- Chapter 3 -

That afternoon, an exquisite carriage rattled through the streets of Freeport, the banner of the royal house of The Sapphire Cluster fluttering behind it. In made four stops in the Market Quarter, collecting Sshraada at The Phantasia, then picking up the dancers from their homes.

This gave Raven her first chance to see Skylla's town-house, although mansion would have been a more accurate description. It was a sprawling two storey structure of brilliant white stone, with balconies, graceful columns at the entrance and fountains gurgling in the distance.

"That's what you get for being First Girl at The Phantasia", said Ashyra as Skylla, in a long white gown, emerged from the doorway, a servant following close behind with the dancer's luggage, and began her almost regal procession to the carriage. "Drasheel and his father can be very generous."

"So I see", remarked Raven. She tried to seem unimpressed, but didn't know how sincere or sarcastic she sounded to the others. The snake-woman looked somewhat displeased - as far as the dancer could tell, based on her experience of Naagians - but no words were exchanged, and by the time Skylla climbed aboard the matter looked to have been forgotten.

With Skylla safely installed next to Sshraada, and Raven, Ashyra and Chal'Shi crammed together on the seats opposite, the carriage set off on the last stage of its journey through Freeport. Chal'Shi was already so excited she could barely contain herself, but no-one else was radiating emotions Raven could casually sense - until now.

Raven tapped the back of Ashyra's hand, a signal they had agreed upon to indicate that Raven was prepared to communicate telepathically, if Ashyra wished. ***What's the matter?***, the black-haired girl asked when she felt the elfin dancer's mind open to her.

***I'm scared***, whimpered Ashyra, psychically a shadow of her usual self. ***I - I haven't been on a ship since...since...***

Her brother, thought Raven. She wished she knew more about the circumstances surrounding Ashyra's loss, so that she could calm her friend's fears and not say anything foolish or hurtful. All she could do was take hold of the girl's hand and grasp it firmly, comfortingly.

***You're not alone***, said Raven. ***Share your fear with me, if it will help. Performing for royalty can only be good for you. Your brother - he wouldn't want you to ruin this chance because of what happened to him...***

Raven didn't know why she had said that, or what she had meant about "sharing fear", but either Ashyra or something inside herself did. The empath felt a brief rush of terror flooding across the psychic link, but rather than try and hold it back, she let it in, "swallowing" it down like unpalatable medicine. The sensation made her shudder, and brought beads of sweat up on the palms of her hands, but thereafter the only emotions within her were her own.

***I didn't know you could do that***, said Ashyra, sounding only anxious instead of distressed and panicky.

***Neither did I***, confided Raven. ***Neither did I...***

**You are just too full of surprises, girl**, responded the elfin dancer. ***We're gonna have to...***

"Don't think I don't know what you're capable of, Ashyra", Skylla snapped abruptly. "I don't like you two chattering away in secret!"

"Ashyra was afraid", Raven answered sternly. "I wanted to know if I could help. To our surprise, I could."

"Drasheel allows you girls too much freedom, and it shows", Skylla continued haughtily. "I am different, as you will soon find. For the duration of this excursion, I am The Phantasia, and you all answer to me."

"So you'd rather I spoke my mind, instead of speaking with it?", asked Ashyra, her usual spirits apparently rekindled.

"Yes."

Ashyra smiled impishly. "You're an arrogant, self-obsessed bitch who's quickly getting intoxicated by the power she's been temporarily granted."

Skylla glared hatefully at the girl, but Ashyra was unbowed. She sat back, smugly triumphant, and never again showed any apprehension about going to the Prince's ship or sailing amongst the same stars that had taken her brother from her.

Servants in white shirts, white tights and sapphire blue velvet waistcoats scurried down the walkway like ants to collect the dancers' gear as the carriage came to a halt at the end of the dock where the Prince's ship was moored, but none of the dancers even realised the Prince's staff were there. They were completely spellbound by the sheer size and golden grandeur of the vessel, which seemed even more vast now that it was just feet away.

The chaos around the carriage subsided as Roskaat appeared at the top of the gang-plank, one look from him sufficient to instil order in the swarm of servants, sending them hurrying to line up to one side with their burdens. There was one servant for each bag - one each to tend to Raven, Ashyra and Chal'Shi, and five to see to Skylla's baggage.

Stepping onto the quayside, Roskaat nodded to one young servant, and the boy marched up to open the carriage door. Sshraada exited first, ignoring the boy's offer of a helping hand, and carefully scanned the scene with narrowed eyes and a scent-sensitive tongue before nodding to Skylla. The First Dancer gladly, albeit silently, accepted the servant's help as she climbed down, and was the picture of self-importance as she strode, head held high, to where Roskaat was waiting.

Once the girls had all joined Skylla, Roskaat spoke to them as a group. "His Highness awaits you on board", he told them. "Please, follow me..."

Skylla stationed herself at the Royal Aide's side. "I do not follow", she declared, and extended a hand in a most lady-like fashion. Roskaat half-frowned, raising one eyebrow, then brought up an open hand to support hers, whilst not actually taking hold of it.

For all her attempts to appear regal, Skylla could not prevent herself from succumbing to the splendour inside the royal vessel. A high-vaulted chamber welcomed her, blue and gold columns rising from the deck to support the arched ceiling, and between which hung banner after banner, bearing the colours of the kingdom. You could fit the whole of the building The Phantasia is built under in here, and have plenty to spare, thought raven as she stepped across the threshold.

"Oh - oh wow!", exclaimed Chal'Shi, following Raven aboard. "This is incredible..."

