Lunar Flare Book 1: Crimson Moon

Chapter 20

When Thedrick awoke he felt completely exhausted, like all the energy had been drained out of his body. He even struggled just to open his eyes, and when he did everything felt way too bright. He also felt sick, though the blood hunger still gnawed away at him as always. Thedrick blinked his sensitive eyes rapidly, trying to focus. The image of a soft, worried looking face leaning over him came into focus.

"Oh Thedrick, thank the gods you're awake," Beowulf exclaimed in relief, causing Thedrick to wince slightly at the volume of his voice, even though it wasn't that loud really.

"What... happened... where am I?" Thedrick asked slowly, reaching up a hand to gently touch his pounding head. He realised he wasn't wearing his gloves.

"You are safe, you are in the infirmary," Beowulf reassured. Thedrick was starting to become more aware of his body, realising he must be laid out on one of the sickbeds, with Beowulf kneeling beside it watching over him. "How do you feel?"

"Like I've been run over by a carriage... again..." Thedrick muttered, trying to look around a bit but feeling dizzy. He looked down to see his body was tucked in under the blankets. "What happened to me?" he asked again.

Beowulf looked troubled. "The vampire hunter used a spell on you which knocked you out cold. You've been asleep for two days," the soldier explained gently.

"Two days?" Thedrick exclaimed in disbelief.

"I was so worried, and of course Balthasar was as well. He tried everything to wake you, but nothing seemed to work. We thought you might never wake up..." Beowulf trailed off sadly. "Then I would have had to make that hunter understand what it's like to be hunted," he added with what seemed like genuine, firm conviction.

Thedrick was taken a little off guard. "You? Threaten violence?" he questioned with doubt, almost laughing.

Beowulf simply frowned in response.

"So what happened to the hunter?" Thedrick asked next. "Clearly I am not dead, so you managed to stop him?"

Beowulf gave him a look of uncertainty. "Well we explained about how you're harmless to him, and then he said he was going to leave the kingdom, so I guess it all worked out for the best," the soldier explained.

"Really, just like that?" Thedrick responded with disbelief. Beowulf just shrugged in reply. "It would be nice if people stopped trying to kill me every other week," Thedrick muttered in addition, trying to sit up. Beowulf helped him push back the blankets and pull him into a sitting position. Thedrick noticed that his jester's outfit had been removed, and he was dressed in plain linen clothing. He felt the cool air of the room against his skin, causing him to shiver slightly.

"A concerning trend," the deep, smooth voice of Balthasar said as the chirurgeon approached the bed, looking worried. "Though one I am not sure if we can do anything about."

"At least I can always rely on you to protect me, Baz," Thedrick said with a small smile.

"That seems to be becoming a full time job for me," Balthasar joked humourlessly.

"Hey, it's not my fault I'm small and weak and defenceless!" Thedrick claimed as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He could just touch the cool floor with his toes. Then he felt a wave of nausea overcome him. "Ugh... I feel so sick..."

Beowulf and Balthasar exchanged concerned glances. "Why don't we step outside for some fresh air, Thedrick?" Beowulf suggested gently. Thedrick nodded, and soon he was being scooped up into the soldier's arms and carried out of the infirmary.

Beowulf took Thedrick to the courtyard and sat him down on the side of the fountain, taking a seat next to him. The sound of the water flowing was soothing, and Thedrick dipped his thin fingers into the cool liquid, moving them around in it a bit.

Thedrick sighed as he felt the warmth of the sun on his head and bare hands and feet. Beowulf was watching him carefully, with great concern, looking ready to reach out and grab him if he fainted again. Thedrick tried to give Beowulf a reassuring smile, despite feeling uneasy himself.

Then Thedrick's eyes suddenly went wide as he felt something forcefully hit into his back, and pain blossom in his back and chest. He looked down to see an arrow sticking out of his body, red with his blood. The air rushed out of his lungs as he tilted his head back to look up at Beowulf in shock, seeing the large soldier's eyes had gone wide as well, staring at the arrowhead.

There was no time to react before another arrow hit Thedrick in the back, impaling through his flesh and out the other side, followed quickly by another. Thedrick started coughing, trying to breathe, and as he did blood filled his throat and came out his mouth, onto his lips, filling his mouth with its metallic taste.

Beowulf yelled out Thedrick's name in alarm, then quickly grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him against the soldier's chest, shielding him with his large body. Thedrick kept coughing, trying to breathe while pain radiated throughout his torso. He was so shocked he couldn't even think properly, except for the sudden fear of dying that raced through his mind.

He was being picked up, cradled. Beowulf was yelling, and running while holding Thedrick tightly to stop him bouncing around too much in his arms. Thedrick groaned with the pain, shutting his eyes tightly as his vision was swimming.

Soon he was being placed down again, and he could recognise Beowulf and Balthasar's voices snapping over the top of him. Thedrick had been laid down on his side on a soft surface, and while he wanted to curl into a ball and cry he couldn't move due to the pain searing through his chest. Then there were hands touching him, followed by the sound of snapping wood, and then stabbing pain as the arrow shafts were pulled out of him. He soon lost consciousness.