In Autumn, a White Dragon Looks over the Wide River

Story

"In Autumn, a White Dragon Looks over the Wide River" is a short story taking place during Black Powder War. It was printed in 2009 at the end of In His Majesty's Service, a US omnibus reprint of His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, and Black Powder War.

Synopsis

Lung Tien Lien reaches Paris in the company of the French ambassador De Guignes. At first, she is unimpressed by Napoleon Bonaparte and appalled by the status and treatment of dragons in France (which were still similar to the equivalent British conditions).

She dislikes the three dragons-- Fraternité, a male Grand Chevalier; Sûreté, a male Chanson-de-Guerre; and Lumière, a male Flamme-de-Gloire-- sent to her as "companions", and is mortally offended on realizing they were intended as prospective mates.

However, Bonaparte wins her respect by seriously addressing her suggestions and complaints, even dismissing generals who were unwilling to listen to her.

Thanks to Lien, Bonaparte improves his Air Corps' logistics enough to bring more dragons to the eastern battlefronts, and to use them more effectively for transport and combat. By the end of the story, she has subconsciously begun to accept Bonaparte in the place of the late Prince Yongxing; she feels guilty about this, but accepts Bonaparte's solicitous interest in her good health and suggestions for reform.