Chapter 54 - Local Cases
The local courthouse was similar in design to the one that Medoferro was used to dealing with at the capital, though slightly smaller. Instead oxf the three chairs used by the Mullinix chamber this one was equipped with only one, as a single commander usually used it. Medoferro was given a fairly nice padded chair next to the one Massimaferro was using for his session.
"So this child," Massimaferro said, looking at the young couple, "It was born how many months after the wedding?"
Medoferro thought that this was a fairly straightforward case, but Massimaferro was having trouble with it. Medoferro also noticed that the Mullinix was sweating profusely and a little bit on the bleary side, much like Suvorov used to be after a drinking binge. Thing was, he knew full well that Massimaferro had had nothing stronger than apple cider the night before.
"Seven months, Mullinix," the young man said, "There is no way that child can be mine!"
"The child was entirely too healthy to be seven months in the womb," the local Medico told the Mullinix, "Normally this wouldn’t be a factor, but this child could be at the heart of a…"
"Yes, I know," Massimaferro said testily, "The child is important and it seems that this marriage is nothing more than a patching of a family feud. Are you telling me that you never tested out your future bride before you married her?"
"That is against…" the young man exclaimed.
"Yes, I know," Massimaferro said, his irritation growing, "I know what the local scripture says."
Medoferro saw that all Massimaferro was doing was pissing off everyone in the room. Medoferro leaned over and tapped Massimaferro on the shoulder. Massimaferro looked over at Medoferro, wondering what the younger man had to say.
"He’s telling the truth," Medoferro whispered to him, "He didn’t touch her."
"How do you know that?" Massimaferro asked him.
"He believes it too fervently for it to be a lie," Medoferro said, "I can tell by the waves coming from him."
"Any suggestions?" Massimaferro asked him, "I’m from the east and not used to this area. I feel like shit too."
"I see that," Medoferro said, "The girl is hiding something though. Go after her."
"You sure about that?" Massimaferro asked him, "She’s been too quiet…"
"Women up here usually aren’t that quiet," Medoferro said, "At least not according to what I’ve read."
"You’re right," Massimaferro nodded, "Thanks, Medo."
Massimaferro straightened up a bit and looked at the young woman, who almost shrank from his glance. Medoferro watched the girl and was able to tell that something was eating her. The girl looked at the floor, trying not to make like she was understanding.
"Something you would like to share with me?" Massimaferro asked her.
The girl shook her head, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Medoferro stood up and looked at Massimaferro. Massimaferro didn’t know what Medoferro was going to do, but nodded for him to proceed.
"Stand up and let me look at you," Medoferro told her, "Relax, I won’t hurt you."
The scared young woman stood up and took a step forward. Medoferro watched the way the magnetics danced around her, as they did around any person who was scared out of their wits. He reached out and touched her shoulder, pulling her out into the middle of the floor.
"There’s nothing to worry about," Medoferro said quietly, mentally pushing her a little, "Tell Massimaferro the truth and we’ll sort it out from there."
The girl looked unsure for a bit, but as Medoferro gently applied the power to her, she finally lost some of her self consciousness and started talking. Medoferro kept a small stream of power to her in an attempt to influence her to tell the truth.
"The child isn’t his," the girl said, "I wanted to be pure for him, as I think he is a good and kind man. I went to his bed willingly and I do love him…"
Medoferro kept the push on, hoping to get her to finish her story. Massimaferro watched the girl in silence, figuring that whatever Medoferro was doing would help more than any words he could say.
"Whose child is it?" Medoferro asked her gently.
"That son of a bitch uncle of mine!" the girl exclaimed, with a force that nobody expected, "He’d been forcing me into his bed for years. When he made a mistake on my cycles, he realized that he needed to marry me off and quick."
"You swine!" the young woman’s husband yelled, "I should…"
"You should sit down and shut up," Massimaferro grunted, "This is a Mullinix matter now."
"Why did you say nothing before now?" Medoferro asked her, trying to end the ordeal.
"Because I knew this would happen," the young woman said, tears streaming, "My husband is a good and kind man. He deserves better than me, but I couldn’t bear to hurt him by telling him..."
"Young man," Massimaferro said, "This young woman does love you, despite what has happened. Do you still wish to press this claim?"
The man thought about it long and hard for a few minutes and finally shook his head.
"No Mullinix," the young man said, "Though I do ask that the agreement be set aside due to the fraud."
"That agreement is an important one for this area," Colonel Serim told them, "We need to preserve it."
"I highly doubt that the whole family was involved in this charade," Massimaferro said, "The one who should be punished is the uncle. Unless he decides to contest it here and now?"
The uncle looked around and saw the hatred in the room towards him. Medoferro had no doubts of the truthfulness of this statement of the girl, and it was obvious that nobody else had any doubts either. He shook his head in the negative, raising his hands and giving a silent sign that he’d submit to Mullinix justice.
"Very well," Massimaferro said, "How much are his land holdings and do they adjoin this young man’s land?"
"They are adjoining Mullinix," Colonel Serim said, "This is one of the oldest plots in the area."
"Very well," Massimaferro nodded, "I judge that the feud agreement should stand as is, with the single exception of one third of the miscreant uncle’s land being turned over immediately to this young man and his bride."
