Esther was baffled. Why would the child sleep at a time like this?

The gong persisted in her ears to a point of irritation, but if it meant that Belcourt had been breached, hopefully by the Vandenbergs or the Royals, she would consider the bloody sound as the most beautiful music composed by man.

"We should be getting ready to leave," she said, her voice just a whisper because she was still afraid that the Soldiers outside the doors could hear them.

But Leila remained unmoving.

Esther scoffed. She had given up.

She looked around and let out a shaky sigh.

And then she heard it. A very small sound. A soft screech.

She whirled around, heart to her throat.

Her eyes widened.

He was hanging from somewhere on the roof, swinging in front of the window with the most stupid grin on his face.

"Now, I know how you feel about windows, but we really don't have a choice," Leo whispered, reaching for the window frame to steady himself. "But I promise you, princess, this will be the last."

*****

Ruby tried her best to not shake in fear, but there was something in the air that made her flesh tremble. Fire and ashes and heat. The schooner was slowly being eaten, the floorboards crackling, seemingly laughing at their fate.

Earlier, they were forced to surrender. Ellise did it first. There was no point in hiding in the lower deck when it was clear that their only escape was to climb up the stairs and jump into the waters.

She was amongst heroes, not suicidal idiots.

But it felt like suicide. To surrender to the Soldiers who disposed them of their weapons and tied their hands before them, to be led up on the deck in a line, ordered to stop to watch the first boat from the ship not far away row toward them.

She stood between Ellise St. Vincent and Gabrielle. The two Royals were bound behind them, silent but alert. Ruby did not know why they had to stay in this burning schooner. There were others surrounding this one, all of them also filled with Soldiers. But it looked like they had to wait for the boat first.

She could not see further into the darkness of the ocean, could not tell if there were other boats. But as the first one approached and the silhouettes caught the light of the burning schooner, she was certain that there were more of them.

In front of the boat was another Soldier.

Nora, she thought. She was familiar with the woman, had encountered her in the Tea House numerous times. The proud Soldier with chocolate brown skin. That's how she always described the woman. Because Nora was indeed proud. Perhaps the proudest of all. And she also knew that she outranked Gabrielle.

There was little knowledge of how the power dynamic worked within the Court of Arms. All Ruby knew was that they had ranks. And she knew that whoever held the highest rank in the room was the person in authority.

Behind Nora stood Robert Dior and Rider Fairborne. Ruby lost sight of them as they drew nearer to the burning schooner, but she could clearly hear Robert's voice when he said, "Let's make an exchange."

Paulina, the leader of the Soldiers, stepped forward, her black hair blowing back, reflecting the fire in places as it moved. "And why would we do that?"

"Because we have twenty more Soldiers waiting to go home," Rider Fairborne's voice replied.

Ruby's eyes skittered to the other Soldiers on the schooner. They did not make obvious motions, but they did move. Or rather—stiffened.

"We were wondering where our missing Soldiers were," said Paulina. "But I think our Soldiers will understand if we choose to sacrifice them."

"Choosing over twenty-one Soldiers over three Royals and two women from Belcourt?"

"Traitors. Traitors of Belcourt."

There was a pause from below. And then, Robert said, "Then I'm afraid my Royals will also understand if we do the same. If you are not too blind, I believe you can see the canons of the ship all pointing at this schooner and the others around it. And I tell you, Soldier, that the captain is quite too eager to give out the order."

One Soldier stepped forward and whispered something to Paulina. Then they both looked ahead to see another boat approaching them, this one carrying four more bound Soldiers.

"If they concede to giving back the Royals," Gabrielle whispered to Ruby, "but they will kill us."

Ruby shivered.

"Prepare to die or prepare to survive," Ellise murmured under her breath.

"Nevertheless, you have to go," Gabrielle said, eyes moving down to where Ellise's hand rested on her abdomen. It took a moment for Ruby to realize what Gabrielle meant.

Ellise did not reply. Her eyes scanned the surrounding. "The two of you have to escape. Do you know how to swim?" She asked Ruby.

Ruby nodded, although she was not certain if she would be able to do that. She was bound and her dress was not particularly light.

Before she could ask Gabrielle how they would escape, Paulina spoke, saying, "We accept your offer. But first, we want the four Soldiers."

Ruby frowned. "Why not Nora?"

