the stairs hastily, alerted topossible trouble by the fear in Dylens voice.Goto Arons house at once, Dylen instructed him. Hurry!Hewatched Tarqin depart then turned back to Hirlen. To his alarm,Hirlens eyes had half-closed, and his skin had blanched to astartling degree. Dylen caught up his fathers hand. It wasfrighteningly limp and clammy. Tendrils of terror clutched at hisheart.Whatails you, Adda?he whispered. Veres almighty, what is wrong?** * *Thephysician Aron straightened up after ministering to Hirlen. He hadalso extensively interviewed Dylen and Tarqin regarding the initialsymptoms both had observed in the retired hethar.Now he instructed Tarqin to rub Hirlens benumbed leg as often ashe could to bring feeling back into it and to always keep the roomwarm. Even the slightly lower temperature of a summer night couldtrigger an attack, he warned.Hisexpression as he signed to Dylen to follow him out of the bedroom wascause for much apprehension. It was clear Aron had treated Hirlensaffliction before and found it difficult to cure.Dyleninsisted on serving the healer a cup of fortifying tea and butteredbread slathered with honey. Tarqin had roused Aron from sleep just anhour ago, and the physician had to stifle an occasional yawn. Hegratefully if tiredly munched the simplesnackand downed the steaming beverage. Afterward, he began to speakDylenlistened with disbelief as the physician explained his fathersailment. He is ill with blight, Aron heavily said.Dylenstared in confusion. But isnt blight just a minor ailment? Andthere are no lesions in his groin. Besides, Addahas been retired these past ten years. Where would he have contractedit?Ordinarily,it isa minor illness, more bothersome than anything else, Aronexplained. Especially since anyone whos stricken is forbiddensexual contact for months even after the lesions have dried and fadedinto scars. Of course, there is the possibility of infertility if itisnt treated early. And because unsanitary practices coupled withextreme promiscuity promote its circulation, it is most prevalent inthe brothels and among street prostitutes. Occasionally, however,indeed only very rarely, thank Veres, it can turn virulent. Andinterestingly enough, this happens when the disease doesntmanifest itself at once but lies dormant in the body for years. Manyof my colleagues suspect that there arelesions present but they dont appear on the surface and thereforearent visible. In any case, I fear this is what has happened inyour fathers case.Addawould have refused a patron with even a suspicion of blight scars,Dylen said. That must mean one of them was infected with thisstrain and passed it to him.Orhe may have borne the ordinary strain but only suffered mild scarringfrom the lesions that swiftly became indiscernible, Aron added.The disease then altered into its deadlier form in your fathersbody.Butwhy? Dylen cried. How is it possible?Wedont know, Aron honestly replied. Ailments sometimes evolve,and its all we can do to keep up with those changes and find waysto counter them. Unfortunately, we dont always succeed. Ordinaryblight is easily healed and when treated early doesnt leavelasting damage. But this other form of it The physician shookhis head. I only pray that I shall live to see the day when a cureis discovered.Dylenwas aghast. What? But you heal Deira afflicted with blight everyday! The common form