One Between the Stars

Chapter 41

 When Ionia had stepped down the stairs with Viviane, her mind went on a sort of autopilot.

It was a series of reactions; smile, nod, curtsy, repeat. Laugh if someone said something remotely amusing. Be happy.

All the while, Viviane stood watching her with sharp eyes that burned into the back of her head. Ionia had to make an effort to not focus on it, to instead turn her attention to the couple speaking to her now.

"We are just so honored to meet you," said a woman with hair that curled up on the top of her head. She was small and wore a lilac dress of gossamer and threaded pearls.

Ionia smiled. "As am I to be here. I have been given nothing but the highest hospitality."

The couple nodded, and bowed. Ionia curtsied in turn, and then turned to the next person waiting to speak with her, preparing herself to likely repeat the sentence that she'd just spoken.

On and on this went for what seemed like an hour. Ionia was starting to feel her spirits wilt a little at the droning repetition, and the fact that though she had met dozens of people already, she had gotten to know none of them. In fact, she knew no one here, at least no one that she could find. She wondered where Nimue was, if she too was in the situation of greeting dozens of people she did not care to meet.

She wondered where Carson was. She hadn't seen him since that morning. He'd likely seen her entrance, but she wondered if he knew where she was now.

She felt a hand on her elbow, an Ionia caught that she had been searching the crowd for him, until her head snapped around to find Viviane, smiling and holding two glasses of a dark liquid that shimmered with silver flecks. Ionia took the one offered to her.

"I was wondering whether you would have a word," Viviane asked over the music and babble of the people.

Ionia's instincts stood at attention, but she smiled and said, "Of course, Majesty."

Excusing themselves politely from the gaggle of people waiting to meet Ionia, the two began to walk the length of the room, on the opposite side of the pillars. Ionia noticed the veins of abalone infused in the marble. Beautiful and iridescent, she had noticed that much of the architecture - and the popular fashion - revolved around the seas that this nation were surrounded by.

Viviane was silent for a long moment, and though Ionia hated it she knew exactly what the Matron was doing: making Ionia wait on her. Then finally she spoke up. "Elyna, I wish to make sure you are comfortable here."

Ionia blinked at the subject, but said, "Well, your wishes are granted, because I am quite happy here."

"I see that you are happy," she said. "I am glad for it, but I do believe I said comfortable. Are you at comfort here?"

Ionia gritted her teeth at the verbal smack, but forced her face into that of innocent politeness and said, "Why, your Majesty, is not comfort the same as happiness? Could one be happy if they are not comfortable?"

Viviane took a beat to respond. Then she smiled, her teeth too bright for the snake that flashed them. "You fancy yourself a master of words."

"I fancy myself a scholar," she said. "I spent my whole life as such."

"Oh?" Viviane looked at her with newfound interest. "And what is it you study?"

Ionia tilted her head, as though thinking it over with amusement. "Mostly History - and the stars. Though I have a fondness for literature."

"Ah," she said, sipping from the glass in her hand. "A seeker of the past and the unknown. Two things that men run after and away from all at once."