Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2)

by Naomi Novik

Temeraire was quicker and answered for himself. “I do not care if they do not like me,” he said. “Maybe then they will let me alone, and I will not have to stay in China.” This thought visibly struck him, and his head came up with sudden enthusiasm. “If I were very offensive, do you suppose they would go away now?” he asked. “Laurence, what would be particularly insulting?”

Oh Temeraire <3

“But we are not allowed to get evidence,” Temeraire said. “And also I am not allowed to kill him, and we are supposed to be polite to him, and all of it for the sake of Government. I am very tired of this Government, which I have never seen, and which is always insisting that I must do disagreeable things, and does no good to anybody.”

Tem always coming in with the hard comments lol

“If use can make men stop being afraid, I do not see why we should be kept penned up so they may continue to be frightened,” Temeraire said.

Blythe, gulping water from the vase, abruptly choked, spat out a fountain, and yelled, “Sweet Christ in Heaven!” and made them all jump. Laurence looked around wildly: a bright orange goldfish two fingers long was wriggling on the stones in the puddled water. “Sorry,” Blythe said, panting. “I felt the bugger squirming in my mouth.” Laurence stared, then Martin started laughing, and for a moment they were all grinning at one another; then the rifles cracked off, and they were back to the door.