Free Rebel Magisters by Shanna Swendson Page A

able to buy you a magical engine or two and the equipment you’d need to retrofit it. But you need hundreds of engines, plus the organizational infrastructure to hide what you’re doing as some innocuous enterprise.”
    It was as though someone had dumped cold water over the party. The magisters and Mechanics alike looked crestfallen. “So, you’re not going to help us, then?” Colin said.
    “We didn’t say that,” Henry said. “There are more of us than you might realize who are sympathetic to the cause. Many of us want revolution, too. We might be able to find investors to fund your efforts.”
    Alec’s angry response surprised me. With a fierce glare, he crossed his arms over his chest and said, “Oh, so our overlords will deign to give us money? What will you expect in return? Are you buying us?”
    Henry’s eyes flashed, but he kept his tone perfectly cool as he replied, “You were willing to ask us to put our lives on the line to steal money to fund your cause. Is it so different if we offer to give you money?”
    “If you give us your money, we’re beholden to you. You might expect us to dance to your tune,” Alec said. “Isn’t that how investment usually works?”
    “We would want to be equal partners in the revolution,” Henry said. “We wouldn’t just be funding your rebellion. We’re doing this not because we like you, but because we want to be free just as much as you do.”
    Alec shook his head. “Then we’d just be answering to a different group of magisters. What’s the point of a rebellion, then?”
    “Freedom,” Philip said. “We could make our own decisions instead of being ruled by people living on the other side of the ocean. We could break down the barriers between magisters and everyone else. People could decide for themselves what they want to be and do. Your machines would help level the field, as you said. We’d all be equals.”
    Leaning forward and looking Alec square in the eye, Henry said, “Look, we’re planning a revolution with or without you. We have wealth and magic on our side, so we don’t really need you. We’ve been sending money to your people because the nation we imagine is more equitable, and your technology helps make us equals. But if you don’t want to participate, that makes equality a lot more difficult.”
    The men on both sides glared at each other. I worried that they’d come to blows, but Colin broke the tension. “This would all be a lot simpler if you’d just agree to rob each other and then give us the money,” he quipped.
    One of the Mechanic men who’d been silently listening all this time said, “We will have to think about this and discuss it with our people.” He stood, and the others rose, as well. “Now, you are free to enjoy the party as our guests.”
    The Mechanics went back to the party, but before he left us, Colin said, “When you’re ready to leave, let us know. We can either send you uptown via the subway, or I can guide you to the surface.”
    The magister men and I lingered on our bench. “What are you going to do?” I asked.
    “I suppose that’s up to them,” Henry replied with a weary sigh. “But in case they do want our help, we should probably start doing more organizing on our end. We’re not quite as ready to rebel as I made it sound, but we should be.”
    “What about Brad up in Boston?” Philip said. “He was a good chap—had the best ideas. Last time I talked to him, he made it sound like they’d put together quite a group. They’ve even been taking action, sabotage and that sort of thing.”
    “I’m sure there are others in the other colonies. I’ve heard rumors that there are rebel sympathizers at some rather high levels,” Geoffrey said. “The trick would be finding them and finding an excuse to meet with the other groups. This lot here may be secretive and worried about being caught, but we’re under a lot more scrutiny.”
    I had a burst of insight. Turning to Henry, I said,