"I'm sure that Flight Officer Julia MacKenzie, whose extremely common and therefore untraceable name is not even technically a lie, currently of Temeraire, can stand up to anything. Wait, do you have Flight Officers? Or am I a Midshipman? Midwingman?" I do enjoy coming up with a new identity, and this one is much nicer than Eva Seiler. "I have been dying to meet this Admiral Roland ever since I first heard of her, anyway. It will be fine."

I put on my own neckcloth, pleased that fashion will hide my scars without looking odd, and then I pause and get the full impact of Captain William Laurence, in his full and proper glory.

"You are positively dashing."