The drake was still a bit stunned, lashing its tail only after it felt pressure on its hindquarters. The warrior on its back was less stunned, though his ears must surely have still been ringing--he swept a glaive at the boarder, though still mindful of the flailing wings of his own mount.

Temeraire had come to a hovering stop in the newly vacant altitude, where he had to look down to see the other drakes wheeling like so many birds. Instead, though, he was snarling and snapping and otherwise occupied with his new and entirely unwelcome passenger.

"Off!"

But he couldn't just roll to dislodge it, at least not this instant--Nero hadn't locked on yet, and he would inevitably throw her as much as the drake. And that was also bad.

On the other hand, the armor on his back was mostly chainmail, to allow the dragon to make full use of his flexibility; as reinforced as it was, the harness was still flammable. No amount of wire and chain sewn in could fix that and remain pliable.