward and reaching a claw out, "yes, I think we shall."