"Can you heal them?" Jubal demanded, still not looking at the wounds.

"It will be costly," the Lizerene told him, "and with no guarantee of completesuccess."

"I knew that before I sent for you," the slaver snarled. "Your profession alwayscharges high and never guarantees their work. No sellsword would stay alive ifhe demanded a sorcerer's terms."

The wizard looked up from his examination. His expression had gone hard. "Iwasn't speaking of my fee," he corrected his patient, "but of the strain to yourbody and mind. What is more it is your strength, and not mine which willdetermine the extent of your recovery. Strength of muscle and of spirit. If Iand others have fallen short in our healings it is because most arrogantwarriors have greater egos than skills and are also lacking-" he caught himselfand turned again to the wounds. "Forgive me, my lord, sometimes being of a'humble order' is wearing on the nerves."

"Don't apologize, man," Jubal laughed. "For the first time I begin to have somefaith in your ability to do what you promise. What is your name?"

"Vertan, my lord."

"And I am Jubal-not 'my lord,' " the slave told him. "Very well, Vertan. Ifstrength is what's needed then between the two of us we should be able to renewmy legs."

"How much strain to the mind and body?" Saliman asked from the doorway.

Jubal glared at his aide, annoyed by the interruption, but Vertan had alreadyturned to face , Saliman and did not see.

"A fine question," the Lizerene agreed. "To grasp the answer you must firstunderstand the process." He was in his own element now, and his nervousnessmelted away. "There will be two parts to the healing. The first is relativelysimple, but it will take some time. It involves drawing out the infection, thepoisons, from the wounds. The true test lies in the second phase of the healing.