Revolutionary Magic (with Bonus Content) by Thomas K. Carpenter Page A

blind. Do you have news for me? Have you learned something about your old home in my absence? The world moves on strange streets these days."
    "Little things. Big things," said Chloris.
    "Can you enlighten an old friend?" asked Ben, hopeful.
    "Nothing specific, but I can feel things moving in the distance, like mountains grinding inexorably in this direction. Answers appear in my mind though I have not asked a question," said Chloris.
    "Then it's as we thought," said Ben. "There is some plot against us."
    "No," said Chloris. "You are merely insects about to be trampled by a battle between giants."
    "You mock us," said Ben.
    "No, I mock you and you alone. Princess Dashkova, she is another matter entirely," said Chloris, all trace of softness missing.
    In my surprise, I almost looked up.
    "Me?"
    The word slipped out unbidden. Even Ben seemed surprised, glancing at me sideways while keeping his head down.
    "You know her?" asked Ben, skeptically.
    "Not all mountains move from Otherland," said Chloris. "Even now I feel a pull from her. Before you came, I did not know her name, but once you stepped inside, the answer carved itself into my mind."
    At this point, I should have kept my mouth shut. Not doing so was a fault of mine that had made Catherine furious often enough.
    "You lie," I said, feeling a tightness in my chest.
    "I do not lie, Princess," said Chloris forcefully. "Deceive, obfuscate, shade the truth? At times. But I do not lie."
    Ben put his hand on my forearm, but I spoke anyway. "Then you are trying to injure me."
    "No."
    The word was so emphatic, final, like the blow of a hammer, I knew it for truth.
    "Yet injury will come," said Chloris. "I sense great pain in your future, confusion, betrayal, a sense of aloneness so vast to make the moon pity you."
    "Is this prophecy?" asked Ben.
    "No." Then Chloris paused. "I don't know. These are the answers I have found without knowing the questions. Or maybe these events are so meaningful they are questions in themselves and I cannot help but hear them," she said.
    We stood in silence. Water dripped from somewhere in the room. My inward breath was thick and cloying. I desired the fresh clear air of the city streets, wanted to claw away the collar of my dress to release my breath.
    Suddenly, Ben's fingers tensed around my arm.
    "Why did you give these answers freely, without a price paid?" he asked Chloris.
    The woman's laughter was a cold slap across the face. "You'll soon find out. But you didn't come here for those answers. You came for something else. Pay me, Benjamin."
    A light splash indicated she'd pulled her hand from the water and held it out.
    While keeping his head down, Ben placed the object on her palm. I caught a glimpse of it: an ivory comb.
    "A fair gift," said Chloris. "Ask your question, Benjamin."
    Ben cleared his throat. "Who does the memory thief desire to attack next?"
    "So close and yet so far," mocked Chloris. "The answer you seek is the Binghams. I trust you know them."
    "Yes," said Ben. "William Bingham is a member of the Bank of North America. He is a rising star. He and his wife, Anne, are devout Federalists."
    "You should hurry," said Chloris. "Chess pieces on a board. They're all moving. Don't want to be the one left without a spot."
    Ben turned, tugging on my arm to leave.
    "And Princess," said Chloris in a lilting tone, "I shall be seeing you again."
    "Doubtful," I said.
    Chloris replied with quiet chuckling.
    Afterwards, we stood outside the closed door of Chloris' abode in silence, Ben's worried brow a thunderhead of thoughts.
    "We must get to the Bingham's house at once," he said.

Chapter Nine
    The steam carriage had been left idling, attended by one of the Magdelen House's grease boys. We slid onto the cushion, each from our side, the weight of the visit heavy upon us.
    "You shouldn't have spoken to her," he said.
    "It doesn't sound like it would have mattered," I replied.
    He considered the thought before shoving the lever into gear. The