Temeraire's reply was cut short; while he had been manhandling the drake, others had surged in t take advantage of his distraction. A formation of drakes all but smashed into his side, shaking the captured drake out of his talons and knocking the bigger dragon sideways with a roar of surprise.

He could not finish what he had been going to say, only twist and snarl and raise his claws to engage these new threats. Katina was on her own for the moment.