- Chapter 8 -

Korlassan, the next stop on the royal tour, was something of an oddity in Lord Serpentine's realm, for it was one of very few "worlds" to have a large expanse of open water. Pooling at the centre of the space-island, the water created a picturesque lake, and sandy beaches had been created around it, turning what was otherwise just another trading port into a haven of relaxation. It was far more than that for Chal'Shi, however - to her, Korlassan was home.

The girl went to visit her family whilst the other dancers enjoyed themselves, once more at the Prince's expense, on the beach and in the shops along the shore. Ashyra was too excited about Raven's encounter with Fayreen to fully appreciate the experience, however, and for the last day and a half, since Raven revealed her meeting with the Ershalin, the Shaelin girl could talk about little else.

"Please change the subject, Ashyra", moaned Skylla, about ready to bury her head in the sand. "I understand how special all this is for you, but do we really have to hear about it night and day without end?"

"But you can't truly understand, chirped the lively elfin girl. "It was just like the old stories..."

Growling like an angry panther, Skylla got up, grabbed Ashyra, slung the infuriating girl over her shoulder and marched down to the water, where she unecermoniously dumped the annoying dancer with a satisfying splash.

The dancers were enjoying extra privileges that day, because the Prince had something special planned for that evening. He was visiting the High Sherrif of Korlassan, law-maker and effectively the ruler of the little space-island, and a banquet to honour them both was planned, with the Phantasia girls and Yasil providing the entertainment.

Most of the girls were looking forward to the performance. Raven was not, for she was going to be dancing with the half-Shr'Ganti.

Eventually, the dancers tired of the beach, and Raven was presented with the opportunity to seek solace in shopping. For Ashyra, that was a cure-all, but Raven did not feel such a strong attachment to possessions, and the effect on her was rather limited.

Raven tried to strengthen herself by remembering Fayreen's advice - "Embrace this world, in all its diverse wantonness" - but it was far easier for someone else to say that than for the girl to actually do it.

One by one, Korlassan's unusually intense artificial suns vanished beyond the horizon until only one was left, its crimson light just creeping up over the edge of the world in a final, desperate bid to hold back the night. That was the signal for the festivities in the courtyard of the High Sherrif's palace to begin.

The city's highest and finest were in attendance - nobles, merchants, traders, city officials and whoever was wealthy enough to move in the right circles - all gathered under a spider's web of golden cord, which supported an infinity of brilliant, many-coloured light-globes. A band played rousing festive songs on harps, lutes and flutes, and servants milled to and fro amongst the low banquet tables, bringing dish after dish of fine fare to the guests.

Skylla took Raven to one side just before the First Dancer was due to go onstage with Ashyra and Chal'Shi. "Do not let wild stories about the Shr'Ganti, true or false, taint your performance", advised Skylla. "Think of Yasil as anything but a half-breed, and things will go better.

"Do not let The Phantasia down, Raven. The high and wealthy are watching..."

Raven stayed at the side of the stage to watch the others. The performance was rather subdued, with some stroking and writhing, but next to no clothing came off, and the remaining Phantasia girl put it down to the nature of the crowd. What's good for revellers at Freeport isn't necessarily ideal for a more sophisticated audience, she thought.

It did not take long for Raven's mind to turn to what lay ahead for her. After lunch, she had met with Yasil at the royal yacht's little amphitheatre, and they had gone through the planned routine just once. The half-Shr'Ganti had said little, acknowledging Raven's efforts when the girl did well, and offering choice words of correction when they were needed, but Yasil hardly needed to utter a sound to inspire awe, if not outright fear...

Yasil's presence was enough to strike an uncomfortable chord in Raven's being, and the girl's heart fluttered in her chest as the giantess approached. Without word or warning, Yasil pushed back Raven's satin dressing gown and unzipped the girl's white synthetic leather bodysuit, almost to the crotch. "You dance naked", announced the half-Shr'Ganti. "His Highness felt a more…restrained performance was more appropriate. I feel otherwise."

