I am currently rereading the “Empire of Ivory” (the fourth book in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik for those who are unfamiliar) and at the end of the book, our main characters Laurence, a naval captain forced into the aerial corps, and Temeraire, and the dragon that chose Laurence as his own handler/captain, discover that their government will be sending a dragon sick with a highly contagious and deadly virus to France to greatly reduce their own dragons numbers. Laurence and Temeraire become concerned, and rightfully so in my opinion, that this virus will spread not only across France but through the rest of the continent as well and greatly harm their allies as well. Laurence and Temeraire decide to defy orders and bring the cure to this plague over to France in order to prevent this from occurring. After which, they return to Britain, despite Napoleon’s assurances that they will be treated as heroes in France, and face the consequences of their actions, where they are both named traitors and are forcibly separated from each other. Laurence is sent to prison and awaits execution and Temeraire is sent to Britain’s dragon breeding grounds.
Later on in the series, in the eighth book “Blood of Tyrants”, Laurence loses his memory of his time in the aerial corps due to an injury to the head. Later on in the book when Laurence learns of his actions, he is upset with himself for having defied orders from the government, despite the stakes. Only after further reforging his bond with Temeraire and almost losing him in a rockslide does Laurence realize why he decided to go against the government.
I bring this up because it shows a great example of character development Laurence goes through throughout the series. From following orders without question to standing true to his morals, despite what the people around him, and his superiors, believe.
