Castle Kingside

Chapter 60: Busy Hospital

Five hectic days passed since Dimitry learned that modified preservia enchantments disintegrating rod-shaped, gram-positive bacterial DNA cured the plague. The first beneficiary, Raina, visited the hospitals cellar that night, bringing Leona and the test blanket along. With their help, Dimitry produced two sets of dark pink glowing bedclothes to treat himself, Clewin, and Claricia.

Results werent immediate.

Although the enchantment needed less than half a night to take effect, complete symptom resolution was a much longer process. Fatigue, muscle weakness, and nausea were the first to go. In the following days, skin would gradually regain its normal color while nosebleeds decreased in frequency.

Patients who developed black blisters, however, werent as fortunate. A third would die despite treatment with preservia. Among them were the elderly, children, and those who lived on Maltens streetsvictims of brutal weather and prolonged starvation.

Dimitry couldnt do much to help them. Although disheartening, he tried to take solace in increased survival rates. Before the cures advent, anyone with blistersa stage the plague used to reach in eighty percent of infected patientswas destined to end up in a mass grave.

Not anymore.

Most people were free to leave the hospital to recover after a nap on enchanted bedclothes. On an evidence-based hunch that the bacteria-causing plague died during that time, Dimitry implemented a rotation-based system for all but the critically ill and the rich, premium customers. Each glowing mattress treated approximately eight patients per day. He discharged and admitted most patients in massive waves.

Unfortunately, a lack of equipment limited the number of people the hospital could treat at once, with enchantment production being the bottleneck. The first morning, Leona and Raina produced only six sets of bedclothes to avoid overload. However, by the second day, enchantresses under orders from the head of the Sorceress Guild began to visit the cellar.

The hospital now had seventy-four plague-curing mattresses.

When Dimitry wasnt bouncing back and forth between them, performing debridement on terminal-stage plague patients, he was testing new versions of preservia, channeling additional enchantments, or taking short naps. The workload was intense, but his experience in a trauma center had prepared him for it. He was happy to do it. For the first time in months, Dimitry was saving lives instead of taking them. A development he welcomed with open arms.

It was the only thing keeping his burning eyes open, desperate in their efforts to maintain focus while Dimitry scooped out pus and liquefied necrotic soup from a wound embedded in the side of a patients foot. Every time he retracted the surgical spoon, he would wipe its gunk against a nearby towel until only a thin layer of bacterial biofilm remained on his fleshy canvas.

Dimitry slathered honeythe only antimicrobial he could getonto the wounds raw surface and pressed the back of his sleeve into his eyelids to momentarily relieve their underlying dryness. Youre all done, Mr. Roicht. When the nurse comes around, shell wrap your wound. Do you have any questions?

Will there be any more surgeries? the elderly man asked.

No, thats all for today. Dont take off the bandage and dont poke around. Itll just make it worse. Come back sometime tomorrow, and well change it for you.

I am in your debt, Jade Surgeon.

Dimitry forced a smile. Think nothing of it.

Not only was his care substandard in part due to a lack of gauze, gloves, and saline water, Mr. Roicht was a refugee. The plague threatened his life no longer, but without food or a home, chances are that the elderly man would die from exposure to the elements. It was only a matter of time.

With an elongating line outside and patients packing the hospitals interior, there was nowhere to shelter people from the cold. Dimitry swallowed his inadequacy. His time was better spent treating the next patient.

Dimitry! a nurse said, nearly tripping over the edge of a mattress as she dashed over. Theres another customer who says they want to pay!

Bring them in.

But there are other people whove been waiting all

He rolled his stiff and tight neck, then looked the nurse squarely in the eye. I know it feels wrong, but we cant keep the hospital running without their support. Allow the paying customers in. If anyone complains, let Angelika and the watchmen take care of them.

O-okay. The nurse turned away, the spring in her step gone as she trudged towards the entrance.

Dimitry shared her concerns. He wanted to treat everyone fairly, but he couldnt. Tools, ale, employees, and enchantments were pricey investments. The only support he received was paying nobles, enchantresses from the Sorceresses Guild, and the watchmen sent by the queen to arrest thugs and end disputes over positions in a growing line.

When the nurse returned, she trailed behind a portly, middle-aged man and a fit one approximately twenty years old. Both men wore steel armor, each component glowing a different color. Hospital staff and patients alike showered the younger man with attention and compliments.

Its Valter!

Our savior is here!