"His Highness will not object to your overriding his wishes?", queried Raven, slithering out of her close-fitting costume.

"He trusts my judgement in such matters", Yasil answered. "If anything is likely to cause offence, it will be the presence of a Shr'Ganti half-breed. No matter what we are wearing - or not wearing, in this case - the fact of my heritage is inescapable, and beyond anyone's power to change."

Skylla and the other girls were coming to the end of their routine, and Raven started to get ready, shrugging off her dressing gown and pulling up her long white gloves and thigh-high boots. The gloves were brand new, and made of the softest, most supple leather she had ever come across, and at Ashyra's recommendation, she had bought three pairs - one for casual wear, one for dancing, and one spare. Who knows when you'll get another chance to buy a pair?, the Shaelin girl had said. The first rule of serious shopping is "If you want it, grab it - or someone else will"…

Skylla, Ashyra and Chal'Shi swept past as they left the stage, the First Dancer murmuring "Good - boring, but good…" as she headed for the tent that served as the girls' dressing room.

"So much for the Pleasure Planet", giggled Ashyra. "That bunch must be about the only people in all of Korlassan who can't appreciate a good time."

"Visitors get to have fun - residents don't", revealed Chal'Shi. "Why do you think I left for Freeport?"

Briefly, the band fell silent, before going into a more lusty, urgent piece. Raven took her cue, just as Yasil had said, dashing out onto the stage, crossing to the far front corner in short steps. She "fell" just short of the edge of the stage, her ankle-length hair spilling forward over her body, hiding her from view.

Yasil strode onto the stage, naked but for her black and white, ribbon-laced boots, playing the "hunter" to Raven's "prey". The girl had known from the start that the half-Shr'Ganti was going to enjoy this performance, but how much was another matter entirely. Sshraada was on hand, at stage left, ready to act if the giantess's predatory instincts got out of hand. Skylla had survived intense encounters with the Prince's special companion, but that was no guarantee…

The half-breed picked Raven up like a rag-doll, and the girl responded as though terrified, trying to push the giantess away. Yasil threw her head back, as though laughing, and proceeded to run her long pointed tongue from the top of Raven's left boot, across her bare body, then up between her breasts and along the right side of the dancer's neck.

"I look forward to repeating this in private", whispered Yasil, her words strangely audible over the music. "We can improvise some interesting steps…"

The idea chilled Raven to the bone, but the dance gave her no time to reply. Just as they had rehearsed, she slid down, out of Yasil's grasp, and tried to run, but the half-breed stopped her by grabbing a handful of Raven's hair. The move was expertly timed, Raven stopping just before her hair became taut, then jerking backward and sprawling onto the stage, making it look as though the half-Shr'Ganti had pulled her off her feet. Fearful gasps rose from the audience, and Raven could feel their anxiety and concern - as well as Yasil's self-satisfied delight.

As she so often did, Raven allowed that part of her that thrived when she danced to take control, guiding her through the steps and judging the timing to perfection. Her conscious mind devoted itself to polishing the performance, making the most of each step and movement, entertaining and exciting the audience as Yasil toyed with her "captive", as a cat would toy with a cornered mouse.

There was another side to her, however, one she rarely admitted existed. As her smooth black hair slid across her naked skin and sweat crept down inside her thigh-length boots, Raven felt exhilarated, almost to the point of sexual excitement. Dancing made her feel more alive than anything else she had ever done, and the more she surrendered herself to the dance, the more intense the pleasure she derived from it. Is…is this what Fayreen meant?, she wondered. Is this what I have to embrace to learn who I truly am…?

The music approached a climax. Raven prepared herself for the final move, in which Yasil would lift her up at arms' length, almost - but not quite - throwing her partner into the air. When that moment came, however, Yasil employed far more force than she had demonstrated at rehearsal…

Raven forced her teeth together, caging a squeal of alarm, as the half-Shr'Ganti hurled her dancing partner high into the air, sending her up easily twenty feet. The girl went limp as she reached the apex of her ascent, and started to come down - she hoped Yasil would catch her, and that the half-breed would be gentle, but nothing was certain where the giantess was concerned.