Skylla whirled round, eyes blazing as they focussed a stern gaze on the outspoken girl. Chal'Shi cowered, expecting the full measure of the First Dancer's wrath - but someone else spoke first.

"Please, milady - do not scold your companion. For so many who board my ship, the view is quite simply ordinary. It is a pleasant change to hear someone voice such an enthusiastic opinion."

A gentle male voice, unusually soft, drew the attention of all to one side. From the shade of the columns and banners stepped a slender young man with dark, straight knee-length hair and a beautiful olive-skinned face, two handmaidens in long night-sky-blue dresses gliding along behind him.

"Your Highness", said Roskaat reverently, bowing deeply. "May I present the ladies from The Phantasia...?"

"Such beauty outshines all my gold and jewels", said the Prince. "Welcome, one and all."

Each girl was presented in turn, with Skylla first of all. The First Dancer's haughty facade cracked noticeably as she was introduced, much to Raven and Ashyra's, and even Chal'Shi managed to maintain more of her composure in the Prince's presence.

"And where are you from?", the Prince asked when it was Raven's turn.

"I - I don't know", she replied. "I was found by a ship..."

"Aaah, I see", he said as she struggled to find the right words. "I must give thanks to Lord Serpentine for bringing you to His realm, and allowing me the pleasure of meeting you."

The Prince took Raven's hand, and kissed it lightly. Skylla glared again, for she had not received such personal attention, and Raven hardly needed empathic abilities to feel the First Dancer's displeasure.

Raven found their host positively charming and gentlemanly, but she could not think of anything other than what the Prince wore - a blue satin shirt, a black velvet waistcoat and matching short pants...and exquisite black leather thigh-length boots with high, slim feminine heels.

***He must shop at the same places as Drasheel***, Raven "said" to Ashyra as the Prince moved to greet Sshraada, the last in line.

***If anything, it's the other way round***, replied Ashyra. ***The Prince is what Drasheel would like to be. Wishful thinking, if you ask me.***

The sound of his high heels echoing ahead of the dancers', the Prince took his guests on a brief tour of his vessel, all of which was constructed around a central chamber where the Prince entertained either guests or himself. Surrounded by loosely draped silken curtains, the chamber was like a small amphitheatre, with ample supplies of cushions on all the low steps surrounding a low circular stage.

"You will perform for His Highness here", announced Roskaat, reclaiming the task that was clearly usually his.

"You are aware that there are things we do not do for anyone", said Skylla, following Roskaat's example and reasserting herself. "Not even for a Prince."

"I will ask nothing of you that you would not normally do at The Phantasia", the Prince assured them all.

"Then I'm sure we can accommodate your wishes, Your Highness", said the First Dancer, curtsying.

It lasted for less than a second, but Raven did not miss it - a scarlet flicker of wickedness as Skylla entertained vengeful thoughts. The Phantasia's latest recruit did not have to be psychic to know who was most likely to be on the receiving end of the First Dancer's vengeance. twice this day, Ashyra had crossed the line, and plans were now plainly underway of her punishment.

"Don't worry", said Ashyra when Raven revealed her concerns about Skylla's intentions, in the privacy of Ashyra's lavish quarters. "She can hardly kill me, not with the Royal Guard and Sshraada around."

"Skylla doesn't seem like the type to take your antics lightly", Raven said cautiously. "Don't take her lightly in return..."

"Ah, don't be such a killjoy!", the elfin girl exclaimed. "Just look at all this!"

Raven had to admit that their quarters were something to marvel at. She doubted there was anything so luxurious at Skylla's mansion - beds large enough for four, satin sheets, silk draperies, ornately crafted columns and furnishings in the rarest of woods, with handles and fittings of pure gold...everywhere she looked, there was something that cried out opulence, sheer opulence...

"Our surroundings have changed, but Skylla has not", she warned her friend.

The elfin girl sat on her bed, glanced briefly at the toes of her boots - the left white, the right black - then looked over to raven. "Anyone else said that, I'd think they were over-reacting", she said. "You're differently. Don't worry, I'll look out for myself."

It was at that very moment that a sharp, startling sound cut through the air, muffled only slightly by the thickness of Ashyra's bedroom door. It made both dancers jump, and Ashyra paled noticeably.

"Uh oh...", murmured the girl. "She brought that..."

Raven and Ashyra stepped out into the hall shared by all the dancers' rooms, and backed away almost immediately as something whistled past them, only a few feet from their faces. At the centre of the chamber stood Skylla, decked out in well-worn dark red leather, swinging a single-tailed scarlet whip above her head.

It was a strikng scene, Skylla wielding her weapon with considerable skill and her ever-present dancer's grace, but the centre of attention rapidly shifted to the other end of the chamber, and a trembling Chal'Shi.

The girl stood bolt upright, rooted to the spot as though paralysed as Skylla cracked the whip within inches of her face and body. Raven and Ashyra could see no sign that the weapon had actually struck the girl, but Chal'Shi was plainly terrified.

"Leave her alone, Skylla!", cried Ashyra. "It's me you want!"

"Yes, you're right", repsonded the First Dancer icily. "But not just yet..."

The whip's eight feet of braided leather dropped limpl;y to the floor. "I'm done for now" Skylla said to Chal'Shi. "You can go."

Chal'Shi remained where she was, frozen by terror, for a few moments more, then hurried back to her room, banging the door shut behind her. Skylla then truned to the other dancers, coiling her whip as she did so.

"His Highness expects us for dinner after we set sail", she declared. "Get ready - and do not embarrass me again...either of you."

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