The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension

by Rodney Mountain

  Chapter 65 - Stacy and Miranda

  "Stacy," Marina said as she entered the gym, "I hope you didn’t have any plans tonight."

  "What’s up, Marina?" Stacy asked her, stopping her workout and wiping down with a towel, "I figured nothing major would be going on with Medoferro and Simon both out of town."

  "I’ll let Insegniferro explain," Marina told her, "Would you mind coming on up to the palace?"

  "Just me or Miranda too?" Stacy wondered, "What’s going on? Do I need to change?"

  "Just you for now, and we’re not going formal," Marina said, "There’s some problems brewing and we’re short of people who they can trust. Your name came up."

  "All right," Stacy agreed, "Let’s get Miranda and we’ll go. She’ll be in the medico labs."

  "Let her stay there until you hear Insegniferro out," Marina suggested, "You know her better than we do and we may not need her at all."

  "I’m intrigued already," Stacy chuckled, "What Byzantine plan is Insegniferro up to now?"

  "I’m just a messenger girl, cousin," Marina smiled, "It’s not my place to say."

  "Good or bad?" Stacy wondered, knowing it wasn’t like Marina to be so coy.

  "A bit of both," she admitted, not saying another word until they got to the palace.

  They went upstairs, bypassing the usual protocol and going directly to Insegniferro’s chambers. Stacy was impressed, usually guards were addressed in the chambers below or rarely in the official offices. She couldn’t recall a time that a Mullinix guard had been brought into chambers.

  "Good evening, Mullinix," Stacy said, "Marina said you wanted to talk to me."

  "No need to be formal, Stacy," Insegniferro said, looking up from his reading, "This is a very unofficial visit here. How much did Marina tell you?"

  "Not much," Stacy smiled, "Very unlike her."

  "I can follow directions," Marina smiled, "Occasionally."

  "Ok," Iggy said, "No need to ramble on. Let me explain a little of what is going on out there."

  "I’m listening," Stacy agreed, "How can I help?"

  "I need someone to bring a book that doesn’t exist to Medoferro," Iggy explained, "You’ve worked with Medo before and he trusts you."

  "A book that doesn’t exist?" Stacy asked, "What would that be?"

  "A book on codified Mullinix Law," Insegniferro told her, "It’s something that isn’t used often, but Medo needs it now."

  "Doesn’t he have Massimaferro for that?" Stacy wondered, "And why do you need me? Running out of quality people?"

  "Essentially yes," Iggy explained, "Roland and Simon are preparing for a conference that is happening way too quickly. I haven’t seen Paulus for a month and he was last seen in Cirrus."

  "Still doesn’t explain why you need me," Stacy said, still a bit curious.

  "Massimaferro is sick," Iggy explained, "Medo is going to have to the session alone tomorrow. He needs that book so he can get a heads up on some of what he can do."

  "Medo is pretty much alone then?" Stacy asked, "How bad is it?"

  "We don’t know for sure if it is stomach flu or not," Iggy sighed, "He sounded pretty bad tonight and Medo is under a lot of stress."

  "That’s why you want me," Stacy nodded, "And why you’ll want Miranda as well."

  "You know her better than we do," Iggy said, "Do you think she’d agree to go along? I can’t order her like I can you."

  "For Medoferro she’d go in a heartbeat," Stacy said, "Easily. If Massy is sick she might be a help as well. She’s a Medico candidate."

  "Ok," Iggy said, "How soon can you get her here?"

  "She should be just about finished in the lab now," Stacy said, checking the clock on the wall, "She’s either there or on her way back to the suite looking for me."

  Insegniferro sent out one of the pages to go pick up Miranda while having some of the house staff bring in some snack food and some soft drinks. They were in the middle of a set of snack cakes when Miranda came in, looking a bit winded.

  "You ok, Mir?" Stacy asked her, "You look a bit harried."

  "The page made it sound like there’s an emergency," Miranda said, "Where’s the fire?"

  "There isn’t one yet," Stacy said, "Just some problems that they want our help with?"

  "Our help?" Miranda asked, "I can understand you, you’re a guard, but me?"

  Insegniferro patiently explained the situation to Miranda, who was surprised that they had let things get this far out of hand. Insegniferro finished the sorry tale and made the plea to convince her to go with Stacy.

  "Medoferro trusts you and feels comfortable with you," Insegniferro explained, "He is feeling pretty much alone and needs friends around. I can order Stacy to go, but I can’t order you."

  "I’d be glad to go," Miranda nodded, "But my medico training?"

  "If your grades are all right," Iggy said, "I’ll make sure they pass you or at least let you take your finals later on."

  "She’s tops in her class," Stacy said, "I checked in on her grades the other day."

  "You’re only four days out then," Iggy said, "I’ll get them to pass you and guarantee your admission to the school in Skolnik."

  "When do we leave?" Miranda asked them, "And how do we get there?"

  "Horses will be the fastest way," Stacy said, "Do you know how to ride, Miranda?"

  "Not really," Miranda said, "But I learn quick."

  "Go two to a horse," Insegniferro suggested, "You’re both small. Just bring the books and a simple change of clothes. Medoferro can have clothes purchased for you when you get there. Call it payment for getting us out of a jam."

  "You’re counting on speed and my guard skills," Stacy said, "Right?"

  "That and the fact that nobody knows you’ll be going," Insegniferro agreed, "I haven’t told Medoferro either, so you’ll be a pleasant surprise for him."

  "When do we leave?" Miranda asked, "And where exactly are we going to meet him?"

  "You can wait until morning if you like or you can try a speed run tonight," Insegniferro said, "Medoferro is in Macmanite now and will be there all day tomorrow, though he could use the book before he actually has to begin session."

  "I’ve got no plans for tonight," Stacy said, "How about you, Miranda?"

  "I’m ready," Miranda said, "Though if this is going to be a lengthy time we probably need to clean out our room."

  "It will take me an hour to get things prepared," Insegniferro said, "Marina can go help you with your cleanup and go act as my voice to the counselors there."

  "I need instructions with your seal," Marina said, "They don’t go by word alone anymore."

  "We’ll go get started," Stacy said, "What do we do with our stuff?"

  "Bring it back here," Insegniferro instructed them, "We’ll store it until we figure out where everyone is going. If Miranda goes home after this we’ll forward it on there."

  "Very well," Miranda nodded, "Let’s go."

  Miranda and Stacy headed off and left Insegniferro and Marina there. Marina found an official piece of stationary and Iggy spent a few minutes scratching down some official instructions. Once the necessary signatures had been obtained, Marina was out the door going to the people necessary to release Stacy and Miranda.

  "Hope this helps, Medo," Insegniferro said to himself as he watched Marina go, "Because I don’t know what else I can do for you."