Mirrors and Magic: A Steampunk Fairy Tale by Katina French

Author:Katina French
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: alchemy, steampunk, fairy tale, fairytale, snow white, circus, clockpunk

Fortune and Folly

After a sold-out run in Kansas City, Lang & Perrault’s had arrived for their first show in St. Louis in years.

Andrew Lang was practically as giddy as a schoolboy. If things continued to improve, a show in Chicago was a virtual certainty. There might even be the possibility of an invitation from the Grand Chief of the Free Nation of Indiana, although they were notoriously selective about whom they allowed past their borders. Since those borders were dotted with limestone fortresses and patrolled by shamans and expert archers, Lang was content to wait for an invitation like everyone else.

Still, just returning to St. Louis again was so much more than Lang had envisioned at the beginning of the season. Now that they were returning to some of the larger cities with big playhouses and theaters, they could offer performances in town where they could charge a better admission price.

This morning, he’d overseen the carnival and rides set up in Riverside Park, even though the big top events would take place in a real theater, with gilt on the ceiling and velvet on the seats. He’d selected a location downtown, near the municipal monorail to make it simpler for the performers to travel back and forth from their homes in the carnival caravan. Only a few weeks ago, they couldn’t have afforded to book an indoor venue, much less have had any hope of filling one.

He’d heard rumors that airships were flying in travelers from other republics who were anxious to see the show based on the reviews from Kansas City. Lang had stopped by a local tailor shop, and had his measurements taken by the automaton clerk for a new tweed suit. Things were definitely looking up. Soon, he’d need to talk to Neve about her legacy, but he no longer felt anxious about the conversation. Instead, he looked forward to planning the future of Lang & Perrault’s with her.

The receipts had grown steadily ever since Neve, aka “The Amazing Bianca” had taken over as the opening act. Even in small towns, people returned each night to see the show all over again. But it wasn’t just Neve who was shining in the spotlight.

Other performers began pulling out additional routines, old routines they’d retired and new ones they’d been hesitant to try out, to entice the crowd to stay in their seats after Neve left the center ring. The barkers smiled more. A few of the shabbier tents had been replaced and backdrops were being repainted.

Even Roderigo had perked up and stopped committing acts of sabotage out of sheer boredom.

Everyone was returning to top form, enervated by their recent success. Everyone wanted to lay claim to a bit of the credit for the circus’ renaissance. It looked as though they were well on their way to becoming a world famous circus again. The entire company, from troupe to crew, buzzed with a hopeful anticipation that had gone missing far too long.

Well, almost the entire company. With two notable exceptions.

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