Difference between revisions of "Victory of Eagles"
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== Story == | == Story == | ||
| + | [[Temeraire]] is at the [[Pen Y Fan Breeding Grounds]] and believes he must behave or else [[William Laurence]] will be executed. Temeraire is unhappy and worried for Laurence's life. He quarrels with [[Salcombe|Daniel Salcombe]], whom he sends away. By chance, another dragon [[Perscitia]] is interested in the mathematics the two were speaking of. From her, Temeraire learns that a [[Winchester]] named [[Moncey]] can leave the breeding grounds without being noticed, and get word from the other coverts. Temeraire asks for news of Laurence. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Meanwhile, Laurence has been convicted of treason and is imprisoned on the [[HMS Goliath]], a ship he used to serve on. The ship is in Dover harbor when [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s forces attempt invasion. Freed from his cell by a canon shot, Laurence helps attempts to stop the French, and save the ship. But it is no use, the French land at Dover, and the ''Goliath'' is sunk. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Back at the breeding grounds, Temeraire fights over his cave (which he has just finished making modifications to) with [[Requiescat]], a Regal Copper formerly in possession of the best cave. Temeraire refuses to leave his cave and takes the matter to a Dragon Council which includes [[Gentius]], [[Majestatis]] and [[Ballista]]). Their debate devolves into a contest to prove who is "tops" and Temeraire is about to demonstrate the [[divine wind]] when Moncey arrives with the news that the ''Goliath'' has sunk. His grief is so great, that his roar shatters a mountain side "like glass." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Believing Laurence to be dead, Temeraire decides to strike out on his own to fight the French and [[Lung Tien Lien]]. He convinces the rest of the breeding ground dragons to come with him to win prizes and earn capital, so they may build pavillions. They even get the herdsmaster, [[Lloyd]], to drive the cattle to their camp, so that the entire breeding ground is deserted. | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, Laurence is not dead. He is sprung from prison by [[Tharkay]] (and [[Gherni]]) who has orders from [[Jane Roland]] to bring him to the Admirals, as he and Temeraire are needed for battle. Roland has lately taken compand of the Dover covert from [[Sanderson]], who was unable to stop the invasion. The Ministers are unhappy with the idea of her releasing Laurence, until General [[Wellesley]] simply says they can hang him after. Several other [[aviator]]s share the sentiment and call Laurence a traitor, but a few (many [[Prussian]] and those that know him) defend him and a drunken brawl ensues. Laurence is rescued by [[John Granby]], who laments that [[Iskierka]] will not follow orders. This is further proof to Laurence that dragons are managed better in [[China]] (and Africa) as those dragons care for their country and will defend it with their lives. After briefly speaking with [[Berkley]], Laurence leaves with [[Hollin]] and [[Elsie]] to retrieve Temeraire. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Laurence, Hollin and Elsie arrive at Pen Y Fan and find no one there. Hollin and Elsie agree to fly in search of Temeraire with Laurence, even though it may be considered disobeying orders. They fly for some four days and only find traces of the missing dragons (though Elsie acquires a very shiny plate) until Captain [[Miller]] on [[Devastatio]] arrives and lectures Hollin on his duty. Miller has brought a commission for a militia man who has beaten the french in Wembly. When flying there, they are attacked by a [[Petit Chevalier]], only to be rescued by Requiescat. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Of course, it was not the militia that beat the French at Wembley, it was Temeraire and his band of dragons--though [[Perscitia]] has co-opted the militia to fire cannons for them. Temeraire is happy to accept the commission, as he is the leader, but he is even happier to be reunited with Laurence at last. