Masters of the Game (Sutherland Book 4)

X | Children

Crossing the sea was not as she had expected.

Chaotic and chilly, the wind was not to Leila's liking. That she had to travel with Ellise St. Vincent merely made the journey to Herst uninviting. The woman regarded her knowingly, as if she knew her secrets. There was not a gentle soul in the woman. Ellise St. Vincent did not respect her at all.

She remembered Albert's words. He said people outside Belcourt always saw children as frail, easily manipulated. She relayed the same thing to the woman on the deck with the other passengers as they approached the island of Herst. Not far away was Robert Dior, giving instructions to his footmen. "You have very little regard to children," she added to her first statement.

"I do not think children are frail, child," Ellise said with a scoff, looking down at her as if she was thinking just that. "They are cunning and intelligent. But also full of fantasies."

Leila gritted her teeth. Her eyes flickered away from Ellise St. Vincent. "Then you have not seen enough of Belcourt's children."

"There are other children far wiser than you. You are not the only one." The woman shrugged. "I know I was when I was your age." She looked ahead at the island.

Her lips curled just slightly, the tension between them so new to her. She had never felt so challenged by anyone. Even Albert respected her, cared for her like she was family. This woman would soon realize what she was capable of. She would regret ever putting her in the same basket as other children outside Belcourt. "If you are so wise, you would not be here with me," she said. "If you truly believe I'm deceiving Robert Dior, you would not have shown yourself to me."

Ellise did not answer for a long time. But the woman was only waiting for Leila to spare her a glance. "Because you may be a threat?"

"Yes." She looked away. "You do not know what I'm capable of."

Ellise scoffed. "You are a child." Turning to look down at her once again, the woman tilted her head to the side. "Smart as you may be, child, you have much to learn."

"I believe I was taught well by my mentor."

The woman looked at her, and there it was again...the knowing, mocking smile. "Then why are you outside? If you are telling the truth, how did you get dethroned?"

She just scoffed. This woman did not know what she was talking about. Fool.

Ellise sighed, an amused one. No... it was reproachful. Condemning. Then she said, "One thing your mentor should have taught you first is that leaders do not go out and put themselves in danger. You keep yourself safe because that's how your subjects survive. You are a useless leader if you are defeated in battle. Why do you think the pawns are placed in front of everyone else?"

"You are saying I am a pawn."

Ellise shook her head. "The people who put so much trust in you should have known better. They should have not planted fantasies in your head."

"They never did," she gritted out.

The woman broke into a smile. "Pride, child, shall be your downfall."

Her nostrils flared. This woman could drive her to a different height of anger, but Leila reminded herself to be calm. "But I am no longer High Priestess."

"As you say," the woman replied in a bored tone. They stood side by side, their hair floating in the wind, hers a mass of straw sheet; Ellise's a tail of brown ribbon flipping with the waves. "Do you know what children do?" Ellise asked, stealing a glance. "They play. They learn and dream. What you do is dream, child. That you have power. But in fact, you are in a game where you are the pawn. Someone is making you play and you do not even realize it." Turning to leave, Ellise added, "Someone gave you a toy and you willingly accepted. You may be telling the truth. You may not. Either way, you made the first wrong move."