Lung Tien Lien
Character Profile
| Name: | Lung Tien Lien |
| Date of Birth: | About 30 years ago |
| Breed: | Celestial |
| Captain: | Prince Yongxing (deceased) |
| National Loyalty: | China |
| Appearance: | Albino coloring; white with red eyes |
| Special Abilities: | Divine Wind |
| Status: | Active |
Biography
Lien was believed to be cursed because she was born in "mourning colors" (since she is albino). Yongxing took her as his companion even though it meant he could not be Emperor. They apparently had a deep affection for one another. Yongxing was killed accidentally during a duel between Lien and Temeraire, instigated by Temeraire when it became clear that Yongxing was behind recurring attacks on Laurence's life. Lien therefore blamed Temeraire for Yongxing's death and dedicated her life to destroying him. To achieve this, she entered the service of Napoleon Bonaparte as an officer in France. On leaving the tunnel through the great wall that marked the Chinese border, Lien wrote on the tunnel wall in memory of Yongxing:
- Ten thousand li between me and your grave,
- Ten thousand li more I have yet to travel.
- I shake out my wings and steps into the merciless sun.
(As an albino, Lien found bright sunlight difficult to bear.)
On her way to France in the company of the French ambassador De Guignes, Lien stopped at the court of Sultan Selim III in Istanbul and persuaded the Sultan not to sell Turkish dragon eggs to the British, as he had previously agreed to do. She may also have been involved in the deaths of the British embassy staff in Istanbul.
Lien made many significant changes in the French military strategy and logistics. She revolutionized transport in the army through carrying troops in dragon rigging and taught the French more effective ways of flying in formation. Several years older and more experienced than Temeraire, she knew how to use the Divine Wind in more varied ways. For example, at the siege of Danzig she used it to break up the frozen ground so it would be easier for the soldiers to dig trenches. During the Battle of Shoeburyness she created a huge wave which sank Nelson's fleet and gave Napoleon the chance to escape.
It is very probable that her influence on Bonaparte resulted in better treatment of dragons and huge changes in the architecture of Paris.
Although Temeraire disliked her, he learned from her example, not only in ways of applying the Divine Wind but also in political maneuvering.