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Temeraire writes a letter to the commanders telling them that Napoleon will be attacking shortly, and that their reinforcements will not reach them in time. The next day, [[Iskierka]] and [[Arkady]]'s [[feral]]s arrive. The Ministers did not believe Temeraire's letter, but she did. Shortly thereafter, Elsie and Hollin return with news that Napoleon is attacking ''that day'' and all the dragons are needed. They fly in a group to London. At camp, [[Fellowes]], [[Blythe]], [[Allen]] and [[Emily Roland]] all return to Temeraire's crew. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Wellesley agrees to meet with "Colonel" Temeraire along with the other commanders. The group decides to fight for London, even though they are out-numbered and Roland counsels against it. Wellesley agrees to allow Temeraire and his band of dragons to determine how to deal with French [[Fleur-de-Nuit]] bombers the evening before the attack. Jane Roland proposes setting up fake camps, with straw redcoats while Temeraire has his unharnessed dragons pretend to fight them, so the Aerial Corps dragons will be fresh for battle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The morning of battle, [[Demane]] and [[Sipho]] return to Temeraire's crew (Sipho had been a runner for Berkley and Demane was riding Arkady). At first, the battle goes well. Perscitia has the idea to put the straw redcoats and paint on the back of the unharnessed heavy-weights, so the French lose men in doomed boarding parties. Under Roland's command, the dragons of the Corps meet the French thereafter. They fare far better than the Prussians did in Jena. Then Temeraire mentions that Marshal [[Davout]] is ''not'' in Portugal, as the commanders assumed; he is in England. Jane rushes away to tell Wellesley it is a trap, and the British forces are just able to get away before Davout attacks their rear. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The British are forced to retreat. Laurence, Temeraire and his group are able to stop at [[Wollaton Hall]], and [[Lady Allendale]] provides them with food, though [[George Laurence]] will not let them inside the house. There [[Gong Su]] is reunited with Temeraire--Lady Allendale had found a place in her household for him, and his happy to let him return to the dragon. Jane meets Lady Allendale (who is grown pale and gray) and afterwards, Jane and Laurence finally fight about his treason. She would not have let the foreign dragons die, but rather sneak the cure to them without the Ministers knowing it, but Laurence made it a spectacle. She blames him for coming back a martyr and forcing those who care for him to suffer watching him be killed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Jane sends Temeraire's group to guard Wellesley's retreat, suspecting he will be made commander of the entire army once they read Edinburgh. Temeraire convinces him to pay the dragons for their work. | ||
| + | |||
| + | During guard duty, Temeraire notices that Iskierka and the ferals are gone. He finally gets [[Wringe]] to admit Iskierka is gone back to London to win prizes. Temeraire's group is forced to go after her, and then happen upon Gherni who tells them that Granby has been taken prisoner, and Iskierka with him. Laurence and Tharkay set off for London under cover of dark, hoping to rescue Granby with as little fanfare as possible. Laurence chances upon [[Bertram Woolvey]] and [[Edith Galman|Edith]]. Woolvey agrees to take them in his coach to Kensington Park, pretending just to be out for the evening. Granby is being held in Kensington Palace, with Iskierka nearby in the park. Laurence sees her arguing with Lien and knows it is the right place. | ||
| + | |||
| + | During the rescue, they are aided by a sailor named [[Janus]]. Woolvey is killed by the French, but the rest of them manage to get away on Iskierka's back. Laurence takes Woolvey's wedding ring, to return to Edith, and is greatly distressed by his loss. Wellesley lectures Temeraire and Iskierka for their behavior. He does not understand how the French have all flown back to London already, until Perscitia explains it to them all. Wellesley takes this intelligence and commands the British troops to do the same. The dragons then carry the British regiments to [[Loch Laggan covert]] in the French style. There, they find a [[Papillon Noir]] and French Marshals already waiting for parley. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The French dragon, [[Liberte]], tries to seduce the British dragons to the French cause. Laurence is forced to interrupt the parley to explain that it cannot be chance that the French have brought an English-speaking dragon. Of the ministers, only Wellesley believes the tale. The other ministers are greatly distressed by the loss of London and are favoring giving in to Bonaparte's demands until Jane Roland arrives with news that the Aerial Corps has stopped a second landing attempt at Folkestone. The news of the victory heartens the ministers and they agree to put Wellesley in charge of taking back the country. