One Between the Stars

Chapter 7

 Considering the deadly plague that was currently sweeping her nation, Ionia was astounded that her planet was still planning a parade.

Every year, millions of gallivanters from across the galaxy made their way to Gallivanter's United, the annual convention for the universal knights. It was on a nearby planet named Byrn, a planet so big that for generations, Ionia's people thought it was a star that granted good fortune once a year to businessmen. Wynoa wasn't directly involved with it, but the small port planet just so happened to be on the way, and many gallivanters stopped by on their way to Byrn. So, naturally, every year people all over Wynoa who owned any kind of business worked hard to accommodate the sudden boost in sales they were bound to have. And, of course, to advertize their products and find a way to convince traveling customers that the prices of said products were completely reasonable and not at all inflated.

Many years ago, Ionia's father had come up with the great idea of establishing a kingdom-wide holiday the week of the convention. Parties and parades were held around the planet to celebrate Gallivanter's Festival, to honor the valiant heroes that protected the galaxy. Gallivanters now flocked to the small planet, and every year the festival got more and more extravagant.

Ionia had never seen the annual spectacle in person, but had dreamed of it her entire life. She, like every other princess in the known universe, admired the gallivanters and even secretly wished to meet one some day. They were so brave and honorable, putting themselves in the face of danger every day for the greater good. And it helped that most were a far from bad looking. What Ionia wouldn't give to attend the festivities just once, just to experience a real extravaganza, not like the balls that she had attended in the castle with formal dresses and practiced conversations and polished dances. Most of those she had been confined to a throne at the head of the room anyway. No, she wished to be just another plain face in the crowd, dancing and whooping to the sound of fiddles and pipes, taking swigs of iced fruit juice from mugs, laughing with strangers with ribbons in their hair and wide smiles on their faces while she tried to steady her heart, beating uncontrollably for the first time.

Ionia sighed at the thought, but when her mind returned to reality she was not at a festival but in her room, and when she lifted a cup to her lips it was not iced fruit juice but an herbal tea. She was eating breakfast at her little table by the window, gazing out over the city that was bustling with an energy that seemed to balance precariously between excitement and organized chaos. She could see the beginnings of color starting to envelope the kingdom in the form of streamers and flowers, and if she could open the window she suspected she would hear the sound of minstrels practicing their songs and bakers pulling sweet-tasting pastries out of their ovens.

"Highness?" asked Ryn. "Do you wish to wear the pink dress, or the white one?"

Ionia looked to the dresses. "Oh, I can't decide. Pick one." She stood up and drew the curtains, closing her only view of the outside world, then lifted her arms as Ryn dressed her. The pale pink dress was loose and flowing, with long billowing sleeves and a skirt that looked like a waterfall. It felt like swimming in the clouds. Ryn then proceeded to sit the princess down at her vanity, where the handmaiden started braiding that multi-colored hair.

"I wish to have lunch on the terrace today," Ionia said. "Would you tell the staff?"

"I am sorry, Highness, but I'm not going to be here today." Ryn spoke meekly. "Or the rest of the week, for that matter."

"Really? Why not?"

"Well, I am attending the festival," she said quickly, and Ionia could feel her hands start to shake as she braided her hair. "But if you require my services, then I am more than happy to cancel my plans - "