he reached into his pouch , fumbling through it as tears started to blur his vision there must be something she could n't just die she could n't they were so close something stuck sharply into his finger , and pain flashed through him again the crows-eaten mushroom had jabbed him with its spines the blessing of night fever poison injury pain even age it has power over them all to our people , there is nothing of greater value weeping , tavi seized the mushroom and started tearing off the spines with his fingers , heedless of the pain .