He truly thought it over, and she was glad for it. Someone who wasn’t trying to gain her approval for gains, someone who wasn’t trying to hold her back in the same way. A truly neutral friend because he couldn’t do what she could, and with their lives kingdoms apart… she didn’t stand any threat to him either. Not that she would be.

“I’d prefer to have a particular family’s gifted blood. But I’d take what I could get. Gifteds aren’t exactly easy to come by in Nevermere. So I was going to write a proposal asking the King if I’d be allowed to get some samples from Lorendale.” A dangerous ask… or she’d have to try and see if she could get ahold of the King’s Champion, who at the time, seemed to have disappeared.

“I’d lay it on the border of Nevermere and Dresmond.” And in the way she looked up to him, perhaps she was offering him an idea for Arynn Frey and Dresmond. If they were similar as he said, curse and enchantment…

"Years and years and years ago, when I was just a Prince and prior to my engagement to my Felita I visited Lorendale with my brother Sylas," Akagi continued to work his hands so steady and even, surgically precise, "We met the Allemeade Gifted family, very standoffish and protective of each other, I fear the Gifted in Lorendale will never trust outsiders or non-gifted but do not let that deter you Alys because I have faith in you getting what you need," he then looked up, "A cursed border though sounds less arrogant than my Mother's failed enchanted wall," a pen suddenly began writing because Alys had a really good idea, "If I could get you blood from a prominent Gifted family would that help? I...I have my ways," and he did, Akagi was a covert operation kind of man that so few knew of.

Alys only looked away from him long enough to watch as he worked, his hands graceful in the way that a skilled artists hands were. She wondered if she looked the same when she was crafting… though hers was a lot more… bloodied.

“I can understand their mistrust,” she said it almost quietly, as if it was controversial of a topic. “They’ve been smothered for so long. Witches were once too. A lot still believe we should be docile but…” a small laugh left her, her head shaking lightly. “Many are brought up to believe it. Yet what would Nevermere be without us?” She gave a quick smile but settled.

His offer had her staring up at him with wide, but hopeful eyes. “It would. I’d need… I’d need quite a lot. But a little at first would be… helpful. I need to find a way to mix it… how do you have access to a gifted?” She stared at him now, her scarred face suddenly full of hope.

Akagis eyes once again lit up as he ripped his enchanted glasses off his head laying them on the table, "I have an Eldouir," all things aside Akagi had exactly what she needed, "Elena Eldouir in fact! Would that help you?"

Alys stared at him with slightly wide eyes. She had no idea… and yet she let out a small huff of a laugh. “It’d… that’s perfect Akagi,” her scarred lips turned upwards as she smiled. “If you don’t mind… I could absolutely use her blood.” Her hand grasped his for a brief moment, squeezing. As if this gave her purpose once again. “I’m… in your debt.”

Akagi jumped up in a giddy rush leaving behind his current work collecting first his bag of holding then he shoved in a handful of vials, one standard dagger with a surgically sharp edge and sheath, and his wand of sleeping (which he hadn't given to his Felita yet).

Grabbing lastly two cloaks offering one to Alys, "It will be a bit damp and perhaps chilly where we are going!"

If she took the cloak Akagi rushed back to his work station opening the drawer to reveal the only portal key to the ship that housed Elena. Should Alys be ready Akagi would open the same door Alys always appears through only waiting on the other side wasn't Nevermere but the deck of a ship deep under the sea.

It was like she had said some magic phrase and sent him into a whirlwind. A man whose excitement filled the room as he moved about and collected items and a bag and then extended to her a cloak. Her eyes danced with amusement before she pulled the cloak around her shoulders and lifted the hood to conceal her face. A habit, one she had taken to after the burns, but also because she didn’t think she needed to be letting the Eldouir know that a witch was now coming for her.

He opened a door, and it wasn’t the image of her room back at the Usher estate, but to a place completely unknown to her. She glanced between the door and Akagi for a head beat before she’d step through. Her eyes devouring the scenery around them. A ship… her stomach clenched for a moment as it always did with ships. Thanking the Goddess she no longer froze at the idea. Not since she worked through much of her fear with Logan… his name settled once again in her but she tucked it away. A warmer feeling at the memory. “I think it’s best she doesn’t see my face.” She looked back at Akagi, her voice dropping lower. Alys wasn’t sure how Cassian or anyone would feel about her late night visits with the King of Arynn Frey. Friend or not.

"Not a bad idea," Akagi confirmed as he to raised his own hood stepping through the same door. The pair were greeted by Peacekeepers, "Your Majesty tis late of the hour, I hope things are fine back home?" addressed the man in charge bowing to Akagi who calmly replied, "Everything is fine Peacekeeper Rookwood, this is a private matter and one I'd like to keep to ourselves, where is Lady Elena?"

"She was just returned to her cell below deck your Majesty and you have our word, our lips are sealed," the man replied back and Akagi would turn to lead the pair below deck, "We are thousands of miles below sea at the very moment, I thought it was best to put her in a place the Eldouir would have trouble finding," Akagi was very proud of his idea, "If they do get bold, I hope they can swim as everyone on board is ready to make the ultimate sacrifice should they come," Akagi wouldn't elaborate further but there were back up plans to everything.

Further below deck they climbed until they came to a room with a large steel cell, inside it housed Elena Eldouir who had access to books a table for her meals, and a feather bed. Akagi approached the jailer and whispered into the man's ear as he fished out his wand. The jailer stepped to the door and looked back at the hooded figure for confirmation.

Akagi looked to Alys whispering again, "I will put her to sleep with this wand, you'll have a five minute window to collect your blood, will that work?"

Alys tugged her hood forward as much as possible, only her chin actually visible for one to see. She nodded at Akagi once they started to make their way through the ship. Her eyes widening under the hood at the fact they were so far below the sea. That had to be why their was a slight pressure in her ears…

They made it to the door, and she felt her hands sweating a little. Not in fear, but anticipation. Right here… she’d have exactly the family she was trying to keep away from her kingdom. He gave whispered instructions and she nodded again, not daring to voice any confirmation. Stealth, silence, like a shadow as she readied the items he had prepared for them. 5 minutes… plenty of time.

Elena didn't have many visitors. In fact, it was always Akagi or sometimes Akagi with a guest. As she heard the footsteps move towards her cell she sat up from where she'd been laying on her bed and staring at the ceiling. A half eaten apple was in her hand as she looked curiously at the king and cloaked person beside him. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She had been waiting for her death since she arrived her. "I didn't imagine death would look so...small," she commented on the smaller stature of the person with the King.

Akagi raised the wand and with a simple flick of his wrist a unseen force would strike Elena in the chest, and she would simply fall asleep again for five minutes, "Open the cage please," Akagi would nod to Alys. Akagi would stand by as Alys collected what she needed.