Hes so handsome

The portly man, however, didnt appear to be the target of any praise. Hey, you! He pointed at Dimitry with a metal-clad finger. You the one in charge here?

Can I be of service?

Here. He retrieved a full and bumpy leather sack from under his breastplate. Theres fifty in there. I want the best, and I mean the very best treatment you got. I want you to make Valter better quick!

Father! Why do you seek to waste my time here? Valter pulled a handkerchief from the crevice beneath a lustrous pauldron and dragged it past a burn scar on his cheek, soaking the blood leaking from his purple nose. My men are out there defending the city walls from heathens on their own!

How are you supposed to lead an army when you can barely stand?

But father, I

The portly man pressed his payment into Dimitrys hand. If you can fix this moron before he runs out and gets himself killed, every coin is yours.

Dimitry peeked inside the sack to discover a small fortune of gold marks. Enough for four more blankets and a days worth of supplies. Very well. He beckoned the two armored men forward. Please, mind your step.

Their metal boots clanged against the hospitals stone floor as they followed Dimitry to a partitioned corner of the hospital.

How long will it take? the portly man blathered. Unlike these refugees, we cant waste away our busy lives in this filthy place.

Dimitry ignored the snobs self-indulgent remarks in favor of remembering the time of day. Four bed rotations passed since he last went outside, meaning that it was midnight. Valter will have to stay here for a short while, but well discharge him before morning.

Thats it?

He wont be perfectly healthy right away, Dimitry said, stopping in front of the curtain separating the premium section of the hospital from the rest, but his condition will continue to improve over the next couple of days.

This better work, Jade Surgeon.

It will. I used it on myself, and Im alive to tell the tale. Dimitry turned his attention to Valter.

The young warrior wore a breastplate with a golden glow belonging to a reflectia enchantment. Based on information Dimitry gathered from the handful of soldiers and guards he treated, it was one of the most potent and common enchantments on the battlefield due to its ability to reflect magic targeted at the wearer.

That included preservia.

Im afraid youll have to take off your armor for the treatment to work. Do you need assistance?

Do not trouble yourself with me. Valter removed his gauntlets and dropped them onto a table with a loud thunk. I appreciate the offer, however.

Richter? a voice called from behind the curtain. It belonged to another one of the hospitals premium customers.

The portly man guffawed in a manner both friendly and patronizing. Moritz, is that you, you lazy prick? He pulled back the curtain.

Why are you here? A short yet muscular man laying on a dark pink glowing mattress asked. Shouldnt you be back at your estate, wooing sheep while your son does all the hard work?

Unfortunately, I cant because a certain stonemason guild master cant pull his head out of his ass long enough to fix Maltens walls. Richter brandished a giant smile. Do you want me to do your job for you too?

It hasnt even been a week since the night of repentance. Quality work takes time. Has becoming a marquis made you forget what it means to do hard labor? Moritz gave Richter a shit-eating grin. Does someone wipe that fat face for you now, too?

Please, Valter whispered. There are people here.

Hard labor? All you do is slap rocks with a hammer while Im out patrolling the fields making sure a heathen doesnt take a giant crap on the grain youll be eating for dinner.

Youre not doing that. Your men are. Moritz chuckled, then lay silent for a moment. His elated facial expression clouded over. Speaking of which, is it just me or have bread prices gone up lately?

Its not just you. Richter crossed his arms over his chest. Every month we lose another fucking village, and my serfs are fleeing south. The fact that its winter isnt helping either.

Ah, shit.

Although Dimitry didnt intend to eavesdrop on their conversation, it was hard not to when they yelled loud enough to wake up every patient in the hospital. Their conversation troubled him. Would food become a problem?

No.

It already was.

Refugees starved on the streets with the situation deteriorating rapidly. Worse still, despite Dimitrys wealth of modern knowledge, he couldnt help. He remembered reading something about inefficient farming techniques in medieval times but had long since forgotten the details.

Dimitry did, however, know a thing or two about genetic recombination and cross-breeding. A time-consuming endeavor.

Or was it?

He had access to accelall and enchantment channeling. With the help of a person knowledgeable about this worlds crops like Richter, could he start an agricultural revolution? Unfortunately not. He had a hospital to run.

Mr. Dimitry! Lilis voice cut through ambient chatter. Someone wants to see you!

Tell them to wait like everyone else, or until traffic dies down.

They said they want to make you rich.

Illuminated by a moon peeking out from behind distant clouds, small snowflakes twisted and danced in spiral patterns. They landed on the stone and iron roofs of Maltens buildings, forming a thin layer of green that covered the entire city.

