Akagi stepped away from his workshop to freshen up and check on the children, Regan was sleeping and she truly needed it. He had stopped at his palace office to grab work related things to keep himself occupied when the knock at the door surprised him, "Please enter," Akagi called out standing behind his desk looking up to see @clovis enter casting a tired smile, "Ah good day Mister Belcourt...I'm sorry if we had an appointment my schedule has changed unfortunately but for you, how can I help you?"

The usually happy chipper Prince was definitely in a different state Clovis would notice, still happy but just less. Fatigued. Worry. Work. All of those things definitely took the wind out of Akagi's sails but he would still press on and he would still smile.

It didn't take long for a response to come his way after he had knocked on the door. Clovis opened it and walked forward, turning his head around the door before he completely entered. He slowly shook his head. "My apologies, your highness, we didn't have an appointment. It's a spur of the moment thing." He could see that the prince wasn't his energetic, usual self but didn't want to put the focus on that for now. Even royalty had off days, he supposed.

"I'll come right out with it, your highness. I've been restless. I'm a fighter, as you know, even though we always try to keep the peace. My men know everything there is to know and are prepared for everything, if 'everything' ever comes. That's why I've come to see you, to ask permission to travel to Lorendale." Clovis paused for a moment to let his words sink in. "I would like to see more of Terra Nova, and I want to learn about other military techniques. Lorendale seems like a good place to start. These... Gifted... They have, they seem interesting. And I've heard many good things about their military." He bowed his head a bit in respect once he was done speaking. Now we wait.

"hmm," was his response and while it didn't sound like much the cogs in his head were turning. Scratching under his chin and pondering a multitude of things the Prince asked, "I think that sounds brilliant, how would you like to go about this mister Belcourt covertly or would we like to let the Queen of Lorendale know about your academic study?"

If Akagi himself was about to undergo removing his Mother from the throne (hopefully as peaceful as his brother in law thought it would) the future of Arynn Frey and it's involvement with a possible future war to the south of them...well Akagi had to be ready. The Peacekeepers would need to be ready.

Clovis let out a little sigh of relief when the prince spoke again after he was done thinking. To have the prince think his idea was brilliant was a great honour. "Well...", he responded thoughtfully. "Perhaps the safest bet is sending the queen a letter once I have arrived? That way, we surpass the possibility of a 'no'." He lifted the corner f his mouth slightly. He didn't know how strongly the queen felt about letting another kingdom learn from their military strategies. "But to be honest, I think we should do whatever you think is best, your highness." After all, the prince was more familiar with the crown of Lorendale than he was.

"Would you perhaps be fine with me attending a meeting with Queen Illiana, explain everything to her and go from there?" Akagi decided before returning to Regan he'd explain a little about his sudden eagerness to go along with Clovis's idea, "Please sit?"

The Prince offered Clovis the chair across from his desk, to which Akagi sank tired as ever into (he made a mental note that he needed a few fatigue stones for himself), "The reason I support this and that you came to me is because I feel our passive nature to our southern neighbors will one day be tested, sitting on the sidelines will be over. Yes we have the enchantments you see, power beyond measure, but what we lack is how to use it. We have no strategies for war or defense, and if we are to solely rely on just our enchantments alone....I fear we'll lose a great deal before adjusting to it can be made..."

That would mean that he'd be stuck in Arynn Frey a little longer. It wasn't as appealing to him as just going, but he understood that Akagi needed to sit down with the queen first. So the soldier nodded and sat.

Once more he nodded. "I'm glad you feel the same, your highness. I didn't want to offend you or the queen, but I'm also afraid that we lack the strategy if push comes to shove." It was refreshing to hear someone else speak about their lack of experience. "I'll do all the research I can, and as soon as possible. So when you let me know what the queen of Lorendale says, I'll be ready to leave."

From his bag of holding Akagi withdrew a pad and quill sitting them nonchalantly on his desk, "No offense taken at least by me," Akagi assured Clovis, the quill was actually writing as they talked the message that would be taken to the Queen of Lorendale, the Prince however still had things he now wanted to discuss, "I know my Mother wants to maintain this long standing peace Arynn Frey had clung so tightly to for hundreds of years, but I fear the madness to the south of us will one day rear it's ugly red hair toward us, we can't remain neutral forever....what do you think? Does your task now have a deeper merit to it? I think so."

"I'm afraid you're right, you're highness. Convincing ourselves the peace cam be kept forever is just a fantasy. Even if we don't make the first move, eventually something will happen. The Dresmondi that came into our kingdom have made that clear as well. Having to flee is the beginning of something far worse." He watched the quill while he talked and then redirected his gaze to the prince. "The task has even more merit now indeed. Thank you for confining your trust in me, your highness."

"Good, it's always good to be ready," Akagi stood removing the written letter from the pad of parchment papers, "It is best to know our enemies, so while I want you to study strategies I believe we need to know truly the dynamics of Gifteds and their gifts, focus on that as well. Maybe speak to my brother Sylas Llewellyn, a long time ago he had a great interest in the Gifted perhaps he'll have more?"

Clovis raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised that the conversation had shifted from being about the Dresmondi to being about the Gifted of Lorendale. "Do you expect the alliance to end, your highness?" he asked carefully.

"I will try to meet with your brother, your highness. His knowledge will surely help is out greatly."

"No, but I do want to know as much as we can about the Eldouir, perhaps the kingdom kept at least some detailed information about the family? " Akagi countered.

He felt stupid for not making the connection himself. "Of course", he responded. "I'll ask lord Sylas Llewellyn what he knows, and will try to find as much information as possible in Lorendale." He looked at the prince. "When in Loren, should I be secretive about it, or can I explain why we want to know more about the Eldouir?"

"Try to play it off, don't be just outright, dance around proverbial bush as they say," Akagi felt content with that, "If they pressure you about your curiosity play into that, tell them it's just the ol'Arynnite thirst for knowledge," Akagi was beaming at their plan, "Furthermore learning strategies and training from their soldiers is the true goal .... Things to implement here, because, well I'll say it again. We have to be ready for anything."