Doctor Elkan

Doctor Elkan is a Durantine surgeon dispatched to Maddalo House on Nessus by Magnarch Venantian to treat Hadrian's injuries. Very short in stature with birdlike eyes, he conducts a thorough holographic assessment and oversees a multi-stage recovery: finger regrowth via a nerve-inhibiting brace and shoulder reconstruction involving muscle and bone replacement.

At his farewell consultation, Elkan declares Hadrian healed most remarkably, credits his patient's own diligence, and completes a final range-of-motion check. He clears Hadrian to sail but advises waiting a month before entering fugue to avoid cryoburn risk to the newly regenerated tissue -- a warning that shapes Hadrian's daily exercise regimen during the voyage that follows. He departs after revealing that his grandson is a great admirer of Hadrian.