Dimitry watched the beautiful sight from the hospitals second floor. He stood beside a stone arch, enjoying the icy wind brushing against his cheek, which seemed to extract fatigue with every passing flurry.

But he didnt come here for his own enjoyment.

The cold was an excuse for him to wear his cloak. Precious took residence within its hood, waiting to provide emotion-reading support during his negotiations with a woman who claimed that she could make him wealthy.

I hope the cold weather wont be a bother, Dimitry said. Its the only place I know where we wont be interrupted by patients or nurses.

A fine decision if I say so myself. I appreciate you taking time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule for me. She placed a hand on her chest and bowed with grace. My name is Sophie Flynn, owner and manager of Maltens Blue Compass branch. Not only are we one of the most prosperous trading firms in this city, but we also own seven riverboats and three ocean-ready cogs. Our trade reaches as far as the Amalthean Kingdom including

Dimitry held out a hand to stop her. Its clear that youre a very important person, but Im afraid its as you say. My time is limited. To cut introductions short, my name is Dimitry, and Im a surgeon working at this hospital.

Sophie smiled, coaxing shallow wrinkles from the corners of her lips. The Fraud, the Jade Surgeon, the Flesh Barber. I was surprised to learn that theyre all one and the same person.

He furrowed his brow. Although the first two nicknames rang familiar, the third stumped Dimitry. Flesh Barber?

They claim you like to excise organs for your own devious pleasure.

Considering the constant sharp debridement procedures and the occasional amputation, Dimitry understood why the populace gave him that title. Untreated, rotting tissue worsened. Surgery was a necessary evil for many patients with end-stage plague symptoms.

But I know its not true. Sophie stepped forward, her smile reaching her cheekbones. A mere glance into your tired eyes shows that youre doing your best to save people, arent you? That youre the only one standing between death and life for many helpless, voiceless refugees.

Shes trying to butter you up, Precious whispered.

Dimitry could tell as much. Can you get to the point?

Thats what I like about you, Jade Surgeon. Eager to return to your

Perhaps catalyzed by days of insufficient sleep, irritation bubbled within Dimitry. He stopped listening to the overly wordy merchant and headed for the hatch leading downstairs.

I want to buy some of your enchanted mattresses!

He stopped. Only the bedclothes carry enchantments, and theyre not for sale. Every single set saves eight lives a day.

Thirty gold marks each.

Her words tempted Dimitry. That was more than twice what he paid to enchant them. Im afraid I have no choice but to turn you down. I still dont have enough to fill the hospital, so I cant give any away.

Why not? Sophie asked, pleasant smile making its way back to her face. I counted how many you had, and Im ready to offer you in excess of 2200 golds for all of them. If you ever decide to stop playing the hero, itll be more than enough to retire for life and live more luxuriously than a baroness.

Let me guess. Youll use them to exploit dying people?

What a horrific way to put it. If it makes you feel better, not the ones in this city. I cant beat someone whos giving away the cure for free.

Dimitry sat down on one of the few remaining rooftop crates. What do you mean?

Normally, I wouldnt share my secrets, but I know that youre no noble simpleton. Money alone cant move you, can it? Sophies blue lips shivered. She bundled her fur coat tighter around her slender body. The plague spread to Ontaria and Feyt not long ago, and youre the only one with a fix. Youre their last hope.

I see. He looked up at a dark sky from which snowflakes fell and landed on his face. Sophie found his weak spotguilt. If Dimitry rejected her offer, it would result in preventable deaths. However, he couldnt give her the enchanted bedclothes he already had.

If you provide the enchantresses, vol, and ten gold marks per unit, I am willing to channel ten sets of enchantments a day for you. Thats all I can make time for.

Sorry, Jade Surgeon, but its not worth it for me.

Shes lying, Precious whispered.

Thats unfortunate. Dimitry stood up and walked towards the downstairs hatch once more. Ill be taking my leave, then.

Wait! Sophie counted her fingers. It seems my math was off. We have a deal.

Come back in the morning with what weve agreed on and

A wooden creak interrupted their conversation.

Two women in yellow robes opened the hatch and climbed up to the hospitals roof. Court sorceresses.

One looked at Dimitry with cold-blooded eyes from under her hood. Are you Dimitry Stukov?

Why was everyone crawling out of the woodwork to pester him now? Couldnt they tell that he was busy? Youve found me.

Her majesty demands your immediate presence. Bring whatever tools you use to cure the plague.