For a moment, it looks like Teren is going to comply. She weakly lifts her hand as if to take the herbs, but, quick as a snake, grips at the collar of Bastien's shirt instead, dragging him toward her. There, she kisses him deeply.

And coughs.

Her tainted blood spatters into his mouth, which she holds against hers with all the strength she has, his dagger going ignored-- what is he going to do, stab her some more?-- and then, just as abruptly, she crumples back to the floor, the light beginning to leave her eyes, her teeth and lips streaked with red. She coughs again, spewing more blood onto the floor.

"May it-- rot you from the inside," she rasps, smiling ghoulishly, "until-- you yearn-- for death."