"I promise you we will have enough fighting today, however late we enter the fray," Laurence said, leaping into Temeraire's waiting claw with a speed that belied his counsel of patience, and swinging himself rapidly into place with the aid of Granby's outstretched hand all the crew were already in their places, the Prussian officers no less than the British, and Badenhaur, who was trained as a signal-officer, sat anxiously beside Laurence's own place. "Laurence, hurry, hurry, they are fighting already without us!" Temeraire called urgently, sitting up high on his back legs with his head craned out of the covert, spotting Laurence before he had even reached the clearing.
The prospect of action had quite swept away the malaise hanging upon the camp, and the iron discipline and drill was telling in their favor: as he walked swiftly through the ranks he heard laughter and joking tones the order to stand-to was met everywhere with an instant response, and though the men were themselves in sorry case, wet and pinched with hunger, they had kept their arms in good order, and their colors sprang out gaily overhead, the great banners snapping in the wind like musket-shot.
For his own part, Laurence could be almost thankful for the French catching them, if not for the suddenness of their assault it seemed to him as it had to Temeraire, that the commanders had labored desperately the last week to avoid the very war which they had provoked and which all their men were prepared to endure a stupid cowering sort of delay that could only wear down morale, reduce their supply, and leave detachments exposed and vulnerable to being cut down one by one, as poor Prince Louis had been.
There was no option now but to concentrate as quickly as possible and give battle. THE ARTILLERY BATTERIES were trading hot words before Laurence had even left Hohenlohe's tent already the fastest couriers were flying desperately after Brunswick and the King, and westward to call in the reserves from Weimar.
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