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Lily is finally reunited with Temeraire--she was among Jane's forces at Folklestone, even though [[Catherine Harcourt]] is still ill after giving birth to her baby. Maximus and Lily are both still mindful of their promise to help Temeraire rescue Laurence, should the government attempt to execute him. Temeraire is chosen to lead a group of dragons harrying the French. Wellesley specifies Iskierka should go. In addition, Temeraire chooses Maximus, Lily, Perscitia, Gentius, [[Armatius]], [[Chalcedony]], [[Gladius]], [[Minnow]], [[Messoria]], and [[Immortalis]] as his ten. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Laurence is briefly commissioned as commander of the operation, since it is not all above-board. The other captains have written orders should they ever be held accountable for their actions. The group sets out on their mission, which Laurence describes as "Killing soldiers [...] most of whom are starving; and making them vicious, so they give us still-better excuse." After Woolvey's death, seeing the unwell King in Edinburgh, and abandoning his principles, Laurence begins to give in to despair. He is further distressed that Bonaparte has found a way to ''pay'' him for the cure afterall--he has order [[Wollaton Hall]] not to be attacked or pillaged, so it remains the only house in the countryside unmolested. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Temeraire starts to understand the full meaning of Laurence's sentence of treason, seeing his captain so unhappy. He learns that Laurence has lost most of his captial in a lawsuit over the slaves they freed in Africa, and he is also no longer "captain" but "Mr. Laurence." Also, many of Temeraire's former crew (particularly [[Ezekiah Martin|Mr. Martin]]) do not ''want'' to serve with a traitor, whereas Temeraire thought they should be happy to return given the chance. | ||
| + | Temeraire begins to understand the full meaning of Laurence's "treason" sentence. | ||
| + | |||
| + | At last, Tharkay arrives with the ferals and calls Laurence on his behavior. | ||
== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||
Revision as of 16:28, 17 August 2010
Book 5
The fifth volume of the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, released in the United States by Del Rey (a division of RandomHouse).
Story
Temeraire is at the Pen Y Fan Breeding Grounds and believes he must behave or else William Laurence will be executed. Temeraire is unhappy and worried for Laurence's life. He quarrels with Daniel Salcombe, whom he sends away. By chance, another dragon Perscitia is interested in the mathematics the two were speaking of. From her, Temeraire learns that a Winchester named Moncey can leave the breeding grounds without being noticed, and get word from the other coverts. Temeraire asks for news of Laurence.
Meanwhile, Laurence has been convicted of treason and is imprisoned on the HMS Goliath, a ship he used to serve on. The ship is in Dover harbor when Napoleon Bonaparte's forces attempt invasion. Freed from his cell by a canon shot, Laurence helps attempts to stop the French, and save the ship. But it is no use, the French land at Dover, and the Goliath is sunk.
Back at the breeding grounds, Temeraire fights over his cave (which he has just finished making modifications to) with Requiescat, a Regal Copper formerly in possession of the best cave. Temeraire refuses to leave his cave and takes the matter to a Dragon Council which includes Gentius, Majestatis and Ballista). Their debate devolves into a contest to prove who is "tops" and Temeraire is about to demonstrate the divine wind when Moncey arrives with the news that the Goliath has sunk. His grief is so great, that his roar shatters a mountain side "like glass."
Believing Laurence to be dead, Temeraire decides to strike out on his own to fight the French and Lung Tien Lien. He convinces the rest of the breeding ground dragons to come with him to win prizes and earn capital, so they may build pavillions. They even get the herdsmaster, Lloyd, to drive the cattle to their camp, so that the entire breeding ground is deserted.