Gabrielle scoffed and shook her head, as if she understood something only a Soldier would. "Because Nora outranks her."

When the second boat finally reached the schooner and two Soldiers approached Ellise to take her away, the woman hurriedly said to Ruby, "Jump. Whatever happens, Ruby, Jump."

Ruby's heart thundered against her chest, climbed up her throat. She swallowed, hearing her own heartbeats in her ears. She gave Gabrielle a sideway glance. The woman looked utterly calm.

One Soldier was hauled up to the schooner and hastily unbound. The Soldiers took the other two Royals. One of them finally looked at Ruby and Gabrielle and Ruby wished he did not. It was as if he was saying sorry.

Her eyes welled with tears as the reality of the situation sank in. Of course, everyone would save their own in times like this. And she and Gabrielle was no one's someone tonight. They were traitors. They were supposed to be punished.

"Now, we want the two women," she heard Robert's distant order. "And we'll hand over the rest."

Through her tears, Ruby saw another boat approach.

"They are Belcourt property," Paulina said.

Ruby shuddered at the word. Never had she thought herself to be someone's property. She was her own person. She was Ruby.

"Then should we remind you that you are standing on a burning schooner with canons pointing directly at you, my lady?" Rider Fairborne asked.

Paulina talked in whispers with another Soldier, stealing Gabrielle and Ruby a look, as if they she was haggling with a vendor over an item that should be sold for close to nothing.

"If they take us close to the deck," Gabrielle murmured under her breath, "take a long breath and jump."

"But—"

"Very well," Paulina intoned. "Hand over Nora."

"Don't think. Don't hesitate. Just jump and stay underwater," Gabrielle said to Ruby.

"They will hand us over. They have no choice. They all have to abandon this schooner as fast as we should. The canons will—"

"She will never let us live," Gabrielle hissed.

"Who?"

Gabrielle looked ahead. Nora finally emerged and landed on the schooner. "Her."

The woman's skin was almost the same shade as the fire. And her eyes were of the same color as they landed on Ruby, then on Gabrielle.

Two Soldiers pushed them closer to the deck. Ruby's legs almost gave in, but she urged on, stumbling at her feet because she had to survive this. Her mother was waiting for her. Her father. And Sheridan. She promised she'd be back. And if she had to swim her way toward them, she would.

Many times, she had thought of doing brave things every time she imagined being caught. She imagined herself escaping with her wit and charms. She even imagined holding a weapon to defend herself. And each time, she came out victorious. But it was different when she was actually living the imagination. The bravery seemed farce, if not distant. She could not even feel angry for being weak or scared. She was just scared.

Paulina met Gabrielle with a smile. "I'm sorry that things have to come to this, Gabrielle. I've always admired your talents. You chose the wrong side."

"Arielle is not our High Priestess," Gabrielle said. "She's using us all for her own selfish goals."

"Of what? Siding with the French? And which side do you think will help Belcourt? The king? The Circus? Reginald? They're all working together to destroy our home, Gabrielle. Arielle was right. They would do anything to remain or regain their power. They just didn't realize we're a few steps ahead."

Ruby frowned in confusion. Gabrielle, however, was slowly realizing everything.

"We knew you went through the notes, Gabrielle. Have you forgotten that Soldiers are everywhere, hiding in the shadows? We were there in Islefield when you were handed over to your family. We were there when you sneaked out and went through the notes."

"The French are not in Islefield."

Paulina did not reply. She just shook her head and said, "I'll let you go tonight because the lives of those Soldiers you left behind in that ship months ago is important to us. But be careful out there, Gabrielle. You're only useful to them until you're not. And when that happens, you'll have no one and you'll regret it the moment we catch up with you and deliver your just punishment."

Then Paulina turned away and said to Robert Dior that she wants the rest of the Soldiers delivered to the nearest schooner.

"Once we receive Gabrielle and Ruby safely."

Ruby heard Gabrielle take a deep breath as the Soldiers holding them urged them forward. A few paces away, Nora was being unbound by one Soldier, her eyes following Ruby and Gabrielle.

It happened in a flash.

In the haze of fire and smoke and green cloaks, Ruby did not see that Nora had grabbed Paulina's sword and lunged to attack. Then she heard Gabrielle shout, "Jump!" before she realized the woman had unsheathed the sword of the Soldier holding her, turned around just in time to block Nora's attack.

