Physicker Jarran was a large man whose frame was barely contained by the robes of the House of Knowledge. Currently, he wore an apron over them, and was working on cutting up the arm of a body on one of the nearer slabs. Nerra tried not to stare in horror at that sight, even though shed been down here plenty of times before for lessons.

Why are you cutting up someones arm? Nerra asked, and she was sure some of her disgust at it leaked through.

The House of Knowledge says that no knowledge is ever wasted, Physicker Jarran said. In this case, by better understanding the workings of the arm, I might be able to do more to help those who have injured theirs. It is a study that would help you greatly, if you truly wish to heal others.

Most of the herb lore Nerra knew, shed learned from the physicker. To her parents, it had just been her taking an interest in her treatment, yet the physicker had quickly seen her interest and taught her far more, to the point where Nerra could recognize almost any plant in the forest and its properties. Even so…

No, thank you, she said. Some things just werent for her.

I wasnt expecting you here for a lesson today, Physicker Jarran said.

All of Nerras brothers and sisters had taken lessons from the physicker, since as a graduate of the House of Knowledge, he could teach reading, writing, history, and philosophy as easily as any scholar of the House of Knowledge. Nerras lessons had featured increasing amounts of herb lore once he had seen she was interested in it, along with knowledge of other places she knew she would never live long enough to see. The physicker was also one of the few people who knew the truth of her condition, since hed been the one trying to at least slow it for years now.

I dont have a lesson today, Nerra said. Suddenly she was nervous, finding herself wondering if she should be there at all. I… guess Im supposed to be at all the feasting.

With so much feasting, who could attend it all? Even me? Physicker Jarran countered, with a pat of his stomach. Why are you here, though, Nerra? Its not to join in my research.

I… Nerra wasnt sure whether to just come out and tell him what shed found or not. She thought back to her worries in the forest: that someone would take the dragons egg and destroy it, or dissect the dragon within. She knew she couldnt take that much of a chance, but she still needed to know more than she did.

What do you know about dragons? Nerra asked.

Dragons? Physicker Jarran asked, raising an eyebrow. Id have thought that was more Master Greys field than mine.