If Yasil wanted, she could easily tilt her head forward, and let Raven be impaled on that one curved ivory horn…

Her magnificent hair falling around both of them, Raven landed safely in Yasil's arms, just as the music came to an end. The audience clapped and cheered heartily, but again Raven could hear the half-Shr'Ganti's whispers. It was just as it had been on that first night, when Raven had tried to read Yasil's emotions, and suddenly found that all she could see or hear clearly was the giantess…

"Oh, I am far from finished with you, little bird", purred Yasil and, hidden from public view by Raven's hair, kissed the girl fully on the lips. The Phantasia dancer felt the giantess's tongue trying to force past her lips, but she managed to resist the unwelcome invasion.

***Hey, girl-friend! That was incredible!***, Raven heard Ashyra's mind-voice say. Sweeping her hair out of the way, she looked towards stage right, and saw that all her companions were there, applauding with the crowd. Even Skylla appeared impressed, but the First Dancer could wear any expression and make it believable, no matter what her true feelings were.

Raven could have read Skylla's emotions, and determined the truth, but her first concern was to get out of Yasil's clutches. The performance had been a thrilling experience, but the Phantasia dancer wanted to get as far away from the Prince's companion as possible, especially if what she had seen in her dream-encounter with Fayreen had actually occurred.

Barajek, helmsman of The Firehawk, had never seen his captain so intensely focussed on any prize, and he was wary of approaching her as she stood at the bow of the ship, just within its atmospheric bubble, gazing out at the blurred stars ahead. He, like the rest of the crew, had profitted greatly from every venture they had undertaken under the command of Ikurlahaen The Viper, but he had his doubts. To go against royalty was surely madness…

"Captain…?", he mumbled meekly. "Captain - the royal yacht is reported to be moored at Korlassan. If they stay in port until local day-break, we'll be within striking range within a day."

The pirate woman did not turn, giving her helmsman only her back, her smooth, knee-length white hair and her long shiny black boots to look at. "They slipped away at Fort G'Taran, but they'll not flee from me again. Step up the shunting coils another quarter, Mister Barajek - there's no way a pleasure cruiser, even the pride of the Sapphire Fleet, can outrun us."

Barajek felt someone had to say something, and he felt more comfortable with the idea of dying on his captain's sword than being slowly tortured and mutilated by the Sherrifs of the Sapphire Cluster. "M-may I speak freely, milady?", he stuttered, keeping his eyes trained on the deck, just short of Ikurlahaen's silver boot-heels.

"You think we're plotting a course for our own demise, eh, Barajek?", she replied.

"Aye, milady. The royal yacht may be a nobleman's ship, rather than a fighting vessel, but there will be plenty of royal guardsmen on board…and word has it that the Prince has a Shr'Ganti woman by his side at all times…"

"Half-Shr'Ganti", interrupted Ikurlahaen. "Her name is Yasil."

"It…it's suicide to attack the Royal Yacht!", spluttered the helmsman. "Even if we escape, we'll be hunted by the whole Sapphire Fleet…!"

"All is well in hand, as you - and all the others who doubt me - will soon see", said the pirate woman, glancing over her shoulder at the stocky human. Her skin was a pale, almost icy blue, and her eyes glittered like liquid gold. "If the Prince's a good - and sensible - little boy, he'll hide, and stay out of the way. Problem solved.

"And in any case, I have ways of making sure there are no complications. For instance - I already knew where the Royal Yacht was, long before you brought me the news."

Barajek's eyes widened, making him appear quite comical. "There is a spy on the ship?"

Ikurlahaen nodded. "There is. A spy who will make sure that the way to our true objective is kept clear."

"The Court of The Sapphire Cluster are most thorough…", the helmsman began, but Ikurlahaen focussed a frosty look upon him that left the words still-born in his throat.

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