Indeed, the guard responded accordingly, rushing to send word to the king. Attendants tried to offer the prince a place to sit or tea, but they would not press him. Akagi had not been private with the declaration, and already word was spreading through the castle like wildfire.

It was early, but Cassian was up and already in his study. At the messenger’s words, he sprang up, showing his agility and youth, and moved with haste to meet Akagi. Regan Lassiter likely joined him somewhere on his way, and he dispatched a runner simply to inform Hadrian Usher. Nevermere might be next, they had to be on guard.

Cassian came shortly after Akagi’s arrival, likely no more than five minutes. His eyes fell on his brother-in-law.

“What are attacking? Has Arynn Frey raised their city’s defenses?” Each city in Arynn Frey had a shrine enchantment in their center that activated a dome shield around the entire city. Could Eldouirs do anything against those?

Regan intercepted the king, falling wordlessly into step at his side just behind his shoulder. She had a vague idea of what they were heading into but hadn’t stayed around to sort through the gossip that was now spreading through the castle like noxious fumes. The Eldouir. Regan could still see the flecks of gold in Hiram’s eyes and hear the dark rumble of his voice, smell the tangy iron of blood as it wrapped itself around her.

Regan would greet Akagi Llewellyn with an efficient nod and remain at her post by Cassian Rainecourt’s side until instructed to go elsewhere.

"Unfinished parts of Mother's wall and yes alarms and defenses are going into place as we speak," it was evident Akagi was agitated, he stood here imagining that his Mother was as calm and so dependent on their enchantments but Akagi in his heart and soul and mind it wasn't enough, "I've scrambled for rescuing those outside of the cities with our Calvary units, their speed and combining our portal items will bring those in the attack zones within our protected cities while our Artillery and infantry divisons provide protection...we weren't ready your Majesty," Akagi was starting to pull his hood over his head and pulling his port key back out, "I came to warn you, I'll be having the children brought here if that is fine until this is over but I must get back...we could use the help King Cassian."

Cassian listened. Why were the Eldouirs attacking Arynn Frey? Why now? Something didn’t add up. What was their goal? To destroy it? For all their strength, they didn’t have the power. Cassian was confident in that, but Akagi didn’t seem to be.

Cassian heard the request. He had guessed it was coming.

“What is your plan?“ He drilled his brother in law with serious eyes. The request was serious. “Do you think they will come for the cities next?” It seemed odd that they’d be targeting an unfinished wall rather than killing the people of the kingdom.

"The plan is to save those closest to the portions of the wall being attacked, but we also need to push them back and force a retreat before they reach any of the cities," Akagi explained, "We have the enchantments for it, I just fear we lack the strategy or readiness of our Peacekeepers," he didn't like the confession of such a thing but his people had embraced peace for so long that maintaining a functioning military had been abandoned,this of course would be remedied soon enough if the Prince had something to do about about.

He looked at his brother in law, "Would it be wise to perhaps...capture and contain one or two of them? Because if so, I can attempt that, I'm ready," he reached into a hidden pocket and extracted his wand of sleeping, "when this is used it can put the enemy into a deep sleep, I can get close enough to one and use it."

Cassian felt overwhelmed. He needed time to think of his response, and was loathe to tell Akagi something that would end in his demise. Thus, he resolved to advise caution.

"If you get close enough to use that," his eyes flickered to the wand, "I fear you may have sealed your doom. If it were me," he looked up at Akagi's eyes, knowing he might not like this answer, "I would fortify the cities and ensure that nothing can enter through their protective domes. I can send witches to aid you. The domes should prevent physical attacks, and with their curses they can keep any from teleporting inside for a time. Protect your people." There was a subliminal message there. It was Dresmondi at the walls, was it not? They were not Arynnites. They were refugees. They had the magic to defend themselves. Why should Akagi sacrifice Arynnites to save them?

"Understood your Highnes," Akagi turned with portkey in hand to return back to Arynn Frey he reached for the door, was he disappointed? Yes, his Mother would turn out to be the hero again that protected her people and take away any leverage Akagi would have to see her unfit. Was he to just take charge and give orders? How would have Cassian felt or handled such an action?

"I will let Mother know you are sending her the aid of Witches, thank you," he would only linger for a moment if his brother in law had more to say. If not he'd step back into Arynn Frey.

The Arrynites were asking for help. Regan’s eyebrow twitched with surprise before she reined her expression back to neutrality. It was Regan’s understanding that the Arynnites’ enchantments made their military capabilities more, well, capable. She was surprised to see Akagi this way—asking with such urgency for another monarch to protect his kingdom. Admitting that his own soldiers were incapable and unprepared. Why was it Cassian’s job to make up for their own lack of foresight?

But, she reminded herself, Cassian’s sister was the queen. Perhaps that came with a greater obligation on the king’s part. Regan didn’t know. She wasn’t a politician. She just went where she was pointed and took comfort in that fact.

When Akagi Llewellyn left, Regan would look at Cassian Rainecourt, freeing her eyebrows now to raise.

Hadrian, though he did not spring to his feet with the same vigor as his king, made haste to where he was directed. While en route, he tried to draw as many details about the situation as he could out of the runner who had been dispatched to retrieve him—though there seemed to be none beyond Akagi’s first shouted statement: Arynn Frey was under attack by the Eldouir.

The two royals' conversation was brief, and therefore missed by the commander who had made haste from the military wing. He would arrive just in time for Akagi Llewellyn to leave.