Nar Shaddaa

It had taken her a little time to learn that Anhel was still alive but had been transferred to one of the hospitals in the upper district, following the bombing of the Imperial compound.

She had heard he had been bed-ridden since the rather bloody wedding, so she figured it was time to check in to see if he was just being lazy, or was actually in such poor condition that he was still in bed.

Navigating through the hospital corridors, Shaisha finally found his room and went right ahead in without knocking first. "Anhel?"

Anhel Rolm was under watch from a contingent of Imperial soldiers deployed by his older sister. He blinked and looked at her from his hospital bed. "Greetings, my Lord. I would rise to greet you properly but the doctors advised against such action." He gave a soft smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Just coming to see that you're still in bed," there was some disappointment in her voice. She had nearly died a few days ago and was walking again already, while he was certainly taking his time in recovering.

She gave the guards a scrutinizing glance. "Didn't know you were at such risk that you needed bodyguards to watch over you?"

"My lungs have still not fully healed," he said as a way of excuse. He looked to his bodyguards and let out a soft sigh. "Lord Haydriss thought it was wise to put me under watch."

"I'd say some fresh air would do you good, but the air on Nar Shaddaa is anything but that," she chuckled and tossed over a small box of chocolates. "Didn't think roses would be your thing, and I hear hospital food is shit."

"You must be absolutely bored out of your tiny little mind."

Anhel took the box and then smiled warmly at her. "Thank you, my Lord." He then blinked at the remark. "Tiny little mind?"

Shaisha smiled and looked at the soldiers. "A moment of privacy, if you will, boys. I'm not going to hurt the little prince."

"Very well, my Lord." The soldiers saluted the Sith and headed out of the room promptly.

Anhel perked a brow at her. "What is this about?"

Shaisha walked closer and sat herself beside him on the bed.

"Anhel, dear... what happened at the wedding that has made you cower in your bed for a week?"

"I have not been cowering," he protested. He shifted in his bed. "I breathed in a heavy amount of the toxin."

She tutted, clearly not impressed. "And I was shot with a disruptor rifle some days ago, nearly bled out, as well as almost lost a hand," Shaisha gestured with her gloved left hand, "you don't see me in a hospital bed... well, apart from right now."

"Though I trust you got some revenge on the attackers at the wedding while you were breathing in this toxin?"

The man lowered his eyes. "I see. Well, I am glad to hear that you are well, my Lord. As for the wedding, I did not slay any of the attackers, no."

She watched him with a raised eyebrow and reached out with her gloved left hand to tilt his chin up. "And why not?"

"I was taken by surprise," he murmured. "I did not have anything to fight back with."

"Really? The son of the Grand Moff had nothing to defend himself with, not even his fists?" she laughed softly.

"Well... maybe not a Moff's son for long. Yesterday's news are causing quite a stir."

"Well, when you put it that way." He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't believe my mother's position as Moff is compromised in any matter, my Lord."

"You seem certain," she smirked. "The Dark Council might decide to look favourably on you, who knows, but there is going to be a full internal inquiry. Who knows what the Sith might find when they start going through your mind."

It was time to see what he would do if push comes to shove, even if she was stretching the truth by a parsec.

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D10 Deception with Anhel. Nekoinu can add the difficulty: 1eP+3eA 4 successes, 3 advantage

"What? Did your master mention something about me, Shaisha?"

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D10 EE Deception Difficulty: 1eC+1eD 2 failures, 1 threat

"Not directly," she wonderfully faked a sympathetic smile. "But there's some concern that Grand Moff Rolm's rise to power was because of affiliations with people who are now known enemies of the Empire."

"I'm sure you understand that no stone should be left unturned in such matters."

"Well, yes, of course." He shifted his eyes downward. "I don't recall Layne Hoshin ever being involved with my family, though."

Well she could hardly believe her ears. Someone who believed in Baras' award-winning performance... though she had to admit that for outsiders it was probably an easy lie to swallow.

"But others were? This Magpie seems to have an extensive network and would probably have agents to deal with such things..."

Anhel glowered in his bed. "I can hardly believe what you're implying. Goodness, Shaisha..."

Seeing him upset did make her a little satisfied.

"Me? I'm just the messenger. But I trust you to have an interest in preserving your own existence as you will no doubt be forthcoming and cooperative with the inquisitors."

"Of course. I have nothing to hide." He glanced at the box of chocolates and decided to open it up. "Thank you again, my Lord."

The box of chocolate was indeed chocolate. She wasn't that cruel that she would tamper with some of the best inventions in the galaxy.

"And I will see you tomorrow, yes? A friendly social event will do you good."