Masters of the Game (Sutherland Book 4)

XXXV | Ten Days Later

The night was cold, the quiet of the forest interrupted by the arrival of the carriage that carried Ruby to the dock. With not much of a word, her fate set, two Soldiers led her to a schooner.

Sinhold. She had heard many things about it. Since they were children, they were told to fear it, and they did. Her legs were surprisingly steady as they climbed up the steps to the schooner. The Soldiers were quiet, so was the vessel.

They kept her down in the cargo hold, chained to the wall. She prayed, for that's all she could do. She thought of her parents, how they chose faith over their love, and wondered why they even bothered. Would it save her now? She asked the God she was taught to believe what to hope for. Eternal peace and salvation? But what if she did not want those? What if she wanted to be free of the chains and see this through? What if she wanted to live the life she could have if she escaped this? Would it be wrong to ask for those instead?

A tear rolled down her cheek as she felt the schooner glide away from the dock. She waited and listened. Footsteps upstairs, orders from one Soldier to another, and more footsteps. It could have been hours of that, or it might have been an eternity. It felt like the latter. And as the sound of the vessel against water and wind became too familiar, they faded into the back of her mind and her thoughts took over once again. She had not done enough. She should have tried harder. Fear... if only she had less of it. If only she were brave enough to do more.

Her thoughts circled back to her parents and Sheridan. The life she wanted, and the things she wanted to try. And that's when the body of a Soldier rolled down the steps, landing right beside her.

*****

Wrapped in her green cloak, Gabrielle jumped behind one Soldier, wrapped an arm around the woman's neck, and squeezed. The Soldier struggled until she slowly went limp. Not dead, but unconscious. Without a sound, she tied the Soldier and dropped her down toward the cargo deck before proceeding to the other side of the schooner, only to be met by two other Royals.

"There's nothing here," said one of them.

Gabrielle looked up at where Ellise St. Vincent was steering the schooner. Looking over her shoulder toward the direction of the other two schooners that were following them, both of which now under control of the Royals, Ellise St. Vincent stilled, as if a thought came to her. As she looked back down at Gabrielle, looking a little less sure, Gabrielle knew what the woman was thinking. This was too easy. Ellise then ordered, "Check below."

Gabrielle walked down the steps to the cargo hold and found Ruby inside, wide eyed and close to panic. This schooner was supposed to be filled with more Soldiers because it was supposed to carry the High Priestess to Islefield. She went down on one knee and looked at Ruby. "Ruby, where's Arielle?" she asked.

One Royal landed at the bottom of the stairs at the same time as Ruby shook her head in confusion. Gabrielle looked over her shoulder at the Royal. He cursed and whirled on his heels. Stalking up the steps, he shouted, "It's a trap!"

Hearing the words from below, Ellise stiffened and looked ahead into the darkness, then to both sides.

Flaming arrows.

*****

Esther was looking at her from across the room, face filled with suspicion. Brow furrowed, lips pursed, and arms crossed over her chest, the princess stared at her up and down. "If you ever do something I don't like, you can say goodbye to that hole."

Leila tightened the knot of the grey cloak around her shoulders and murmured, "Just hope that I'll return."

"Where are you going this time?"