The Attempted Assassination of a Prince

My talent larqely seems to be for weird, intense dreams.

A Russian prince, in the middle of a winter camp, with family and retainers. Someone tries to kill him, with a knife. He doesn't die but the assassin does. The family doesn't want anyone to know what has happened, that would show weakness. They send the prince off with retainers, to either recover or die.

At one point his retainers think that death is inevitable. He is in great pain and they want to spare him. They are planning to shoot him, go so far as to load the gun, a shotgun, but they see him watching and can't go through with it.

How can you shoot someone you've spent your life protecting since childhood. Not only that, but someone whom you've shared food and drink with, talked with, shared a life with. It beggars belief.