The girl shuffled onto the stage looking like one of a hundred cattle going into market. Kitty eyed her small space to perform, whilst around her competed other travellers and their shows, all vying for the crowd's attention. The night was young and still light, but the distant setting of the sun highlighted the time. I sucked in a breath, noting the sunset.

Fabian's not back yet.

Sakura flanked my side, her hand on the dagger at her hip. Although we tried to remain inconspicuous by not carrying weapons, my loyal friend would not have me at any risk of danger. And out in the open, on the plains beneath the craggy rock and the towering prison, was the fairground.

Here, the lower classes and middle classes spent their time entertaining and eating and gambling, whilst the upper class quarters were thoroughly guarded. Occasionally, the best performers from the fairground were invited into the Northern Sector of Ruby, the carefully crafted homes of the rich and famous. Rumours across the fairground said that there had been several poor gypsies, swept off their feet into the upper class realms and given wealth and land for their performances. Others said they'd married a besotted rich follower. The remaining rumours stated that they'd never been seen again, regardless.

So Kitty seemed understandably nervous for her first performance, which was to be the last one of our makeshift  gypsy show.

The twins had gone on first, performing odd magic tricks and cracking lonely one-liners. Whilst their act had been decent, very few people paid attention. Next, Jak performed with his usual astonishing violin melodies, his blond hair shaking as he played with angst. His piece, however, was swallowed by a loud saxophone player performing a skit, and being chased around the stage by a tuba. Needless to say, Jak came storming off the stage.

Valkyrie had volunteered for a role. She sang a sweet song, and her voice wasn't half bad. As she sang, Kirsten joined in the music, playing a small flute that played a trill of notes like birdsong. Whilst I enjoyed their performance, it wasn't enough to grab attention. I eyed Kirsten, dressed in a costume that showed all across her belly, and hung a skirt at her hips.

She looked good, and I hated that I was jealous of it.

Perhaps I wouldn't be so irritated by her lack of clothing if she hadn't chronically gotten in the way of me spending time with Fabian. Then again, I had fervently denied any feelings towards him before, and I still wasn't admitting them now.

Perhaps I am not irritated by her open and honest feelings, but from lack of my own initiative and courage.

Damn having a conscience.

I was grateful when Sakura started up a conversation.

'We started our performances late today,' she remarked as the stage, a few feet of wooden boards on steel boxes, was cleared. 'Tomorrow we might need longer performances. Do you have anyone in mind? I can shoot, but nobody wants to watch that.'

I snorted. 'And I can steal. But people don't tend to just sit back and watch as I rob them.'

The two of us shared grins.

'It doesn't matter what performances we put on,' I muttered, eying the dark shadow of the prison far above us. Birds circled, high above.

Sakura nodded, but so small that I caught it only because I was watching for her reply.

We had to maintain our cover, that was all. After arriving in the city only a few hours ago, Fabian had left straight away to make contact with his allies here in the city. Where that was, I had no idea. He still hadn't returned, and he should have been back by now. The rest of us had to set up like everything was normal; as though we were a normal occurrence.

If Amethyst had been described as a poor city, then Ruby stood at the opposite end of the spectrum. In a twist of irony, the two were placed next to one another in location, but appeared like mismatched twins.

To our dismay, the border was also much more regulated into Ruby. Whereas the previous guards had simply scanned our caravans, the Ruby controls were designed to find even the smallest anomaly. Our alibis were checked, and our caravans searched; from beneath bed sheets to jewellery, nothing escaped the keen eye of the Ruby guards.

Nothing except our whole plan, of course. It was with restrained glee that we all pretended to be occupied amongst ourselves as we passed through the checkpoints, and were allowed entry into the city.

And what a city it was. A thousand red-slate houses lined grand plazas, centred around sculptures and fountains. Each house was several floors, and consisted of large, airy windows with little blue shutters, and ivy growing along the walls. Public buildings were numerous and equally as impressive; the library was a circular dome on a marble plinth, and the town hall surrounded by pillars and stone statues.

