One Between the Stars

Chapter 4

 Ionia couldn't focus on her studies. Her father's words were constantly swirling through her head, rendering her brain useless. Her tutors had noticed, and chastised her for not devoting her attention to her work. Ionia didn't tell them the reason for this. She didn't want them to worry.

It had been three days since her meeting with her father, and in those days Ionia had gone over countless possibilities for a solution to the kingdom's predicament. Nothing had stayed plausible in her mind for long. She just hoped she would be able to think of something by the next meeting, if she was allowed to speak. Her father hadn't mentioned if she was to do anything but watch.

Ionia sighed and set aside her assignment for Geography. There had to be some way to appease Lia so that they could get that medical aid. What did Wynoa have that their neighboring kingdom did not?

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Ionia called.

A servant came in. Ionia recognized her as a new handmaiden. Her name was Ryn.

"Yes?"

"His Majesty wishes that you would join him for a meeting in the conference room of the west wing," she said, her voice quiet and a little anxious.

Ionia nodded. "Thank you, Ryn. I will head there now."

Ryn started and stared at the princess, as if shocked that she remembered her name. Ionia didn't look back at her as she headed out of the room, her shoes tapping against the white marble floor.

As Ionia walked, she put her hair up in a braid and grabbed her circlet out of her pocket. She placed it on her head and adjusted it when she came across a mirror in the hallway. It sat around her forehead, studded with precious gems that gleamed white and split the light into a million colors. She ran her fingers through her hair a little more, to smooth it back. No doubt people would be staring at it. After all, it was what she was known for. Ionia's hair was unique to her people and every other people in this galaxy, possibly even the entire universe, as far as she knew. It wasn't one color but many; blacks and indigoes and purples, shimmering with an otherworldly quality. It resembled the view of outer space, of galaxies and stars and supernovas.

She continued on, through corridors and up and down winding staircases. It was a bit of a way to the west wing, and by the time she reached it she was a little out of breath. She should have walked slower, but she couldn't seem to slow herself down. This was her first meeting that she was attending, at least being noticed. And it was most likely concerning the plague and Lia's cooperation, or rather, lack thereof. Of all the times for her father to finally give her more responsibility, it had to be when the kingdom was in a state of crisis.

The double doors to the meeting room loomed above her. They were both marble, but one was white, while the other was black. She grasped the crystal door handles, swung them open, and slipped inside.

The room was long and high-ceilinged, with just enough room for the long glass table that ran down from one end to the other. A person filled each chair around the table, and their heads turned when she entered. Some held expressions of open awe, and even those who did not, Ionia could tell that they were hiding it. She was not surprised. Many of her first encounters with people were like that. She did not venture out beyond the castle walls, and did not roam the castle as freely as she would have liked, so much of her kingdom didn't get to see her. Ionia was sure that every person in this meeting had shown up early just to make sure they got the first glimpse of the illusive Cosmically Blessed One.

Ionia brushed her conspicuous entrance aside with a delicate smile and walked down the length of the room until she reached her father, sitting at the head. She bowed her head respectfully, but there was no room to curtsy. The king smiled faintly and gestured to the seat at his left. Ionia was astonished; she was allowed to sit at the most important and powerful seat, aside from her father's of course. His second-in-command usually sat here. When Ionia sat down, she spotted him across from her, to the king's right. He stared at her with hidden resentment, but Ionia could feel it roiling off him like steam. He was a short man, with a rather round figure and a head that was bald on top and gold-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose.