Chapter 17

The infirmary was quiet, with Balthasar being the sole occupant of the room, exactly how he preferred it. The chirurgeon was seated at his desk, writing out some notes on his latest experimental remedy to Thedrick’s infinite blood hunger. Once again, his concoction had not yielded any helpful results, but still he always made sure to keep a record of each attempt. Perhaps he would soon have to start looking into incorporating real magic into his methods, but that was something that this kingdom was surprisingly bereft of. The world was full of magic, but this seemed to be the most mundane country of them all. 

When Balthasar heard the door of the room opening, disturbing him from his work and thoughts, he instantly felt annoyed. Of course when he finally got a quiet moment to himself to work on his own projects, someone had to come along and ruin it. The chirurgeon raised his head and eyes up from his work to look over towards the door, and when he saw who was standing there, he lowered his dark brows over his eyes in a scowl.

Cassian smiled and waved sheepishly at Balthasar from the door, before he started walking over to the desk. Balthasar rolled his eyes before setting his quill and notebook down on his desk, crossing his arms over his chest as he fixed his eyes on the soldier who stopped on the other side of the desk.

“What do you want?” Balthasar sighed wearily.

“Come on Balthasar, don’t be like that,” Cassian entreated with an unsure smile. “Don’t you enjoy my company?”

“I’m busy,” Balthasar said curtly, tapping his finger impatiently against his arm. “So try and make it quick. Or did you just come here to annoy me?”

“Well, of course I had something to tell you as an excuse to come see you, but you are not going to like it, especially with the mood you are apparently in at the moment,” Cassian said hesitantly.

“What is it?” Balthasar asked as he prepared himself for bad news.

“I’m putting Emil back on guard duty,” Cassian stated, looking apologetic.

“Ugh,” Balthasar made a noise of frustration. “Why? Can’t you just send him home?”

“No, I can’t just send him home, his parents have too much influence,” Cassian replied with a small shrug.

“Well if they wanted the army to straighten him out, it doesn’t seem to be working at all,” Balthasar pointed out. “That spoilt brat is way more trouble than he is worth, how can you keep giving him second chances?”

“Do you know why his parents forced him into the army in the first place, Balthasar?” Cassian asked in a cautious tone.

“Isn’t it obvious? He lacks discipline,” Balthasar offered plainly.

“Well yes, that is true. But in particular… he kept sneaking out with boys, against his parents wishes,” Cassian tried to explain awkwardly. “They disapproved because they want him to marry a noble lady to continue their bloodline.”

“Oh…” Balthasar said with some surprise. “And they want you to fix that…” the chirurgeon felt a small smile tugging at his lips.

“I know right?” Cassian said with a smirk.

“Hrm, and here I thought he was just a bully like you were when you were young,” Balthasar mused.

“Well you know, I’ve dealt with a lot of young men similar to him before. Bullies usually have a reason behind their behaviour, and figuring that out is the first step towards helping them improve themselves,” Cassian explained.

“So then why did you bully me?” Balthasar asked, narrowing his eyes at the soldier.

The question seemed to take Cassian a little by surprise, his eyes widening as he reached up a gloved hand to rub the back of his neck apprehensively. “Well… I think it was because I was attracted to you, and I didn’t know how to handle those emotions properly.”

“What? You tormented me for years because you were attracted to me?” Balthasar exclaimed in disbelief, finally uncrossing his arms.

“I was confused alright! And I’ve already apologised so many times for doing it. I wish I could undo what I did, I really do,” Cassian gave Balthasar a beseeching look.

“Alright alright, I won’t keep on at you about it,” Balthasar relented, clasping his hands together and resting them on the table. “So why do you think Emil is acting out so much, surely it’s not just his parents expectations, considering he is far away from them at the moment?”

“Well, you see, I think he’s also suffering from quite a bit of jealousy recently,” Cassian explained.

