Utterly Mad

"But doc."

"No buts, I'm holding both of you. I cannot imagine what the hell has gotten into King's mind to risk everyone in his establishment like this. Hasn't the fool called on the searing spear to investigate?" Asked Efram Marsh, a Misling doctor of some standing. Like most of his kind he was tall, grey furred, and clearly a victim of some vast blanket mutation experiment. Unlike most of his kind, Efram Marsh had been gainfully employed at the time of his forced mutation. In fact, Marsh had been in charge of it. A hiccup, a simple disaster really, was all it took for the computer AI running the lab where the Mislings had started life to begin using more than just the standard stock of homeless people or convicts. The computer began taking in staff as well, and sending out robots to abduct survivors. In the two years after his change, Doctor Marsh had time to reflect and repent. Now, serving a greater good as a general doctor he found himself stuck with a hard choice. Turn these two away and call the searing spear to bring hellfire on the house of the King, or take them in and treat them. Of course, the second choice also included the bit about hellfire. King had been told that any exposure to Mycus at this time would kill his best girl, but lo and behold the fool had sent two infected girls to collect her. Well, no sir. That would not stand.

"I am holding both of you for treatment and quarantine." He repeated. Minx slapped the book of watermarks against her palm in irritation, but it wasn't irritation with Efram. It was irritation with her master. King knew sending them out would end this way, but he'd sent them out anyway. She supposed she was glad though, as was Catnip. King's Court had become a dark place. The halls lay empty as most of the staff secluded themselves to their rooms, hardly anyone taking on clients or even moving about. In some places, it almost seemed like a ghost house. Catnip took the pills offered her and nudged Minx to do the same.

"An shaving a Misling! How humiliating. I am truly sorry dear, you can be sure the delegation will hear about this!" Efram went on indignantly. Minx shuddered a little, suddenly filled with the strangest feeling that perhaps the delegation was now the least of King's worries.