Blackfeather Woods That girl is poison

Meldresi's condition was slowly worsening. She was beginning to lose her coherency and logic as the sickness spread and rotted her from the inside out. It was hard to keep her mind clear; sometimes all she wanted was to close her eyes and sleep, but a small part of her cried out when that need became persistent: if she slept, then she would die.

When Burke talked, it sounded muffled. It took her a few seconds to understand what he said. "No...I...I do not." She stammered, faintly hearing movement outside of the den. What was it? She knew that smell, didn't she? Who was outside?

The presence outside poked its head in and she understood. Potema. She must have seen something troubling in her dreams. The young princess had visions and dreams from Mephala, both before and after the incident, though after, the dreams were much easier for her to read. Potema must have seen what she was about to tell Burke, cushioning the blow for her, but not for him. Not for Burke... "Burke...I..." She whispered, more afraid of telling him this than death itself. "I am dying."