"Ruby, Jump!" Gabrielle repeated as she kicked Nora.

Without thinking, without looking back, Ruby jumped for her life.

*****

"Row!" Robert shouted Ruby fell and disappeared into the water, followed by Gabrielle who dove perfectly head-first.

He looked up and saw Nora being tackled down by her fellow Soldiers. "Move aside, Paulina!" Nora ordered, pushing the leader of the Soldiers away. "Or you'll answer to the High Priestess!"

"Nora—"

But Nora ignored her, assuming authority by shouting at the archers positioned above the deck. "Shoot!"

Ruby finally emerged from the water, gasping for air. Robert made a move to jump and rescue, knowing she was bound, but Ellise already dove in. "Bloody tarnation!" he shouted as he joined Rider to one side of the boat to force it to capsize. They jumped into the water and swam under the boat, holding on to the edges to keep it afloat, all the while using it to shield themselves from the onslaught of arrows from the burning schooner.

Rider let out an ear-piercing whistle and not long after, a canon was fired. As it landed on the burning schooner and all the Soldiers it carried, Robert shouted for Ellise before the blast caused a strong ripple, which propelled them away. And also threw into the surface the bodies from underneath. One of them was Ellise, who swam toward the boat, one arm hitching a lifeless body.

Rider had let go and swam toward Gabrielle who was struggling to keep her head above water.

The Soldiers who made the jump before the canon landed were also fighting for their lives, swimming toward the nearest and safest schooner, which was quite far. Soon, two more boats arrived, on guard with weapons to take care of any attack. Another approached them and hauled them up one by one. Rider was first, then Gabrielle who had an arrow sticking through her right shoulder blade. Then Ellise with Ruby, who had three arrows stuck on her back.

"Bloody hell," Robert cursed under his breath as he waited for his turn.

Looking over his shoulder, he watched the Soldiers struggle to reach another schooner. There was nothing but fire on water and lives angrily scrambling in the dark ocean. Arms helped him up and his eyes immediately searched for Ellise. She was holding Ruby upright because they could not possibly pull out the arrows. It would merely cause more bleeding. In one look, he told the things he wanted to say. She risked her life again, but he would not talk about it. They entered this mess knowing they were courting death.

As the boat rowed back to the ship, Robert scrambled to his knees in front of Ruby. Behind her, Rider was urging Gabrielle to stay awake.

"Ruby," he said, taking her hands. They were cold, but not because they were wet. "Ruby, stay awake."

She blinked her heavy lids at him. Her face was white as the moonlight. She attempted a smile, but failed. "Robert," she shakily whispered. "Are they safe?"

He nodded. "They're together. They're waiting for you."

This time, she managed the strength to offer a grateful smile. "I'm not a very good swimmer."

"You did great."

"Did I?"

He clenched his jaw and nodded. "More than you know it."

She breathed shakily, coughed, swallowed, and winced. "They're waiting for me."

"Yes," he said, looking up at Ellise.

The reality dawned on them before they were even willing to admit it. They failed tonight. Arielle was not here. She was never ever going to Islefield.

"I don't think I can make it, Robert," Ruby said in a word barely a whisper. He tightened his hands around her. All the while, guilt consumed him. He should have taken her with them. He should have not listened to her. He should have just risked it.

"Yes, you can," he said, although he could sense that Ellise disagreed with him. In her mind, she must be thinking he was giving the woman false hopes. But that's the difference between them. He would rather lie to give Ruby a reason to fight. He looked ahead and realized the captured Soldiers were being hauled back onto the ship. And they were near. They were almost there. "We have someone who can help in that ship. You will be all right."

Ruby shook her head and swallowed. Blood seeped through the corner of her lips. "You need to go back to Belcourt, Robert," she said. "Save them. Please."

"I will. Once you're safe."

"I'm safe now..." Her voice faltered as she looked around her. "This is my Sinhold."

"No," Ellise stonily said. "There is no Sinhold. Not for you or for any woman of Belcourt."

Ruby just smiled. "Tell my mother and Sherry I'm sorry," she said. "For making them wait."

He shook his head. "Ruby..."

Her head lolled forward and he caught her.

Her last breath brushed against his neck.

And then nothing.