who thankfully was at home. Nowdread that Hirlen was at deaths door cast a suffocating pall onthe Teris residence.Itsas I feared, the healer murmured. Hes in the fourth stage ofthe disease. He cant last much longer. A month perhaps.Hetook a small phial containing a translucent liquid out of hisphysicians pack. Deftly parting Hirlens parched lips, he tippeda few drops onto the Deirs tongue. Though only semi-conscious,Hirlen reflexively swallowed the medicament, grimacing as he did.Thatshould keep the pain tolerable, Aron said. Ill returntonight to give him another dose. You must feed him only bland foodsfrom now on, preferably boiled or poached. Nothing rich or greasy. Bythe way, do you eat rice grain? Yes? Thats good. Save the wateryou use to wash the rice, boil it and let him drink it. He should beable to keep it down.Aronslowly straightened up, obviously weighed down by the all buthopeless situation. While Dylen sorrowfully stared at his father,Aron quietly bade him goodbye and made to leave. But as the healerpassed him by, Dylen grabbed at his arm. Aron stopped and looked athim questioningly.Stillgazing at Hirlen, Dylen said, I cant stand by and just let himgo. There isnt anything else to be done, Aron gentlyreminded him.Dylenturned to face him, frustration thrumming in his very bones. Areyou absolutely certain nothing more can be done? he defiantlyasked. Surely there must be a healer somewhere whos managedsomething, anything, even if its just to prolong life, stave offthe end. Please, there mustbe something!Aronhesitated. Dylen could tell the Deir was torn between the reluctanceto purvey false expectations and the desire to assuage some of hisdesperation. But Dylen refused to relent.Idont want to raise your hopes in vain but... Aron started tosay. Then there issomething? Dylen pressed.Thehealer sighed and cautiously proceeded. There is one physician whohas succeeded in halting the progress of this diseaseEiren Sarvan,the Ardans own cousin and physician.Dylenstared at him. Why didnt you tell me before?Ionly heard the tale a few nights ago from a colleague lately arrivedfrom Edessa. EdessaHespoke to a number of us over dinner, Aron explained. Told usthat a few years ago, one of the Mesares, a brother of the Herun ofEdessa, I think, sickened with thisstrain.They asked Eiren Sarvan to attend to him. Sarvan did what he couldthough he made no promises. After all, even if he is fulsomelygiftedthe most talented healer to emerge in centuries I daresaywell, even he has his limits. But, according to my friend, heachieved the impossible. He actually cured the Heruns brother.Hecured him... Dylen frowned. Then why hasnt this news beenspread farther afield? Why keep it a secret?Becauseit may have been a fluke, Aron pointed out. Sarvan would neverannounce something of which he himself is not certain just yet. Thinkof the many dashed hopes were he unable to repeat that feat. I didnttell you for that same reason.Dylennodded. I understand. But I would rather cling to any possibilitythan just give up. How can we contact Eiren Sarvan?Aronwas startled. He usually divides his time between the RikaraPublic Hospital and the Order of Hospitallers Health Center, hesaid. But I believe he is abroad right now.Where?Ona