If Magnus truly thought that Leto was going to ride mildly in a cooped-up carriage through steep mountain passes on her first trip out of Midas in years, he had another thing coming.
As politely as possible, she informed the carriage driver that, yes, he would still be driving the carriage to Arcanaes as instructed by the Master Informer, but she would not be riding in the carriage. Instead, she would ride alongside upon her mount, Eteon. There would be appeasement in the future, she knew, but as she rode along in front of the carriage that held her belongings, a few more things for Magnus that he might find useful, as well as a few small host gifts for Iolanthe, her sister-in-law, and her brother.
Leto knew she made the right decision whenever she glanced over her shoulder whenever the carriage jostled over the rocky mountain path. The ride atop Eteon was far more pleasant, with her curls tousling in the high altitude breeze, tied back with a coiled cord to keep it from her eyes.
It had been years since she had actually ridden away from Midas. As familiar as she was with the Colchian city and its shoreline, it held a different beauty as she watched that familiar sight shrink down to a thin, silver thread as she looked out from atop the mountain passes leading to Arcanaes. If she were a painter, she would have loved nothing more than to capture that view and paint it along her bedroom wall.
Before long, the mountains themselves obscured the view, leading her to look forward into the valley that held the small, jeweled city.
Subtlety had never been Leto's strong suit. In fact, more or less, she made her excitement clearly known with the upcoming trip. It was likely that, apart from wanting some time to himself and with Lady Iolanthe, Magnus wanted to ride ahead simply to part with her excitement. While he urged her to take as much time as she required - which wasn't much. In truth, he only had one day's head start of her, likely arriving several hours earlier due to not having a carriage with him.
There was lightness in her heart as she rode past the goldsmith stalls and vendors, the tiniest pang of homesickness and nostalgia for Chaossis present at the sound of metal on metal ringing through the air. It was the same song she knew through her childhood and into womanhood. Had she been born a man, no doubt she would have carried this legacy on.
Fighting temptation to stop and gawk at the wares, she urged the carriage to pull aside at a small bathhouse so that she could freshen herself and change into a nicer chiton, one that did not have a day of wear on it. Taming her windswept hair as neatly as she could, which given her timeframe was not terribly polished, she rejoined the carriage driver, laying a cloth over the saddle to keep her chiton pristine.
Arriving at the Pesistratos estate, the carriage driver sent word for Lady Iolanthe to be informed of their arrival. The man then began to unload what little she brought with them. Glancing around from atop Eteon, her eyes lighted on the gardens. Magnus told her of Lady Iolanthe's interest in gardening. There was so much more she wanted to know about the noblewoman who showed her such kindness.
It was not long before a stable hand arrived and held Eteon as she dismounted, careful not to let the dust from her gelding's underside brush her clothing. Unable to resist as she waited to be formally received, she wandered over to line of roses near the door of the barony, having never marked them in such a color. The gardens were, as the Lady had promised, a sight to behold.
The impending arrival of her lover's sister had seen Iolanthe scampering about the estate with her servants, making sure that the guest room was in perfect condition and had a bundle of all of the best flowers that could be found on Arcanaes. In all of her preparation she had left Magnus abed, up early to ensure that all was in perfect order. Her maids had dressed her hair briefly, pulling it all back into a loose braid that hung long over her shoulder as she laid out a few of the chitons she had chosen for Leto on the bed.
The young woman was new to the life of court and Magnus had asked for her help to make sure his sister was comfortable and at ease in the life he was introducing her to. So Iolanthe had gone through the fabrics that she had purchased from the vendors in town and had a few fashionable pieces put together as a gift, and together they would go shopping for the appropriate jewels and accessories. Once she was satisfied that they were shown to the best of her ability, she left the room to dress properly for the day and wait for her potential future sister-in-law.
Once she was dressed in a simple sky blue chiton, her feet bare and the rest of her trappings informal, a maid peered in and informed her that the girl was here, several hours earlier than expected. Glad she'd had a chance to at least dress properly, Iolanthe hurried through the halls of the barony until she emerged on the front steps. Leto had, as was her way, already begun exploring and the older woman smiled fondly as the girl took in the sight and scent of the roses.
"My mother planted those, brought them from Eubocris when she came to marry my father."
Stepping down so she was on level with Leto, Iolanthe moved to embrace her before tucking her arm through hers in a familiar manner. She was pleasantly surprised by how her new friend presented herself, the chiton was finely made and looked well on her in spite of the wild curls which Io found endearing on both brother and sister.
