“Knock, knock,” a voice came from Iona’s doorway. She’d been stewing for the last hour, scribbling out speeches about how her and Leo would need to find a way to work together, and he wasn’t seeing her side, and he needn’t be such an ass just like he always used to be. Before they were finished, she’d crumple them up and start on a new piece of parchment.
“Yes?” she hissed, whipping to see Heston leaning in the frame. “Oh, Heston. What’s up?”
“I’ve come to see if you’d be so kind as to escort me to Chrysomar. I’m heading out in a few minutes.”
Iona pouted, “I can’t ride.”
Heston shoved off the doorway and walked to her desk, resting on its edge. “I have a lot of things to take with me, we’ll be going in a carriage. I figured you could bring it back for me.”
“No thanks,” she grumbled, turning back to her illegible scrawlings. Iona felt Heston’s hand on her shoulder and looked up to see him looking down at her, pity all over his face.
“I think maybe you could use a break.” She sighed. He was right. It probably wasn’t very productive or healthy of her to keep wasting good parchment, anyways.
“Fine. I’ll get changed,” Iona answered. Heston smiled and sauntered out, and five minutes later, they were loaded up in a carriage headed to the port city. She took the opportunity to ask all about Heston’s visits so far, how he ended up pursuing Kono to begin with, and what they had planned for their future. He explained everything, and confirmed that he was able to make some amends with his father. Iona was truly thrilled for him, despite the fact he’d inadvertently set her current heartache in motion.
The hours passed with ease, and they arrived at a manor nearly on the sea’s edge, three stories high and surrounded by a white sand beach. Before she could even step out from the carriage, Kono rushed out of the house to greet Heston. His inky black hair caught the breeze, a stark contrast against the light, powdery blue linen tunic he wore. Behind him, a familiar face appeared on the porch.
“Iona! You made it!” Jessa called, hurrying past Heston and Kono who were rapt by each other’s presence. She looked as beautiful as she did at the ball, her dark locks in a loose braid and a wide, beaming smile. She offered her hand to Iona, “I heard about your injury during your last battle, and I was worried you wouldn’t be fit to visit for a while.”
“I’m not allowed to ride, but I will be all healed up soon enough. I’m so glad to see you again, I didn’t realize you’d be here.” Heston was right, Iona definitely needed this. Jessa led her into the astonishing home, every other wall covered in its own floor to ceiling mural; she’d never seen another place like it. “These paintings are incredible,” she uttered.
“Thank you, thank you. Kono did them all, actually, he’s quite the talent. I always thought it was a disservice for our father to push him into working for the guard instead of pursuing art, but he’s so brawny, I suppose that was always going to be his fate.”
“Your father?” Iona inquired, as they got settled on the deck overlooking the ocean.
Jessa laughed and handed her a goblet of wine. “I forgot, you don’t know. Kono is my brother! He hates when I mention it when he’s on duty, so I didn’t say anything at the ball. Which means any time you come visit Heston, you’ll have to see me, too.”
“That makes me want to come visit more than just seeing Heston,” Iona grinned. “I’ll have to come back soon, I can’t stay long this time, unfortunately.”
“Nonsense!” Jessa chastised, “Whatever it is can wait. I insist you stay for dinner. And after dinner, I will insist you spend the night. I never have friends in town from the capital, and certainly none I can talk politics with.”
Hearing those words did wonders for Iona’s lingering sour mood. “That sounds lovely,” she resigned, excited for the evening ahead- as long as she could avoid any talk of Leo. Heston and Kono unloaded the carriage, and joined them on the deck where they spent the next several hours chatting and drinking the best wine Chrysomar had to offer. Dinner was a spectacular spread of fresh seafood followed by extra strong coffee and tiny glasses of citrus liqueur.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Lounging around in one of the manor’s multiple sitting rooms, Iona sipped on her drink and soaked in the salty air. “So,” Jessa started, “Iona. I noticed at the ball, you danced almost all night with Prince Leonon. Is there anything…happening between the two of you?”
Iona cleared her throat, thanking the gods that she’d had plenty of wine and liqueur before the subject arose. “We were just dancing, that’s all.”
Jessa’s smile turned mischievous, “Is that so? Because Kono told me he saw you kiss.” Iona’s eyes went wide as she shot a look at Heston, who quickly averted his gaze.
