The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension

  Chapter 74 - A Bit of Traveling

  "You still awake, Medo?" Miranda asked him as they rode on the steam barge.

  "Yeah," Medoferro nodded, opening his eyes a little, "Was just relaxing a bit to try to get that blasted headache to go away."

  "Still bad?" Miranda asked him, "Where does it hurt?"

  "It’s a strange sensation," Medo told her, "Feels like someone is moving a large spike through my temples."

  "Throbbing pain?" Miranda asked him.

  "Yeah," Medo nodded, "Any ideas?"

  "A couple," Miranda told him, "Sit on the floor and let me take the seat and we’ll try it."

  Medoferro looked at her, wondering what she was thinking. He smiled a little, despite his pain and slid onto the padded floor of the steam barge. It was a clear night so they were riding in the back area, leaving most of the guards and the Medico in the covered front end. Miranda sat where he was and pulled at his shoulder.

  "Lean back against me," Miranda told him, "Close your eyes."

  Medoferro smiled a bit more, leaning back against the bottom of the seat. Miranda closed her legs around him a little, holding him in place as she put her hands on his head. He tensed a little, as he was still a bit shy, but she soothed him with a few words.

  "Relax, Medo," Miranda told him quietly, "You need to rest for this to work."

  Medoferro decided that he trusted her and leaned back into her hands. She let her slender fingers crawl over the sides of his head and started rubbing, pushing on the pressure points and trying to relieve some of the tension. She was sure that a portion of his problem was reaction headache, but that even more of it was stress.

  "You’re tense, Medo," Miranda told him, "Relax and let some of that tension out. It’s not doing you any good."

  Medo nodded and let her do her work. Miranda continued working her fingers, going around his head and working down his shoulders. Miranda smiled a little as she felt the tension going out of his muscles. He was beginning to resemble a human being again, something he’d been having a bit of trouble with for a while.

  "You’ve been letting it get to you, Medo," Miranda sighed, "Is there anything more that I can do to help?"

  "You can keep doing that for the rest of my life," Medoferro chuckled, "How’s that?"

  "I wouldn’t mind," Miranda said, "Alas, your position doesn’t leave much room for that."

  "I know," Medo sighed, "But it seems that I’m good at it, that’s the kicker. Who would have thought it?"

  "I did," Miranda said, "Even before it happened."

  "Why’s that?" Medo asked her.

  "You have that way about you," Miranda told him, "A quiet leadership, but there’s a power underneath."

  "Yeah," Medo chuckled, "A lot of it, it seems."

  "Not that," Miranda told him, still rubbing his shoulders, "You just have that bit of Charisma that inspires loyalty. You’re just too shy to put it to good use sometimes."

  "I don’t like having to do it," Medoferro sighed, "I wonder if my life would have been better if you’d been chosen."

  "Probably not," Miranda told him, "You’d probably be sitting here doing this for me."

  "In that case," Medoferro said, looking up and smiling, "I think I’ll take things as they are for now."

  "I’m sure," Miranda chuckled, "I didn’t expect you to object to this."

  "I’ve got a question," Medo asked her.

  "I might have an answer for you," Miranda said, "What is it?"

  "Why are you here?" Medoferro asked her, "I understand why Stacy is. She has to be. Why did you agree to schlep over half the countryside just to bring me a book that I wasn’t even able to make it half way through?"

  Miranda thought about that for a minute or two before answering. It was a question that she’d asked herself a few times in the twenty-four hours since her journey began. The truth of the matter is that she felt something when she was around Medoferro, and it was something that she just didn’t want to give up just yet.

  "I’m here because I want to be," Miranda said finally, "I know it won’t lead anywhere permanently, but I like you. If I can help a little, then it’s worth it."

  "Ok," Medoferro nodded, smiling a little at that answer.

  "Besides," Miranda grinned, "I gotta pay back somehow for you making that brilliantly stupid comment that got me out of danger of being chosen."

  "I still don’t know why I said that," Medoferro chuckled, "I thought it would get me out of consideration permanently."

  "I guess that’s what they were looking for," Miranda told him, "Right?"

  "I think so," Medoferro told her, "But even with the problems, I don’t think I’d do it over again."

  "You’re good at it, Medo," Miranda told him and tousled his hair softly, "Don’t let anyone tell you different."

  "Has anyone ever told you that you were good with your hands?" Medoferro asked her, changing the subject.

  "I’ve heard it once or twice before," Miranda smiled, "But it’s been a while."

  "I’ll be glad to repeat it if you like," Medoferro told her, "Just let me know when you’ve been doing it too long."

  "I think I need to stop," Miranda told him, "Unless you need more?"

  "Nah," Medoferro told her, "Come on down and sit with me. It’s a beautiful night. Care to watch the stars with me?"

  "I’d like that," Miranda told him and slid down on the padded floor with him, "What do you see?"

  "Hope," Medoferro told her, putting an arm around her shoulder so there would be enough room, "A feeling that I’m doing more than just treading water here."

  "Mmm," Miranda nodded, leaning against him and enjoying it, "I think you’re doing just fine."

  They sat there together like that for the rest of the trip, saying little but just enjoying the scenery and the quiet relaxation. Neither one knew where things were leading, but were content to enjoy the trip together. Sometimes when you’re in the middle of a storm you have to enjoy the quiet moments all the more. Especially when moments look like all you will have.