"Your brother is still abed, I think perhaps he is taking advantage of not having much work at the moment to rest. But come, how was your trip?"
Leto did not hear Iolanthe approach and was a few shades shy of the word 'startled' when she arrived, bright eyes going wide for the briefest of moments before she softened her expression and stood straight. Dipping into a polite curtsy, Leto smiled, the lines deepening near her eyes and around her lips as she did so.
"They are beautiful, I have never seen any like them before," she noted, glancing back at the flowers that danced gently in the mountain breeze. In that moment of looking away, she found herself once again caught mildly off guard when the noblewoman approached for an embrace. There was the tiniest of pauses before Leto returned the embrace and a soft laugh escaped her made almost entirely of nerves - both of excitement and uncertainty.
Hearing that her brother was still in bed, Leto raised her brows, once again widening her eyes.
"Really?" she started, true disbelief in her voice. Never, both since moving to Midas and in their childhood, was Magnus the kind to lounge in bed. Even if he did, he was usually surrounded by papers of some sort or another. Her justification for it made sense though. In the days leading up to their escape, he managed to tie up more loose ends than she ever thought could exist. Relinquishing her mind to the fact of it and resolving to never let her brother live it down, she inadvertently made a soft 'huh' of acceptance.
"It was stunning. The view of the coastline from the mountainside is breathtaking, you can see for miles over the water as well. We were blessed with fair weather along the ride..." she started, catching herself before she drew too much attention to the fact that she rode in, despite having a carriage sent for her. Clearing her throat a moment, she added quietly, halfway between sheepishly and "It has been some time since I've left Midas...it was nice to see the coastline from a new point of view."
As they walked, arms looped in a familiar fashion, Leto noted a few different things. The first being the height difference between them. While Leto and her brother shared long limbs and excessive height, Lady Iolanthe was blessed in her petite frame and demure features. These features, coupled with the soft color of her chiton reminded Leto of a story she once read, of a flower having come to life to live among men as a test from the gods. It was a silly thought, but if such things were true beyond the stories, she could believe that the Lady Iolanthe could easily blend in with the surrounding gardens as a flower herself, if not careful.
The second was how easy it was to feel familiar with the noblewoman, despite them only having had a few meetings between them before now. Leto often felt nervous speaking with the nobility, particularly as she never knew who she was talking to or if she would say something that might reflect poorly on Magnus. Knowing the circumstances that led to their invitation, as well as the clear direction where this was going by knowing or at least sensing her brother's intentions, Leto felt comfortable around Iolanthe.
"Thank you for your kindness in inviting us here," she added, with a soft smile, "It is easy to forget how nice it is to be away from the city."
"We'll make sure you get a cutting then, to take home with you."
Iolanthe smiled at the appreciation Leto had for the flowers. Many found it silly or tiring the amount of time she spent in the garden tending to her plants, but without children to fill her home and no pets to keep her company she found herself expending that energy on the growing things around her. It would be little trouble to find a cutting and settle it in a pot for her to send off when her lover's sister returned home. Then it could be replanted wherever she chose. Perhaps in the house of her husband whenever she married.
Laughing at the disbelief on the girl's face at the news that her brother was still abed, the petite woman nodded with a shrug. She didn't know how much Magnus had told anyone of their relationship, and he likely didn't want her to tell his sister the reason why they'd been up so late. It was something they would need to discuss at some point since they would be spending their time together.
"Really, I was as shocked as you, but I suppose he deserves the rest. Now, come in I have some surprises for you!"
The lady of the house guided them through the front door, past the pool in the courtyard where fish swam and plants grew over the edge. Winding through the mansion, Iolanthe opened the door to the room she'd put Leto in, the servants following them with her belongings set them aside and vanished quietly as Io bounced over to the bed in an attempt to contain her excitement. Gesturing to the dresses laid out, she was pleased looking between the girl and the gowns that the colors she'd chosen would all compliment her complexion well. There was a deep red, a pale dove grey, and a lavender pink that all needed to be accessorized and paired with varying belts, but they could search for those options together.
"Your brother said you were nervous about spending time with nobles, and I know I always feel best when I have a new dress.." Looking up at her eagerly with a hopeful smile, Iolanthe twisted her hands before her in hopes that she hadn't overstepped her bounds in any way. "What do you think?"