But as soon as we entered the richer part of the district, we had to leave it. The Northern Quarter of Ruby was beautiful, but limited to those who could afford it. Gypsies were not intended to stay amongst the clean slate tiles of the town; they were designated in the slums at the furthermost corners. Beyond the eyesight of the rich, the slums of Ruby consisted of miles of homelessness, shanty towns and chaos. We parked our caravans near to a group of settlers, and for the first night, we set up a stage amongst the others and begun to mix.

Trina and Guthrie had been sent as scouts, to get a good idea of our whereabouts and any clues to how we were going to get into the prison. They had since returned, and had taken to drinking in the stall nearby. Roan hovered among them, stone cold sober- probably. I couldn't really tell if he was a statue or human half the time, let alone inebriated.

Lav took it upon herself to palm read everyone with a small coin for change, but in reality, I knew she was reading far more tan lines on a person's hands. Lav saw which customers were happy and loyal, and who wanted change within this city.

Kaelan remained by Val's side, and the two were forming a strange pair that I wasn't certain I could allow, given Val's technical age. However I figured at I had some time before Val felt confident enough to start touching people, especially suitors, without leaving them cold.

And that left Arl, who was bartering for food, Iggy, who was consuming more than saving the food, and Clae, who was helping our performers get ready.

I sighed. Everything was running smoothly, but I needed Fabian to return.

Kitty stepped up. Her brown hair was cast into a neat bun, and her big brown eyes scanned the crowd in fear. Her mother was one of the few nearby, watching with narrowed eyes of the same colour as her daughter's.

Kitty wore a simple black leotard and pointe shoes. Flowing ribbons of silk were attached to her fingers, dancing in the air before she'd even moved. For a moment, she stood awkward on the stage, before heaving a pole up there next to her.

By now, a few people had stopped to look in interest at what the girl was doing. Jak began to play at the back of the stage, a similar low tune to before. Kitty took one last look at her mother, and the people, before her gaze unfocused, and she began to dance.

I recognised the strict discipline of her ballet; each arm movement as pure as the silk swirling from her fingers, but each muscle straining in effort. She turned and jumped, the stage seeming far to small for her energy. Her cheeks were brighter, and her face had lost all uncertainty. Each step she took was a perfect freeze frame, and although she might have missed out technical parts, her dance had soul.

By now, a small crowd had gathered, myself included.

Without warning, Jak's violin began to beat faster, and Kitty turned on her point shoes. The strings scratched and screamed as he threw the bow across it, and Kitty stopped with gentle ballet, and leaped instead at the pole.

The girl curled and stretched on the pole, holding her body weight in her arms like she weighed nothing. She spun, and as she spun the satin caused a mist around her as if she weaved a magic spell. The violin melody rose, strong and fierce, like the positions Kitty had to pull; upside down, sideways, using every muscle her body owned.

By the time the music finished, sweat poured across the girl's head and she set herself down, blinking as though her word had just come back into focus.

A huge crowd cheered and Kitty's face flushed so red her head threatened to burst. I whooped an clapped along with everyone else, but I could see her mother turn and walk away as Kitty bowed to the crowd.

'Great performance, right? Blew ours out of the water.'

Kirsten had appeared by my shoulder, distracting me from Kitty's mother. In that momentary swap, I lost sight of her in the crowd; more people had gathered, and were screaming for Kitty to do an encore.

'It was fantastic,' I agreed.

A few seconds of silence followed, drowned by the rowdiness of the people around us.

'I've been looking to speak to you, Lumina.'

I paused, breathing deeply. 'I know.'

The silence was only lengthened by my reluctance to engage in conversation.

Lord knows I'm not a people person. This is exactly why.

Finally, I gave in.

'Look, if this is about Fabian...' I sucked in a breath. '...He's a great friend, an ally.'

'Is that all? Because I like him, and he's going to take some winning to get over you.'

'Get over me?' I repeated, feeling as though all voices in my ears were vanishing except Kirsten's.