Balthasar was just about to ask Cassian what Emil was jealous about when his attention was grabbed by the sound of the infirmary door opening again. He looked over in that direction, as did Cassian, their eyes coming to rest on Beowulf, who had just ducked through the door and was now standing in front of it awkwardly.

“Beowulf, lad, what are you doing here?” Cassian asked, gesturing for the giant soldier to come over to the desk.

“Have you been hurt by the other soldiers again?” Balthasar asked as Beowulf approached them.

The large man shook his helmeted head. “I uh… came to ask some advice from Balthasar,” Beowulf said timidly, visor facing the chirurgeon. 

Cassian gave a look of surprise. “Why go to him for advice lad, why not me?” the officer sounded slightly hurt.

Beowulf tilted his head down slightly as he glanced away. “Well sir, the thing is… Balthasar is very smart, and…”

“What, I’m not clever enough for you to ask for advice?” Cassian said dramatically, feigning offence. “You wound me boy.”

“N-N-No, it’s not like that!” Beowulf stammered, looking at Cassian’s face now.

Cassian dissolved into laughter at the giant man’s innocent earnestness, and Balthasar had to stop himself from letting out a chuckle as well as a smile tugged at his lips again. “I’m just kidding Beowulf, I’m aware I’m nowhere near as smart as Baz here, so I’m not as qualified to dispense sage advice.”

“Cass,” Balthasar growled with annoyance, his smile having fallen away. “Don't call me that.”

A nervous look suddenly crossed Cassian’s face, and he quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Whoops, my apologies,” he offered the angry chirurgeon.

Balthasar rolled his eyes. “Alright Beowulf, what did you want to ask me about?” he prompted the big guy to get to the point.

Beowulf turned his attention back to the chirurgeon. “Ah, yes well, I seem to have a little issue with someone who knows Thedrick is a vampire, and I am not sure how to deal with it,” the soldier explained.

“Who else knows Thedrick is a vampire?” Cassian asked, looking surprised.

“My mother,” Beowulf said sullenly. “I have tried to explain to her how harmless he is, just like you did to me Balthasar, but she won’t listen. She is convinced I have been charmed by him, that he made me fall in love with him to be his food source.”

“Vampires can do that?” Cassian asked, making it clear he was unfamiliar with how the creatures worked.

Balthasar nodded. “Yes, but not Thedrick. It appears that due to him being half human, he lacks nearly all the powers regular full blooded vampires have,” he explained to the officer.

“I’m worried what she might do,” Beowulf continued, “if she might try to get into the castle and kill Thedrick herself, thinking she is saving me from him.”

“Do you think she could actually kill him?” Cassian asked with slight surprise.

“She’s a butcher by trade… you haven’t seen how she handles a knife,” Beowulf said anxiously, looking between Cassian and Balthasar.

The two older men exchanged glances. “Well, I can make sure my men don’t let her into the castle,” Cassian offered.

“We should probably tell Thedrick not to venture outside the castle walls too much. It’s much safer from him here, and if he’s in danger he can run to one of us for protection,” Balthasar suggested.

“I’ll tell him if he sees my mother he should run to one of us immediately, and I’ll try and stay around him to protect him as much as possible,” Beowulf added.

Balthasar nodded. “Thank you Beowulf, for alerting us to the danger. Together we can help keep Thedrick safe.”

“Little guy sure is a lot of trouble, isn’t he?” Cassian mused aloud.

Balthasar scowled at him. “I could say the same for many of your men, Cass,” he snapped at the officer in annoyance.

“I’m just going to… ah… go now,” Beowulf said awkwardly, gesturing towards the door before he started backing up towards it.

“A few disobedient soldiers isn’t as much of a problem compared to trying to keep a vampire secret,” Cassian claimed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Just how long do you think you can hide Thedrick’s true nature from the king and queen?”

“We managed to keep it secret for a long time, before the damn idiot had to go and fall in love,” Balthasar pointed out, and noticed Beowulf glance back at him when he said that before the giant soldier ducked out of the door.