Leto was touched by Lady Iolanthe's immediate offering of a cutting of her family's heirloom roses. It was a sincere and sweet gesture, one that she hoped would reflect on the rest of her stay in Arcanaes. It was difficult for Leto remain objective in this visit, as she had been looking forward not only to getting to know the woman who held her brother's interest keenly, but also in a selfish sense to seek companionship for herself. Beyond a few acquaintances in Midas, she spent most of her days around her parents at the household servants. A trip like this was something to look forward to significantly.
"You are too kind," Leto replied, dipping her head in gratitude, "Mother will be thrilled. She adores flowers of all varieties and always seeks to add more color to our courtyard."
Leto's face could not hide her mild surprise and curiosity at the noblewoman's proclamation of further surprises, but she followed suit into the household. Her bright blue eyes took in every stitch of tapestry and every perfectly laid stone. She could not help but wonder the age of the building, as the stones bore weathering but somehow retained the brightness of their color without fading. No matter where they walked, sunlight seemed to glint off something golden or bejeweled, representing the seat of their barony perfectly.
The young woman's mouth opened to form a soft 'o' as she saw watched Lady Iolanthe cross to the bed where several dressed laid out on display across the bedspread. Round eyes bounced between the dresses, to the noblewoman, and then back as she spoke and it took a moment before Leto's feet managed to move towards the gifts, hands gravitating to the dove gray first.
"Oh, my Lady," she said nearly forgetting the title as she caressed the soft fabric, running her manicured fingers over each dress, "This is...such a kindness. They are beautiful." After a moment, she tried to collect herself and her thoughts, finding more than just elementary descriptors for what lay before her. Straightening, she fidgeted with her hands a moment to keep from simply snatching the dresses up off the bed and cradling them in her arms.
"Thank you, Lady Iolanthe, for your kindness not just now but...each time we have had the pleasure of meeting," Leto stated, trying to make herself sound a bit more polished than her usual, galloping thoughts would allow. Not knowing what else to do or say, after a rather long pause, she dipped into a semi-clumsy curtsy.
By the gods, she hoped Magnus would stay asleep so as not to witness this embarrassing show.
After a week plus of work, on top of a full day of travelling to get to Arcanaes, returning to spend a night in the arms of his lover had been beyond satisfying for Magnus. The man had tried to extricate Iolanthe from cleaning her manor from head to toe the night before, and had continued in ensuring she stayed up late with his ministrations, showing just how much he disliked the distance they've had over the past few days.
He had, however, spent much of his nights over the past few days working late to ensure he could actually afford a few days to travel to Arcanaes. As such, that meant that the usually overworked Master Informer, was in an even greater sleep debt then before, and had not even noticed when his lover had roused and left him alone abed. So deep was he in his sleep, it wasn't till there was a rushed knock on the door of the chambers he had shared with Iolanthe , did Magnus startle awake.
Hastily grabbing a random sheet of cloth from where they had strewn it across the room the night before, the door opened to a scared looking servant who was now presented with a bare-chested Magnus of Chaossis looking tousled from bed. Surprised as the servant was, the young boy escorted by a maid of the estate could only muster up a startled greeting to Magnus, before passing him a note, stating that it had been urgently delivered to Midas, and required Magnus to attend to it post-haste.
Just as Magnus was closing the door however, the maid managed to slip that his sister had arrived, a news that made him widen his eyes in surprise. Had he not slated Leto's arrival to be by carriage? If it went along to his calculations, his sister was not due to arrive till after lunch - and Magnus had intended it to be such. He had hoped to spend some time lounging with Iolanthe in bed... so what was Leto doing here now?
Suddenly pressed for time, he quickly breezed through his morning ablutions, combing wet fingers through his growing locks which would soon require a cut. Dragging on a deep maroon tunic and pants, Magnus's mood further plummeted as he finally read the note - one that came from the Crown Prince himself, which further put a foot in his plans. Magnus had come to speak to Iolanthe on furthering his plans for what she wished for them, but to do so meant he would have to visit her cousin in Eubocris, something which Magnus would now have to be put on hold as the crown prince had just summoned him to Taengea.
Replacing the note on the desk in the room, he dragged on his leather boots, before hot-footing it down the stairwell, questioning on his sister and Iolanthe's exact location, before heading there himself.