"What about inheritance rights, Mullinix?" the young man said, "The child isn’t mine…"
"Colonel Serim," Massimaferro said, "What is the custom in this area on this?"
"Blood inheritance is the rule," Serim told him, "Though a Mullinix edict can contradict this."
"I don’t want to be contrary," Massimaferro said and then looked at the uncle, "Do you have children of your own?"
"No Mullinix," the uncle said, knowing now what was coming.
"Then upon reaching majority this child will be your legal, legitimate heir," Massimaferro said, "Custody until then, however, will remain with the mother and her husband. I trust I can count on you to raise this child as if he was your own?"
"I will if you command it, Mullinix," the young man said.
"It isn’t my command that matters," Massimaferro said, "It is your life and your wife that matter."
"I will raise this child as my own," the young man said, "Provided my wife will be agreeable to bearing my child as soon as possible?"
"I live for it!" the young woman exclaimed, "You really want me back?"
"I’d say that settles it," Massimaferro said, "How many more cases do we have today?"
"Two minor ones and the murder case, Mullinix," Colonel Serim said.
"You need a break," Medoferro said firmly, "We need to talk too."
"We’ll take a break for a while," Massimaferro agreed, "Come, Medoferro, we do need to talk."
Massimaferro walked into the other room, though his gait was slow and a little lumbering. He was still sweating rather badly and he was quite a bit pale. Medoferro pulled a chair for him and Massimaferro sat down again gladly. Medoferro used his abilities to check out his fellow Mullinix and was only able to see that something was wrong.
/> "Are you getting sick, Massy?" Medoferro asked him, "You look like death warmed over."
"I don’t feel much better," Massy grunted, "My stomach and my head are both hurting."
"You need to get some sleep," Medo told him, "You can’t do a murder case with your head that muddled."
"To hell with that," Massimaferro said, "What the hell did you do to the girl to start her talking?"
"Used the abilities the old man showed me," Medoferro said, "I was pushing a bit of power to her, using it to reassure her that we wouldn’t hurt her."
"Be careful with that," Massimaferro told him, "Don’t want to force a guilty person to say something untrue."
"I wasn’t forcing anything," Medoferro assured him, "It’s more of a freeing effect. I can’t force them to say anything, only give them a bit more power to draw on for courage."
"I don’t pretend to understand it," Massimaferro said, "But it worked out there. Thank you."
"You’re changing the subject," Medoferro said, "You’re still too damn sick to do a murder case. You barely kept your brain on this one."
"You’re not ready for a murder case," Massimaferro protested, then fell back against his chair.
"Let’s get the Medico to look at you," Medoferro said, "See what we can do."
"All right," Massy sighed, letting himself slump down a bit, "I’ll wait here…"
Medoferro went out and found the Medico, a sour faced middle aged man who had been pretty well drafted from the Mullinix Centre Medico Hospice. He was sitting with the guards drinking coffee when Medoferro walked out. Ari Coblein looked up and wondered what he’d done now.
"Yes?" Coblein asked the young Mullinix.
"Massimaferro isn’t feeling very well," Medoferro said, "Could you come look at him before we do another session?"
"Certainly," Coblein nodded, "I’ll be back in a bit, guys."
Medoferro and Ari Coblein walked over to the chamber where Massimaferro was sitting in the chair. Coblein was shocked when he saw Massimaferro’s pale face. He went over and put his hand on the Mullinix’s head. Medoferro was not encouraged by the expression that came over the Medico’s face.
"How bad?" Medoferro asked him.
"Nasty fever," Coblein said, "He needs to be in bed."
"I have to take that Murder case," Massimaferro said, "People will talk if we let Insegniferro have it…"
"You are in no condition to order lunch," Medoferro said, "You think you can judge someone’s life right now?"
"I have no choice," Massimaferro grunted, "Now let’s get it over with before I start throwing up."
"Medoferro is right, Mullinix," Coblein told him, "You can’t do this. You’re not thinking straight."
"Who is going to do it?" Massimaferro said, looking a bit greener, "You?"
"Me," Medoferro said, softly, "I’m the only other choice."
"You’ve never sat a case before," Massimaferro said, "Out of the question."
"I’m in better shape than you are right now," Medoferro countered, "You have a choice. Either do it and risk screwing it up or let me do it right."
"It’s unheard of!" Massimaferro said, "No Mullinix has ever done a murder case as their first…"
Massimaferro stopped as his stomach heaved a little. Medoferro and Ari watched as Massimaferro did a good job of proving Medoferro’s point. They let him calm down and stop heaving before they said anything else.
"We have no choice, Massy," Medoferro said, "You’re sick."
"Let Colonel Serim know," Massimaferro grunted, "No need to surprise him."
"We need to get you to bed," Ari said, "Now, sir."
"I have to be there," Massimaferro said, "Tie me to a chair if you have to. If we’re breaking protocol this much, damn it, I need to be there."
"So long as you keep your mouth shut and don’t heave in public," Medoferro told him, "There’s no harm in being sick. There’s plenty of harm in being stupid about it."
"You sound like Taliaferro," Massimaferro grunted, "I think we chose well, kid."
"Let’s get ready to get this over with," Medoferro said, "Where’s Colonel Serim…"
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 57