Deryn felt brilliant, rising through the air at the center off everyone's attention, like an acrobat aloft on a swing. She wanted to make a speech:
Hey, all you sods, I can fly and you can't! A natural airman, in case you haven't noticed. And in conclusion, I'd like to add that I'm a girl and you can all get stuffed!.
Suddenly a pair of searchlights lanced out from the frigate. They swept across the dark expanse - bright knives slicing the night into pieces.
Volger looked out across the glacier, his hands deep in his pockets. "May I be frank?"
Alek laughed. "Feel free to put aside your usual tact."
"I shall," Volger said. "When your father decided to marry Sophie, I was one of those who tried to talk him out of it."
"So I have your dismal powers of
persuasion to thank for my existence."
"You're very welcome.