and arkady was unwilling to turn back while any others of his flock remained : temeraire had told too many stories , and those too vivid , of treasures and feasts and dramatic battles ; now the feral leader evidently feared one of his erstwhile subjects might return at some future date covered in glory real or contrived , and challenge his standing ; a standing founded less in raw strength - both his lieutenants outstripping him in this arena - than on a certain alchemy of charisma and quickness of thought , rendering his position the less easily defensible .