“I, uh,” she stumbled, “Well, we did. But it was nothing.”
“Nothing?” Jessa pushed on, “Heston made it seem as though you both were sneaking off together as much as he and Kono were!”
“Oh, boy,” Heston gulped.
“You knew?!” Iona sneered at the former prince, “And you still abdicated? And you didn’t warn me!” She was going to kill him right there in that ocean themed palace.
Heston shoved behind Kono on the couch they shared, taking cover from her wrath, “I didn’t think it mattered! I thought you’d be excited to be queen!”
“I never would have agreed to keep your two’s secret if I’d known Iona would be this upset!” Jessa piped up, slurring her speech a tad.
Through gritted teeth, Iona snarled, “Why would I want to be queen? I would have to step down as High Commander.”
“Iona, I mean this in the nicest way,” Heston answered from his hiding spot, “But are you stupid?”
Kono choked on his coffee, and spun to face his boyfriend, “Don’t say that to her!”
“Thank you, Kono!” she shouted, happy to have him on her side.
“She’s not stupid, she’s just scared.”
“Whoa,” Iona scoffed, taken aback.
Kono turned to her, “Apologies, Commander, I don’t mean to offend. I just know that change is scary. Even someone as brave as yourself isn’t immune to its effects.” Jessa had inched over to Iona, and gave her a scratch on the back in a show of support.
She let out a huff, trying to calm herself. “I’m not scared. I’m just…look it’s true, I admit. I am in love with Leo.” A synchronous cooing came from her company, to which she could only roll her eyes. “But I can’t give up my command. Because…because Leo and I bicker. We get on each other’s nerves. And it didn’t matter much before, but what about in another ten years? He’ll get tired of me disagreeing with him. He’ll stop inviting me to meetings. He won’t listen to my opinion on matters of the court. I’ll be relegated to attending mind numbing parties and standing on the sidelines knowing I gave up everything I worked for just to be some pointless figurehead. And I guess…I guess that does scare me.” All the concerns that had been jumbled in her mind, the worry she tried to turn into words and write out in rantings on parchment were now exposed for them all to hear.
Heston slipped off the couch and knelt by Iona’s side, resting his hand on her leg. “Iona, I understand everything you’re saying. But the man you’re talking about, the king you’ve just described- that is not my brother.” He reached up and wiped away a couple tears that had rolled down her cheek. “He loves you. Honestly, I’ve never seen him love anyone half as much as he loves you. And more importantly, he respects you. He always has, even if he was too idiotic to show it before. Leo sees you as his equal,” Heston smiled, “If not his superior.”
His appeal struck a chord in Iona, chipping away at the doubt that had taken up residence in her heart until it fell apart completely. Iona snatched Heston’s face in her hands, smushing his cheeks, “You’re right, Heston, I was stupid.” She shot up from her chair, “I have to go. I have to talk to him.”
“I would never, ever stand in the way of love,” Jessa lilted, “But the coachman is asleep. Perhaps you could wait to leave until we’ve had breakfast tomorrow?”
Iona nodded, her chest pounding with excitement, and her head a little woozy as she lowered back into her seat. “Probably a good idea.”
+++
The next morning, the carriage was set to go, and Jessa insisted on seeing Iona off. “Write me as soon as you can about how it goes. I’m rooting for you,” she gushed.
The chill of the wind coming off the sea paired with her kind words quelled Iona’s nerves for a moment. “You know, Jessa, we’ve had an advisor step down recently, and she’ll need to be replaced. You are whip smart, and it’s been too long since we’ve had an advisor from a port city. Would you be open to taking the job?”
Jessa yanked Iona into a forceful hug, almost pulling her out of the carriage completely. “I would be honored, my queen!”
She couldn’t help but giggle, “It’s not mine to offer quite yet, but I will send word no matter what happens.”
“You better,” Jessa demanded, “Okay, now get out of here before I climb in there with you.” She shut the door and waved until Iona couldn’t see her friend any longer.
The carriage jostled side to side, as she watched the ocean disappear, slowly replaced by trees and open fields. It occurred to Iona that these could be her final hours as High Commander.
At least, she hoped they would be.