Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(33)
With a satisfied nod, she turned a knob on her device, and I fought not to let out a relieved sigh as the atmosphere returned to normal. The cup suddenly flew toward Henry, and he barely caught it. “I suppose I should have stopped trying before you turned your device off,” he said with a sheepish grin.
Adonis jumped out of his seat. “It works!” he said. “This calls for a round of drinks. Let’s open that bottle we’ve been saving.”
While the Mechanics celebrated with hugs and slaps on the back, Henry came over to me. “Are you all right?” he whispered.
I nodded just enough for it to be barely visible. “Yes. It wasn’t bad, just…strange.”
Our host brought us glasses of fizzing wine and turned to face Athena. “Here’s to our brilliant and beautiful inventor, who may have just won us the revolution.”
We raised our glasses and drank, but I felt somewhat unsettled. This surely changed the landscape entirely. While it wouldn’t matter against nonmagical weapons and soldiers, it might be enough to allow the ragtag band of Mechanics to stand up to the Empire’s magical might. I could also imagine less savory uses.
Although Henry went along with toasting the inventor, I could see that his smile didn’t quite touch his eyes, which were troubled. Our handsome host also appeared serious when he returned to his seat and addressed Henry. “I’m sure you can see how important this device is. If anything we have needs to be mass produced, it would be this. But I don’t imagine that’s something you could get your magister friends to fund.”
“It might be more challenging than getting them excited about steam engines and airships, yes,” Henry said. “There would have to be safeguards in place about how and when it can be used, and how it might be used in the aftermath.” I could see that he’d had the same misgivings I’d had.
Athena came over to sit in a straight-backed chair adjacent to the settee. “We have to live without magical powers. Why can’t you?” she asked.
“Because that device doesn’t merely render me the same as you. It alters me. I was born with my abilities. Dampening them is like me blindfolding you and forcing you to go without your eyesight. While it wasn’t truly painful, I can feel the difference that device makes, and I suspect you could make it work in such a way that it would be painful.” He raised an eyebrow. “And if that sort of thing were to happen, well, you’d not only lose some valuable allies, but you’d make some enemies.”
“I would not use it to cause harm,” she said solemnly, her words sounding like a vow. “But I might need to test it further to determine the precise thresholds at which power is affected with minimal other impact.”
“What about the rest of your organization? You can understand why I might have concerns.”
“Yes. That is why I must test and calibrate it precisely before I allow this device to be replicated, so it can’t be used to cause harm.”
Henry frowned, weighing this for a moment before he said, “I may be able to find you some test subjects among my local friends. You should test it on more than one person. All of us are different. I use my powers more than most, so the effect on me may not be the same as on someone whose powers are merely latent.”
“That is good to know.” She stood and nodded her head like a queen acknowledging her subject. “Thank you for your assistance.”
Henry put down his glass. “Now, was there anything else you wanted to discuss tonight, or did you merely need a laboratory rat?”
“If you could get us some willing test subjects, that would be grand,” Adonis said, rising from his seat. Now that Henry had served his purpose, our host was much less genial. He gestured for one of the others to bring our coats and Henry’s hat.
“I really am sorry if I offended you, miss,” Mary said as she helped me with my coat. “Perhaps I should have told you it wasn’t a social occasion.”
“I understand how important secrecy is,” I said. “But if we’re all going to work together, trust is equally important.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said. We made our way out into the dark vestibule, where she paused with her hand on the outside door. “Now, I’d better make sure it’s safe.” She was only out for a second or two before she stuck her head back in and gestured to us. “Can you find your own way back?”
“I believe so,” Henry said. “I’m familiar with Boston.”
“Good. Then I’ll get home, myself. I have an early start in the morning. Take care not to get caught out by any patrols. Your name might get you out of trouble, but I don’t think you want His Grace knowing what you’ve been up to.”
I barely had a chance to ask, “Patrols?” before she was gone.
Chapter Nine
In Which
Henry Offers Advice
on Larceny
“Patrols?” I repeated to Henry.
“Things can get a bit…volatile here, so there’s a sort of curfew.”
“And we’re out after curfew?” Panic made my voice shriller than I would have liked.
“It’s not a very tight curfew. At least, it wasn’t the last time I was here. It’s mostly to give the authorities an excuse to question anyone who looks suspicious.”