Tharkay

Character Profile

Name:	Tharkay
Date of Birth:
Service:
Rank:
Nationality:	British/Chinese
Billets:

Biography

Tharkay first appeared in China to deliver William Laurence a letter from Admiral Lenton. The task imparted in the letter, to retrieve three dragon eggs from the Ottoman Empire, was of such importance that Laurence persuaded Tharkay to be their escort, so they could take the dangerous overland route rather than the longer seagoing route.

Tharkay's constant companion was his eagle, which perched on his arm. He was noted to have several scars on his hands and arms, caused by the eagle's pecking him. However, the eagle was killed in the avalanche caused by Temeraire's first encounter with the feral dragons.

Laurence and the crew were initially distrustful of Tharkay because of Tharkay's disrespect for authority and his secretive ways. However, in Istanbul Tharkay risked his life to help the crew's mission, and he finally admitted to Laurence that his manner was intentional. Since he was of mixed heritage, no one accepted him. He told Laurence he would rather provoke freely expressed suspicion than endure slights behind his back. They parted on amicable terms when Temeraire reached Prussia (at which point the Prussians had been expecting 20 dragons from Britain and were disappointed Temeraire was alone).

At that point, he no longer appeared to have any ties holding him from leaving his old life, although he had apparently had some sort of relationship with Sara Maden (the daughter of Avraam Maden, a banker in Istanbul who had seen the money the British paid for the eggs). He had been visibly upset when her father announced she was soon to be married.

Tharkay then returned to the feral dragons and somehow persuaded many of them to accompany him to "rescue" Temeraire. He and the dragons finally caught up with Temeraire during the Siege of Danzig, where they were able to evacuate the city and foil Lung Tien Lien. Tharkay then accompanied Temeraire's crew back to Britain, with the feral dragons and Iskierka.

Laurence wished Tharkay to stay on in Britain and serve as translator for the feral dragons, now needed to patrol the coasts. But Tharkay was unhappy in Britain and Jane Roland sent him back to the Ottoman Empire to try to find more feral dragons and see if he could convince them to join the Aerial Corps as well.

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