 As the airship "Leviathan" travels over Russia, Aleksandar, Deryn, and Newkirk are in the middy's mess with the perspicacious loris Bovril, talking about great circle routes.Alek mentions Deryn's father was an airman, but Newkirk says that the airman was Deryn's uncle.An actual living two-headed messenger eagle from the Czar heads towards the bridge, interrupting their discussion.