Competition: RTFR2.0 Episode 12: The Story of the Sick Proconsul

Two men stood in a dark alley behind Famous Original Papa's Jac Pizza Emporium. One of the men was wearing dark, black robes and had a cowl pulled up over his head, obscuring his features. The other was wearing a well-worn and very stained set of scrubs that may have been second or third hand. Keirdagh Cantor, the robed man, eyed the doctor's outfit warily. He was starting to think this was a bad idea, but the doctor was given a glowing recommendation from someone Keirdagh trusted--used to trust.

"I want this kept quiet."

"Of course, my lord. Of course.

A grizzled hand reached out and dropped a handful of credits stealthily into the waiting palm of the back-alley physician. It was hard to find decent medical professionals whose silence could be bought, but it seemed the scruffy doctor kept his silence. He'd had dealing with Dark Jed before.

"To be honest, my lord," the doctor started yammering as he began prepping the simple procedure. "It's been a while since one of your kind has come to see me."

"Oh?" Keirdagh asked disinterestedly. He just wanted to get in and out. Which was funny... getting in and out was the reason he was in this situation in the first place.

"I don't normally talk about my clients, but given the circumstances… Actually, the producedure you you requested might ring a bell. I call it the "Shadow Taldrya".

"You... named this procedure after Shadow?" Keirdagh asked incredulously.

"It seemed only right, my lord. He was a frequent customer, you see. Did more to further research into this... illness... than any other being I've come across in my forty two years of practicing—legitimately and not! I felt it was right to honor him in some way, in light of his death."

Keirdagh could only shake his head. Shadow, of course, was the one who had recommended the good doctor. To find out he had used the same service so much the procedure was named after him was... troubling. And kind of funny.

"Now, my lord," the doctor interrupted Keirdagh's thoughts. "I need you to drop your drawers and lean against the wall. This will all be over in a moment."