However, Laurence is not dead. He is sprung from prison by Tharkay (and Gherni) who has orders from Jane Roland to bring him to the Admirals, as he and Temeraire are needed for battle. Roland has lately taken compand of the Dover covert from Sanderson, who was unable to stop the invasion. The Ministers are unhappy with the idea of her releasing Laurence, until General Wellesley simply says they can hang him after. Several other aviators share the sentiment and call Laurence a traitor, but a few (many Prussian and those that know him) defend him and a drunken brawl ensues. Laurence is rescued by John Granby, who laments that Iskierka will not follow orders. This is further proof to Laurence that dragons are managed better in China (and Africa) as those dragons care for their country and will defend it with their lives. After briefly speaking with Berkley, Laurence leaves with Hollin and Elsie to retrieve Temeraire.
Laurence, Hollin and Elsie arrive at Pen Y Fan and find no one there. Hollin and Elsie agree to fly in search of Temeraire with Laurence, even though it may be considered disobeying orders. They fly for some four days and only find traces of the missing dragons (though Elsie acquires a very shiny plate) until Captain Miller on Devastatio arrives and lectures Hollin on his duty. Miller has brought a commission for a militia man who has beaten the french in Wembly. When flying there, they are attacked by a Petit Chevalier, only to be rescued by Requiescat.
Of course, it was not the militia that beat the French at Wembley, it was Temeraire and his band of dragons--though Perscitia has co-opted the militia to fire cannons for them. Temeraire is happy to accept the commission, as he is the leader, but he is even happier to be reunited with Laurence at last.
Temeraire writes a letter to the commanders telling them that Napoleon will be attacking shortly, and that their reinforcements will not reach them in time. The next day, Iskierka and Arkady's ferals arrive. The Ministers did not believe Temeraire's letter, but she did. Shortly thereafter, Elsie and Hollin return with news that Napoleon is attacking that day and all the dragons are needed. They fly in a group to London. At camp, Fellowes, Blythe, Allen and Emily Roland all return to Temeraire's crew.
Wellesley agrees to meet with "Colonel" Temeraire along with the other commanders. The group decides to fight for London, even though they are out-numbered and Roland counsels against it. Wellesley agrees to allow Temeraire and his band of dragons to determine how to deal with French Fleur-de-Nuit bombers the evening before the attack. Jane Roland proposes setting up fake camps, with straw redcoats while Temeraire has his unharnessed dragons pretend to fight them, so the Aerial Corps dragons will be fresh for battle.
The morning of battle, Demane and Sipho return to Temeraire's crew (Sipho had been a runner for Berkley and Demane was riding Arkady). At first, the battle goes well. Perscitia has the idea to put the straw redcoats and paint on the back of the unharnessed heavy-weights, so the French lose men in doomed boarding parties. Under Roland's command, the dragons of the Corps meet the French thereafter. They fare far better than the Prussians did in Jena. Then Temeraire mentions that Marshal Davout is not in Portugal, as the commanders assumed; he is in England. Jane rushes away to tell Wellesley it is a trap, and the British forces are just able to get away before Davout attacks their rear.
The British are forced to retreat. Laurence, Temeraire and his group are able to stop at Wollaton Hall, and Lady Allendale provides them with food, though George Laurence will not let them inside the house. There Gong Su is reunited with Temeraire--Lady Allendale had found a place in her household for him, and his happy to let him return to the dragon. Jane meets Lady Allendale (who is grown pale and gray) and afterwards, Jane and Laurence finally fight about his treason. She would not have let the foreign dragons die, but rather sneak the cure to them without the Ministers knowing it, but Laurence made it a spectacle. She blames him for coming back a martyr and forcing those who care for him to suffer watching him be killed.
Jane sends Temeraire's group to guard Wellesley's retreat, suspecting he will be made commander of the entire army once they read Edinburgh. Temeraire convinces him to pay the dragons for their work.