“What if Beowulf’s mother decides to tell the king or queen about this?” Cassian pushed, frowning at the chirurgeon.

“Well then we are lucky they like Thedrick so much, you think they would really believe the baseless accusations of a woman they barely know?” Balthasar shot back irritably. “Besides, what do you want me to do about it?”

Cassian gave an over exaggerated shrug. “I don’t know, what if you cured him of vampirism?” he suggested.

"By gods, why didn't I think of that?" Balthasar exclaimed with sarcastic exaggeration, dramatically smacking his forehead. Then he squinted at Cassian. “Are you really that stupid? I can as much cure Thedrick of being a vampire as I can cure you of being an insufferable idiot,” the chirurgeon said snarkily. “Of course I have been trying to figure out a way to overcome his dependency on blood, but that won’t change what he is.”

“It was just a simple question, do you really have to belittle me like that?” Cassian snapped back, scowling. “Sorry that I’m such a dumbass compared to you, mister all knowing asshole. It’s clear why you don’t have any friends apart from the overly attached vampire who’s just using you as protection.”

Balthasar suddenly stood up, pushing his seat backwards as he did so, his fingertips pressed against the desk. “And what happened to all your friends, Cass? Oh that’s right, they are all dead,” he spat venomously.

“Wow, I didn’t think you would stoop that low, I’m impressed,” Cassian responded haughtily.

Balthasar drew himself up to his full height and stepped around to the side of the desk until he was standing in front of the officer, towering over him and glaring down at him. Cassian glared back up at the chirurgeon defiantly, chin raised and mouth set in a firm line.

“Can’t help that I have to stoop just to be on your level, short stack,” Balthasar said with a smirk.

“I mean, it would be nice to see you get off your high horse for once, Baz,” Cassian drew out the sound of the nickname to purposely annoy him, returning the smirk.

Balthasar leaned down quickly to close the distance between their faces, pressing his lips against Cassian’s to finally shut him up. Cassian’s eyes went wide as Balthasar kissed him while reaching a hand over the soldier's shoulder to press against the back of his head to hold it in place. Balthasar placed his other hand on Cassian’s waist and pressed deeper into the kiss, the officer’s beard rough against his skin.

Cassian finally overcame his surprise and kissed Balthasar back, closing his eyes and wrapping his arms around the chirurgeon. Balthasar closed his eyes as well, focusing all his attention on the kiss. He felt some of the frustration he was feeling melt away, as he changed it from a hard, angry kiss to a much softer, more gentle one.

Balthasar finally pulled away and then brought his hand around to cup Cassian’s cheek as he gazed down at him. Cassian smiled back up at the chirurgeon.

“Feel better?” Cassian asked in a slightly teasing tone.

Balthasar groaned and sighed, casting his eyes downwards. “Perhaps…”

“You seem a little stressed lately,” Cassian pointed out, raising an eyebrow at Balthasar.

“What makes you think that?” Balthasar asked sarcastically, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

“You're tense and irritable, and more so than usual,” Cassian said plainly, and then with his hands still around Balthasar’s sides, started pushing the chiruegon back towards his chair. Balthasar raised a questioning eyebrow, but allowed the soldier to move him, and soon Cassian was trying to push him to take a seat.

Balthasar removed his hands from Cassian and lowered himself down into his chair, sighing as he took a seat. “Things have been a little intense since Thedrick and Beowulf met…” Balthasar admitted as Cassian stepped around behind the chair. The soldier laid his hands, hard and calloused from sword handling, on Balthasar’s shoulders and began to gently rub. Balthasar tensed up his shoulders at first in surprise, but then slowly tried to relax them under Cassian’s gentle touch.

“Well, I don’t think we’ve had this much excitement around here since the last war,” Cassian joked as he rubbed into the tense muscles of Balthasar’s shoulders. “Apart from the announcement of Queen Vivienne’s pregnancy.”

