you did Dylen stared at Rohyr in awe. Youtook away his pain.Andlent him some strength, Rohyr admitted. I sensed that he wasfailing fast. It would be a pity were he to succumb before Eiren getshere.Dylenswallowed hard. Then youll...?Ofcourse. Rohyr moved toward the door. I need a quiet place whereI can focus on calling him.Call?Ah, this way.LeavingTarqin to resume his watch over Hirlen, Dylen led Rohyr to his ownbedchamber. Lassen joined them. He beckoned to Dylen to stay besidehim by the door, out of Rohyrs way. The Ardan stood by the bed,staring ahead unseeingly. After a while, he closed his eyes andinhaled deeply.Dylensensed it the moment Rohyr began to contact his cousin. There was anunnatural stillness, a silence that came close to oppressive. Helooked nervously at Lassen. The sedyrhad paled slightly but did not react further. It seemed he was usedto the sensations wrought by his lovers usage of his mentalskills.Helooked back at Rohyr. This time he could not stifle a gasp. The Ardanwas enveloped in a wavering light so faint that had the room beenmore brightly lit, the glimmer would not have been visible.Dylenstared in fascination, his curiosity overcoming propriety. He did nothabitually use his inborn talent to read the minds of othersnotunless he thought it absolutely necessarybut butcuriosity now impelled him to extend his senses just that extra bitto ascertain what was going on.Heonly intended to catch a glimpse, not intrude into Rohyrs mind.For one, he knew Rohyr would be instantly aware of any attempt to dipbelow the surface of his consciousness and would justifiably takeexception. For another, entering another Deirs mind was aprocedure so intrusive it often left him with intense feelings ofregret afterward. Thus his preference for quick, unobtrusive peeks ifand when he needed information. To his shock, he felt a sudden tug onhis mind, one he had never experienced, and before he knew it, he wason the same plane of consciousness as the Ardan.Abluish-hued luminescence suffused what appeared to be a windowlesschamber of sorts. Rohyr stood in its center, awaiting something.Dylen remained as motionless as possible in the shadows at theperiphery of the chamber, wondering what would happen next and whatRohyr would make of his unwitting intrusion if he discovered it.Suddenly,another Deir stepped into view, seeming to materialize out of thelight. Brown-haired, dark-eyed and dressed in a physicians smock.It could only be Eiren SarvanYoumust come back to Ylandre at once, Eiren,Rohyr informed his cousin.Eirenfrowned. Why?What requires my presence?ADeir is dying of a strain of blight only you are known to have cured.I see. One of your courtiers?Nay,I only met him this eve. Hes a retired hethar.Eirenseyebrows rose.Since when did you start doing favors for complete strangers,Roh?Sincemy brother asked it of me. Brother?Thephysicians shock was so resounding Dylen actually felt the forceof it. Hardly had he recovered from the unsettling sensation whenRohyr glanced over his shoulder at him, drawing Eirens attentionas a result. Abashed, Dylen hastily yanked himself out of the link,stumbling backward as he returned to the here and now.Someonecaught and steadied him, and he realized Lassen had kept him fromfalling. He was mumbling his thanks when Rohyr