The three of you begin dashing toward the Palace, though the burning sensation is spreading and you are not moving quite as fast as you could. Janus also delays you somewhat, trying to put space between yourself and Anaztazia.
"I'm sorry, friend," he says, "but whoever this is, they are out to strike you. I cannot allow two royal persons to die in my presence! Nor will I allow it!"
Lasers continue to streak down from above, fizzling as they disappear into the snow close to you. Then, when you are about half the distance to the Palace, there is a brief silence. The assassin has stopped firing.
It has been less than a minute since you were first struck with that poisonous dart, security does not have enough time to reach you.
Suddenly, a cylindrical object comes whistling down from above. It hits the ground between yourself and Janus, tossing you bodily into the air and stinging you with shrapnel. As you pick yourself up, another one lands nearby, though not close enough.
The explosive cylinders are moving too fast for you to hit, though you do have your pistol.
Yes, though Janus has the misfortune of being near you when the assassin has resorted to heavy weapons. Anaztazia is clear, having made it to the Palace.
Another cylinder strikes the ground near you, tossing you down again. But it has tossed you in the direction of the Palace, and once you regain your feet, you stumble up to where Anaztazia is beckoning to you. One last explosive strikes the doorframe just as Janus pushes you through, showering the three of you in debris.
Once you are out of sight within the Palace, the attack stops.
Janus sends you to your room under the watchful eye of Anaztazia while he fetches the doctors. She sets to dressing your shrapnel wounds, but the fast-acting poison has made you acutely aware of how much pain you are in. You writhe against your will as she tries to remove the shrapnel, and when the doctors arive they are forced to strap you down.
The doctors quickly suss that the poison used in the dart is the fast-acting chemical agent known as Arrow poison- the very same used to poison your mother, you note- and that you would have died had they not been able to intervene. However, there is no real antidote to Arrow posion and you must undergo treatment for the damage it has caused to your body. It is also keeping your shrapnel injuries from healing quickly; they will have to treat them with fresh bacta daily to assist your immune system in preventing infection.
The doctors drug you with heavy painkillers and medicines meant to fight the Arrow poison, and you lapse in and out of consciousness before drifting off to a deep sleep...
-
You awake at some point, vaguely aware of your surroundings. Someone is talking at the side of your bed.
"...but the Republic, despite their ongoing battle against the Mandalorians and their good relations with Erengard, refused to share its resources with the armies of the Castellan. Castellan Greerin Pinzot, his requests spurned, decided that he would meet the Mandalorians in direct battle. The Mandalore himself was present for the battle, leading a formidable force against the armies of Greerinburg. This was the Battle of..."
Anaztazia notices that you have awakened and stops reading from the historical texts in her lap.
"Melkor, are you awake?"
She smiles warmly.
"Four days," Anaztazia tells you. "The poison took its toll on your body and sapped you of energy. But the doctors have kept you on a steady flow of medication to keep you rested and regain your strength. How do you feel?"
To be honest, you feel fine, Melkor. A little shakey, but otherwise fine.
"Well.... I was unconcious, and surely you had things to do. I was hardly of any entertainment or interest in that state." -He grins slightly than makes a more solemn expression.
"You are a wonderful person, Lady Anastazia. This world didn`t react well to my return, but it doesn`t matter because I ment you."