Healer's Appointment

Writers: Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 22nd April 2013

Characters: U'das, Gariol
Description: U'das finds out what's wrong with his eyes.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 15 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: K'sedel

Every time U'das visited the healer's he got stronger and stronger
eye glasses. The situation had started to worry the Weyrhealer to the
point he had called for specialist from the Hall. U'das himself had
done his best to ignore his worsening eye-sight and resorted to Zack's
eyes. But even he couldn't deny that his vision was often blurry, he
had trouble seeing in a bad light and he didn't always recognize
people's faces. So the bronzerider was full of uneasy premonitions
when he entered the Infirmary.

"Sir," said the nurse with a smile. "We have a room for you this way."
He led the Wingleader into the area where the exam rooms were set up.
"The Healer will be with you in a moment.

Just as the young woman turned to go, Gariol came to the door. He was
a tall thin man with a crop of sandy hair, piercing eyes, and a gentle
demeanor. "Thank you," he said to the nurse and closed the door behind
her. He'd looked at the chart already but wanted to hear from the man
himself what he was experiencing. "I hear you've been experiencing
some difficulty?"

"Yes. I can't read without glasses, and I need more and more light to
see and read. In darkness or dusk, I'm almost blind, I have blurry
visions and trouble recongnizing people from afar." U'das gave him a
rueful grin.

"Alright," he said nodding. "Let's have a look." He picked up one of
his tools which was a special magnifying glass and turned the light so
it focused on the riders face. "Okay, Look up."

U'das did as he was told to. He almost missed his regular eye-healer,
a pretty journeywoman who blushed so prettily when he flirted with
her.

Gariol directed him to look in various direction until he had a pretty
good idea of what he was seeing. Then he sat back and looked at the
Wingleader for a moment before he spoke. "Well," he said thoughtfully.
"How long has this been going on?"

"A few Turns, I can't say for sure. It's been kind of gradual. I
think it took me very long time realize that I wasn't seeing as well
as before," the bronzerider replied.

He nodded for a few moments. "Well, I'm seeing the beginnings of a
condition in your eyes Wingleader." He didn't want to over dramatize
it but there was a concern. "We call it Degeneration. We can treat it
and try and slow it down but we can't make it better."

"So, what's the prognosis?" U'das asked. "Don't try to make it
prettier, just tell me what will happen to me?"

The wingleader's reputation had preceded him and the eye healer didn't
mince words. "Age is catching up with you U'das. Your eyes are
degenerating." Gariol didn't believe in holding out unreasonable hope
where there wasn't any. "They're going to get worse, not better. I
would recommend you think about stepping down soon."

U'das just nodded, numb. A part of him had expected to hear that, rest
of him was shocked.

"There are things you can do with your diet and some herbs that will
slow the progress. I'll give you a list to take with you." These were
the hardest ones for a healer. The man was obviously strong and in
great health otherwise. "You'll know when it becomes too hard. Don't
push yourself beyond that point. You'll only endanger yourself and
those around you."

"Okay," U'das simply said. He had nothing else to say. He knew he need to
talk with K'sedel but first he was going to get seriously drunk tonight.

Last updated on the May 2nd 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Healer's Appointment