A meeting between a king, a prince, and a new princess

Preparations (rough draft v1)

Jacob sat in a small but elegant chamber, appointed with silks and intricate woodwork that celebrated Eldralore's artistic heritage. His hands nervously toyed with the fine cloth of his gown as King Aelred and Prince Erik entered, both wearing expressions of grave concern.

"We have news," Erik began, his eyes meeting Jacob's with a mixture of affection and urgency. "Our situation has escalated. Sableheim is not content with just undermining our alliance; they are contemplating outright warfare."

A shiver ran down Jacob's spine. "What does this mean for us?"

King Aelred took over. "It means we need to prepare, not just defensively, but strategically. We must present a united front that demonstrates our combined strength. And that includes you, Jacob."

"We're revising your training regimen," Erik said, scrolling through a parchment detailing the new plan. "While your lessons on Eldralorian etiquette and customs will continue, you'll be intensively trained by the Viryana. We can't afford to treat this aspect as an afterthought anymore."

Jacob felt a thrill of excitement, tempered by the gravity of the situation. "So, I'll be trained daily?"

"Exactly," King Aelred confirmed. "And we've assigned you a specific trainer from the Viryana. Her name is Seraphelle, a master or expert in every art they practice. She will guide you through every aspect of their combat techniques, rituals, and philosophy."

Erik interjected, "The goal is twofold: to complete your training in the maximum estimated time we have, and if that timeline is shortened... to equip you to at least convincingly fake it."

The notion sent a shiver through Jacob. "Fake it? You mean go to battle unprepared ? I've made great progress adapting my martial skills to the garments and skills of the Viryana but I can only beat the adept warriors half the time, in any prolonged spar I get caught off guard when I reach for a weapon I don't have anymore."

"Only if we must, but battle is not the important point here, as princess you will be kept out of any fight we are not already 3 to 1 in our favor, we can not afford the moral loss or damage to the treaty that would come from it, we would be doing the enemies work for them. No I mean you must be able to look and act the part of a Noble women of our lands and be shown to have the skills of the Viryana in battle. There will be danger but we would not so easily throw you away. To show any less would be to show weakness, when you are weak you must appear strong. " King Aelred answered gravely. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that. But if it does, you'll have the tools to survive. Remember, the Viryana are not just fighters; they are symbols. Sometimes the appearance of strength can be as effective as strength itself."

Jacob looked at both the King and Erik. Their faces were etched with responsibility and expectation, but also a surprising amount of trust. He felt the weight of that trust settle over him.

"I understand," he nodded, his voice firm. "I'll do my best to honor this training and the people it represents."

Erik moved closer to Jacob, placing his hand gently on his shoulder. "I know you will. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

As they left the chamber to prepare for the new chapter of their lives, Jacob felt a mixture of apprehension and anticipation churn within him. Gone were the days of passive learning and subtle maneuvering. Now, every move counted, every lesson was vital, and every day brought them closer to an inevitable confrontation.

Both he and Erik knew that the time for careful diplomacy was rapidly shrinking, giving way to the urgency of war.