During guard duty, Temeraire notices that Iskierka and the ferals are gone. He finally gets Wringe to admit Iskierka is gone back to London to win prizes. Temeraire's group is forced to go after her, and then happen upon Gherni who tells them that Granby has been taken prisoner, and Iskierka with him. Laurence and Tharkay set off for London under cover of dark, hoping to rescue Granby with as little fanfare as possible. Laurence chances upon Bertram Woolvey and Edith. Woolvey agrees to take them in his coach to Kensington Park, pretending just to be out for the evening. Granby is being held in Kensington Palace, with Iskierka nearby in the park. Laurence sees her arguing with Lien and knows it is the right place.
During the rescue, they are aided by a sailor named Janus. Woolvey is killed by the French, but the rest of them manage to get away on Iskierka's back. Laurence takes Woolvey's wedding ring, to return to Edith, and is greatly distressed by his loss. Wellesley lectures Temeraire and Iskierka for their behavior. He does not understand how the French have all flown back to London already, until Perscitia explains it to them all. Wellesley takes this intelligence and commands the British troops to do the same. The dragons then carry the British regiments to Loch Laggan covert in the French style. There, they find a Papillon Noir and French Marshals already waiting for parley.
The French dragon, Liberte, tries to seduce the British dragons to the French cause. Laurence is forced to interrupt the parley to explain that it cannot be chance that the French have brought an English-speaking dragon. Of the ministers, only Wellesley believes the tale. The other ministers are greatly distressed by the loss of London and are favoring giving in to Bonaparte's demands until Jane Roland arrives with news that the Aerial Corps has stopped a second landing attempt at Folkestone. The news of the victory heartens the ministers and they agree to put Wellesley in charge of taking back the country.
Lily is finally reunited with Temeraire--she was among Jane's forces at Folklestone, even though Catherine Harcourt is still ill after giving birth to her baby. Maximus and Lily are both still mindful of their promise to help Temeraire rescue Laurence, should the government attempt to execute him. Temeraire is chosen to lead a group of dragons harrying the French. Wellesley specifies Iskierka should go. In addition, Temeraire chooses Maximus, Lily, Perscitia, Gentius, Armatius, Chalcedony, Gladius, Minnow, Messoria, and Immortalis as his ten.
Laurence is briefly commissioned as commander of the operation, since it is not all above-board. The other captains have written orders should they ever be held accountable for their actions. The group sets out on their mission, which Laurence describes as "Killing soldiers [...] most of whom are starving; and making them vicious, so they give us still-better excuse." After Woolvey's death, seeing the unwell King in Edinburgh, and abandoning his principles, Laurence begins to give in to despair. He is further distressed that Bonaparte has found a way to pay him for the cure afterall--he has order Wollaton Hall not to be attacked or pillaged, so it remains the only house in the countryside unmolested.
Temeraire starts to understand the full meaning of Laurence's sentence of treason, seeing his captain so unhappy. He learns that Laurence has lost most of his captial in a lawsuit over the slaves they freed in Africa, and he is also no longer "captain" but "Mr. Laurence." Also, many of Temeraire's former crew (particularly Mr. Martin) do not want to serve with a traitor, whereas Temeraire thought they should be happy to return given the chance. Temeraire begins to understand the full meaning of Laurence's "treason" sentence.
At last, Tharkay arrives with the ferals and calls Laurence on his behavior.
Trivia
Deviations From History
Aside from the obvious additions of dragons, the events in Temeraire follow the history of our own world quite closely. However, several differences do occur throughout the series. In "Victory Of Eagles", the following differences occur:
- Napoleon Bonaparte's conquest of Britain as detailed throughout the book never historically occured, and is an invention of the author's. At this time, French forces were invading Spain in what is known as the Peninsular War.
- HMS Victory and at least twenty-five ships of the Royal Navy are sunk in the fictional Battle of Shoeburyness; which also claims the life of Admiral Nelson.
- Wellesley gains the title "Duke of Wellington" as a result of his actions in the Battle of Shoeburyness, instead of in 1809 in Spain at the Battle of Talavera.
- As a result of the invasion of Britain, George IV is made Prince Regent in 1808; three years earlier than historically.