Balthasar sighed and chuckled lightly. “Won’t be long now before we will be welcoming the new young royal into the world,” he said, happy to diverge into another topic, if only for a moment.

“Yes well, everyone always welcomes a reason for celebration,” Cassian mused, rubbing circles into Balthasar’s back.

They fell quiet for a moment, and Balthasar’s thoughts wandered back to the little vampire, as they often seemed to do.

“I’ve been so worried about Thedrick’s safety Cass, though I try not to show it. After all, he has such full faith that I will protect him from anything, and I wouldn’t want to ruin that illusion and make him worried,” Balthasar admitted quietly. 

“Why are you so attached to that little creature?” Cassian asked in a humorous tone. “Perhaps he has actually charmed you and Beowulf after all, and you just don’t know it?”

Balthasar shrugged slightly. “As annoying as he may seem, he’s actually a good kid. He’s been through a lot so far in his short life and he has appallingly atrocious bad luck. He had to flee his home country and he is bullied by those stronger than him. I guess… I can relate somewhat.”

“Oh, so like a miniature you, but with only half the brains,” Cassian joked, almost laughing.

“Well, he doesn’t just dress like a fool…” Balthasar said quietly, smiling to himself.

“So you really do have a heart, under your hard exterior,” Cassian said as he leaned down to hold his head close to the side of Balthasar’s, now just resting his hands on his shoulders.

“You better not tell anyone, or I’ll gut you like a fish,” Balthasar threateningly jested, letting out a small huff.

“Of course dear, whatever you say,” Cassian said, and then pressed his lips up against the chirurgeon’s neck. Balthasar stiffened slightly at the sensation of a scratchy beard against his skin, but then relaxed under the affection, feeling a little bit of warmth creep up his pale cheeks.

Eventually Cassian pulled back and released his grip on Balthasar's shoulders, before walking back around the chair to stand in front of the chirurgeon once more, leaning his hips back against the desk. 

“I know you feel somehow responsible for Thedrick, but you should try not to worry about him too much. After all, he has Beowulf to protect him now,” Cassian pointed out, clearly trying to reassure Balthasar.

Balthasar let out a small sigh of defeat. “I guess you are right, I should trust Beowulf to keep him safe, though at the same time he’s never been in more danger before.”

“You should come out to the tavern with me, take your mind off fretting about the vampire, learn to loosen up a little,” Cassian suggested cheerily.

Balthasar made a grimace of derision. “I’d rather not…” he protested quietly. Cassian had invited him to go out drinking on numerous occasions, but Balthasar had always declined. The idea of sitting around in a room full of sweaty, smelly drunks did not appeal to him in the least.

“Oh come on Balthasar, when are you going to finally stop being such a stick in the mud?” Cassian pushed. “It would be good for you!”

“Excessive consumption of alcohol is detrimental to the body’s health,” Balthasar pointed out in a serious tone.

“You don’t have to get drunk. Just come and have a few beers with me, and you can leave if you hate it so much,” Cassian seemed to almost be begging him, with wide, beseeching eyes.

Balthasar groaned. “Alright… fine. I’ll do it to prove that I’m right that I will hate it,” he said haughtily, frowning at the officer.

“Great! Let’s go now then, my duties are finished for the day which is why I came here, and you don’t seem to have any patients at the moment,” Cassian said as he gestured around to the empty infirmary.

“Alright alright,” Balthasar agreed in a displeased manner, getting to his feet as Cassian moved back around the desk.

“Trust me, it’s not as bad as you think,” Cassian teased playfully as Balthasar started following him towards the door. “We can keep talking in a more comfortable setting with some refreshing drinks.”

“I believe I would be more comfortable here,” Balthasar muttered, grabbing his coat off the coat rack.

Cassian looked confused. “What, with all that creepy stuff around you?” He pointed to the shelves behind Balthasar’s desk, covered in all different sized jars that contained various human organs and dead animals.

Balthasar smiled. “Yes,” he said simply, then headed for the door.