How does Keith’s Mark of Death know he’s got a boon coming before he dies? Doesn’t that mean the fairies are controlling his fate after all?
The fairies have to actively ward off the death that’s coming to Keith. Think of them as putting Keith on life support. Sometimes, you can extend someone’s life for months or even years with the right machines and equipment, but their condition is still terminal and without that support death would be immediate and unpleasant. This is where Keith is, right now.