Kirsten shrugged. 'It's obvious he adores you. But you told me you didn't feel the same way...and I did. So I've been trying to lead him away, but somehow your actions don't match with what you told me. What should I do, Lumina?'

My mouth went dry. 'You- like- him? Fabian?'

'Yes,' Kirsten said, 'It's not a difficult concept. I feel attraction towards him.'

She stepped closer to me, her eyes burning into my own. I hated the confidence there, as though she knew how to read my own feelings.

'Are you attracted to him, Lumina?'

All I could do was stare hopelessly at her, unable to make a sound.

'Tell me. If you do, I'll back off. If you don't, we can stop playing with his heart.'

A surge of power, and confidence, tingled along my spine. I was a princess, not a quivering girl.

'I will not answer to an interrogation, Kirsten. Fabian's heart is his own, regardless of our own quarrels, and it's his decision, not ours, on who has a place in his heart.'

The cold frost in my voice was evident. As I took a step towards her, she leaned away.

'Feelings are not so easy, Kirsten. If you had any, you would realise that it's not such a simple flip of a coin.'

Kirsten's expression dropped in shock. Seething, but also terrified of what I'd just said, I strode past her into the crowd. Kitty had begun to dance again, but my heart was too busy hammering against my ribcage for me take much notice. Sakura tried to follow, but I waved her away apologetically, desperate to be alone.

Emerging beyond the stage, I saw our caravans as a haven of peace. Alone, I took deep gasps of air, afraid that I'd said something out of turn. What if Kirsten wanted to continue the argument? What if this ruined our plan?

What do I do now?

A figure emerged from the flurry of dancing and socialising, huddled in a warm traveller's cloak and with a hood pulled over to hide his face. Even with his silver hair dyed to hide it, and his face unshaven, my heart jumped to see Fabian striding towards me.

I rushed at him.

'You're alive!' I cried, embracing him gratefully. When I pulled away, he stared at me with a slanted smile.

'Wow, you thought I was dead and this is your search attempt?'

'Nope,' I said sarcastically, 'this is your funeral, everyone's here to celebrate!'

We both laughed, Fabian shaking so much his hood fell down. He wore a dirty flat cap, and the smudges reached his cheeks. I wiped them away with my thumbs, tiptoeing to reach him.

He grabbed my wrist, swaying slightly.

'Lumina,' he said in an odd voice. I realised he was trying to sound solemn and sincere, and it made me want to snigger.

'Are you drunk?' I asked, smelling ethanol on his cloak. It would certainly explain the sway.

'Maybe...a little,' he replied, and flashed me a dazzling grin. 'Don't go getting any ideas, now.'

I glared at him. 'I'm more wondering why you're drinking, when the rest of us are working!'

Fabian still had hold my wrist. He lifted it, staring curiously at my arm as though he'd discovered a delicate new insect.

'Fabian!'

'Oh- yes- well, I had to be undercover in a pub...and the locals get mighty suspicious of anyone that don't have a drink.'

'That's awful!'

'Perhaps,' Fabian agreed, 'Although it helps you get information faster.'

His hand moved along my arm, until my hand rested upon his body. Suddenly, we were very close.

I stiffened.

My heart was pounding.

'So,' I said, my voice high-pitched. 'I hope you bring news.'

I hoped he had remembered it.

Fabian's grin turned sly. He leaned in, so his breath was hot and pulsing on my earlobe.

My heart did a pirouette to rival Kitty's, and went into overdrive as he whispered the next sentence right into my ear.

'I've found our allies.'

---

A/N: DANCING!!! I absolutely loveeee ballet, and did it for many years as a hobby (not having the amazing skill needed to do it professionally). I combined it with pole dancing, a sport I admire. Both require so much skill, patience, perseverance and practice...

Hats off (Fabian flat caps) to all the ballerinas, pole dancers and other types of dancers out there. This chapter's dedicated you!

So, what do you think of Ruby, Kirsten's confrontation and the mysterious lies?

lots of loooooove,

Larissa xxxx