Of course he wasn't well, he was dying. He was also still trying to fight down the panic. How could he help Signless escape if he was dead for good?

"Tribbleth," he croaked with certainty. "They'll breed out of control if they eat.... even a little bit. SS knowth, everyone knowth.... Then they'll get taken away. My pile. Culled." No one ever said he couldn't make a pile out of living tribbles. "Thoothing.... Make little cooth.... You should try them thometime...."

He closed his eyes, trying to imagine lying in a pile of them right now. Even the cold of the snow was ebbing away into a cushioned numbness. Perhaps he was delirious; he saw a troll of royal blood and believed she would listen to him.

"Look out for him and.... don't let thith planet.... be another Alternia."