Arriving just as Leto seem to stumble across her words, the man hung back a little to observe his sister - and hide his smile. As much as Leto tried, he wished he could see that through her hard work to fit in as part of the court nobilities, it was her decidedly less polished tone that was endearing to most. It was odd, being her brother, really. On the one hand, he wished that her marriage would bring a great future to her, a husband that could protect her more then a simple litigant brother could. But on the other hand, Magnus also wished that whoever she married, would be able to accept who she is without needing to have her behave as a lady at all times.
He still didn't know which one he could reconcile with.
Clearing his throat to make his entrance, his amused gaze flickered to Iolanthe, a low flame in them as if a warning to her for leaving him alone that morning, before the male swapped his attention to his sister. "You're early. Was there a change in plans?" he asked, tone clear for Leto to hear that he suspected his own sister had a hand in her earlier arrival.
Leto's reaction to the flowers and her gift was so sweet, a pure joy and innocence that Iolanthe could never remember having. Her family had not been as happy as it was clear Magnus and Leto's own had been, they were a brother and sister pair that had much in common, and got along well. She and Isidore had never liked one another, and instead of coming to an understanding as they grew older, he had all but sold her to a man considerably older for the chance to earn a few more drachma. Ten years of distance had not helped the siblings reconcile, and when she'd heard of his illness Iolanthe had felt no sadness, only the possibility of relief.
Clapping her hands in delight at the girl's reaction, she moved forward to try to catch her before she stumbled into the curtsy, embracing her instead though the difference in their heights made it feel quite comical. Holding both of Leto's hands in her own, Io beamed up at her and simply looked pleased that she had been able to pull off something that the girl enjoyed.
"Nonsense, I've always wanted a sister. And, as I care very much for your brother, I hope perhaps we might be like sisters ourselves."
As if on cue, Magnus appeared in the doorway, shooting her a glance that said she might very well pay for not waking him when she got out of bed, but she didn't think she would mind very much his idea of a punishment. Instead her smile broadened and she looped her arm through Leto's, bouncing slightly on her toes in excitement.
"Leto rode in early, isn't it wonderful? Now we can all spend more time together."
Her own expression was clearly that of a woman very much pleased with herself, and she gave her hopeful sister-in-law's arm a squeeze before closing the distance between her lover and herself. There was little need in her eyes to hide their relationship, especially here in her own home. In a familiar manner, she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek before looking back at Leto with a spark in her expression and the grin of a cat who'd gotten the cream.
There could not have been more of a contrast between the two women as Iolanthe took Leto's hands into hers, a very familiar gesture between two women who knew so little about one another. The difference in their height was accentuated the closer the noblewoman stood to her, as was the buttery warmth of her skin tone contrasting with the cool paleness of Leto's.
Sisters.
The logic behind the idea was so familiar to her from the moment the prospect of marriage existed between Magnus and Iolanthe, but Leto had no earthly idea what it would be like to have a sister. Even as she grew up in the city of Chaossis, she found herself in the platonic company of other young men her age simply out of her proximity to the weapons their parents created. And of course, she was a sister to Magnus, but that was something entirely separate than this world, it seemed.
Then again, it would seem that Iolanthe would navigate that world of sisterhood together with her, as she had none before this.
On top of this, her admission to caring for Magnus automatically endeared the noblewoman to Leto, though memory of the last conversation she had with Magnus over wine sparked the tiniest bit of concern for Iolanthe's admission. Leto hoped to the gods that what her brother had for Iolanthe was true affection, not simply actions towards his perpetual social climb.
"That would be lovely," Leto said, genuinely, turning partway through the words to see her brother enter the room. It had been some time since she had seen his hair this unkempt, as he was usually polished like a fine gemstone before ever leaving the house. Her smirk could not be hidden. Respite suited him well.
Before she could explain herself, Iolanthe spoke first, revealing that Leto did not arrive by carriage but riding herself. The briefest flicker of concern occurred in her features before Leto's eyes darted to Magnus' face, but that quickly dissolved into an impish grin - after all, Magnus would hardly be surprised at this point. Plus, what's done is done at that point, though she made quick to add, "The carriage is still on its way, though, with some supplementary items for your wardrobe and a few other things as well."
As Iolanthe closed the gap between herself and Magnus, Leto could not help but deepen her smirk and flick an eyebrow up. Her brother was not one to be embarrassed, but it had not been lost on her that he had been very prudent and judicious with what he revealed about his relationship to Lady Iolanthe. The kiss on the cheek and the glint in the young noblewoman's eyes told Leto absolutely everything she needed to know about her brother's relationship and it read on her face, and in the tone of her voice.
"Delightful, lead the way, my Lady," she grinned, taking a quick moment to slip an errant curl to be tucked back behind her ear. The moment the noblewoman's head turned away, she pulled a thoroughly and wholly teasing expression at Magnus in the way only a sister could, relishing in this rare moment where the Master Informer was caught only slightly off-guard.
Surrounded by two females who seem to pay little attention to the fact that he held a very imposing position in court simply made Magnus internally sigh. To anyone else within the Colchian nobility, one would shiver in their boots when Magnus made a call, for oft times his appearance did not bring good news, especially when his job dealt with secrets and stories one usually did not like surfacing for general knowledge.
Yet in the face of Iolanthe and Leto, the two could simply care less about the influence he held, it seems.
Rode in? The annoucement by Iolanthe had Magnus flickering a narrowed eyed stare at Leto. He had arranged a carriage for her, simply because it was unseemly for a woman who would be of noble status soon (if we went by Magnus's calculations) to be seen riding cross country astride a horse. Not that he could do anything at this point, but the elder of the siblings could always try to drive his point home.
Not wanting to ruin Iolanthe's seemingly good mood however, he simply let the comment slide, and nodded dubiously when Leto mentioned on where the carriage was. Of course, his attention was quickly taken up when Iolanthe sashayed over to press a kiss to his cheek before he could even say anything. The dark-haired male darted his eyes at Leto, hoping with a thin sliver that she would not have caught that.
But who was he trying to kid. There was a good reason why Leto was his sister. She was every bit as observant as he was, and had she been his brother insteadof a sister, Magnus had no doubt Leto would have made great leaps and bounds in a career of her own, yet her gender at birth greatly reduced her opportunities.
Catching her eye and knowing the glint that nothing would slip past Leto, he allowed Iolanthe to walk forward in leading the way, and scowled when Leto grinned in a way that could be nothing but teasing. While he was looking forward to some time spent with his lover and sister before he proceeded to tell them the bad news, it did not change the fact that teasing between sibling simply made Magnus want to roll his eyes, a reaction that only Leto could ever bring out of him, before following after them to where Iolanthe had prepared breakfast.
Trailing after them just a step or two behind whilst they headed to the area in the garden where the servants buzzed to lay out the breakfast spread, Magnus brooded over how exactly should he break the news to Iolanthe even as the servants ushered them to their seats, and only when they were served, did he finally ask in a manner as casual as he could manage, "What do you have planned for my errant sister over the next few days, Iolanthe? Consider me a curious man."
With a clap of her hands, Iolanthe simply grinned between the two siblings before sweeping the way out to the garden, slipping her arm once again through Leto's as they walked through the manor, pointing out various rooms and flowers that were of interest until they reached the veranda. Arcanaes was set in the mountains, and as such they had managed to create a terraced garden with the manor at the peak and a view of the village below. There were stands of trees and vines, olives and grapes grew though they didn't produce as much of their own produce, and flowers bloomed over walls and trellises that welcomed birds that sang throughout.
Turning to catch their expressions, Iolanthe gestured for Leto to sit at one place of the round table that was piled high with fruits, cheeses, breads, and meats. There was yogurt and honey and of course a bundle of fresh cut flowers next to which sat a carafe of wine. She had insisted that everything be picture perfect for her guests, her hopeful new family. If things went well now, perhaps Magnus would agree to marry her, something she had asked for already. He had given a nonchalant round about answer, but she was determined to get it out of him.
"Come, sit, eat."
Iolanthe waited until Magnus and Leto took their seats, boldly choosing to forego her own chair and instead draping herself over the arm of her lover's. Perhaps she ought to have been more subtle, but she was with family as far as she was concerned, and she wanted Leto to see how much she cared for her brother. Perhaps that would help him get over whatever block was in place that kept him from speaking to her cousin. Ruffling a hand through his hair, she reached for a glass of wine and lifted it in a toast.
"To your visit, I'm so glad you can finally see my home, and I hope you will come to think of it as your home as well."
She took a drink before settling even closer into Magnus' side, content for one of the few times in her life that she was among people who cared and had her best interests at heart.