Ace of Diamonds, The

~**~

  The Ace of Diamonds

  The Terra Saga | Book Two

  © 2002 By Nona Mae King

  Inspired by the characters Setzer Gabbiani, Maria,

  and other characters from

  Final Fantasy VI © SquareEnix

  Cover art by Ramona Lockwood of Romance Novel Center

  Fantasy:

  To Save A Soul

  Romance:

  My Fair Princess

  Searching for Sara

  Fan-Fiction:

  Bookworms and Booya (series)

  Few Words

  The Reluctant Knight

  In Theory

  A Rose By Any Other Name

  Terra (series)

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the site and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  ~**~

  Glossary of Characters:

  Setzer Gabbiani-- a gambler who owns the Blackjack, the only known airship in the world. He is tricked into kidnapping Celes Chere instead of Maria, the opera diva, who then coerces him into a losing bet, the result of which is his joining the rebels and committing his airship to their service.

  Maria--an opera diva contracted at the Opera House and previously romantically involved with Setzer Gabbiani.

  Relm Arrowny-- a spunky and sharp-tongued eleven-year-old artist from the village of Thamasa. She is the granddaughter of Strago, who has raised her since the death of her mother. Her father disappeared when she was a baby.

  Terra Branford-- the daughter of a human and a magic creature known as an "esper". Mentally enslaved by the Empire, they exploited her magic powers until she was rescued by rebels. She later vowed to make the world safe for children.

  Edgar Roni Figaro--As King of Figaro, he maintains an alliance with the Empire, but secretly provided aid to a rebel group seeking the liberation of conquered city-states. He fancies himself a ladies' man, earning a reputation as a die-hard womanizer.

  Locke Cole-- a thief who prefers the title "treasure hunter". He bears a personal vendetta against the Empire for assaulting his hometown and killing his first love. He is the rebel who freed Terra from the Empire.

  Celes Chere-- a former general of the Empire genetically enhanced into a Magitek Knight. Rescued by Locke before her impending execution over protesting the poisoning of Doma Castle. She and Locke are tentatively engaged.

  Sabin Rene Figaro-- the younger twin brother of King Edgar who trained under a world-famous martial arts master. He joined the cause against the Empire.

  Shadow-- a mysterious and cynical assassin/mercenary always accompanied by his faithful attack dog.

  Cyan Garamonde-- a retainer to the king of Doma, a nation at war with the Empire. He joins the rebels after the Empire poisons their water supply, killing everyone in the castle, including his wife and child.

  ~**~

  Author's Note: The following is a work of Fan-Fiction based on the world and characters from the video game Final Fantasy VI by Square-Enix. Additional information about the game and characters can be found at Wikipedia.

  The Ace of Diamonds

  Terra Saga #2

  Part I

  1: The Greater Adventure

  The chair creaked as Setzer Gabbiani, captain of the Falcon, adjusted his position. He was bored; never a desirable position for an adventure-loving gambler such as Setzer. It happened all too often now that the world had drifted back to a somewhat regular state of normal. Setzer smirked as he looked around the Albrook pub. The girls hawked their wares alongside the overrated and overpriced drinks that tasted like century-old piss from a black dragon. Yes. A somewhat regular state of normal wasn’t very exciting.

  Setzer gave a half-shrug and shuffled his deck of cards one-handed as his eyes focused on a love-struck couple in the back part of the pub. The young man had ‘popped the question’, to his lover’s wild delight, and she’d given him the appropriate response. Setzer chuckled and drew out the Queen of Hearts. He stared down at it with an odd expression, stroking the edge a moment before hiding it back within the deck.

  Giving the deck an absent shuffle, he raised his gaze to observe the hesitantly happy faces dispersed throughout the pub. Setzer only recognized a few in the crowd, and that only vaguely. None likely recognized him. Setzer’s face twisted in a wry smile as he lowered his focus back to his cards. The savior of their planet forgotten like a spent gambler.

  “Can you believe that?”

  Setzer lifted his gaze with an accompanying raised eyebrow. A woman sat across from him and leaned back in the chair to bring both long legs up onto the table with a clunk, clunk.

  She wore dark brown, leather boots that crested the top of her knees, enhancing her symmetry and grace. Her dark blue trousers fit perfectly against flat abdomen and curve of hip and buttock alike. Crossed arms over a somewhat thin blouse revealed a generous rounding of breast, and her well-kempt uniform coat of dark blue and crimson with tassels and braid-work of silver actually intensified the rebellious and intriguing air of her beauty. Slightly darkened skin from years in the sun; flashing eyes from years of adventure; long blue-black hair falling in tumbled waves around glowing cheeks raving of impetuousness and untamed passion. She dressed the part of a captain, and she also exuded the mystery and power of the life she’d led. A life of command.

  Setzer smiled his most charming, keeping his eyes ready to meet hers. “Excuse me?”

  The mystery woman lifted a hand long enough to send a mocking yet graceful wave toward the love struck duo in the corner. “Love. What could those kids know of love when they haven’t lived life on the edge. They haven’t stared death in the face and laughed. They haven’t lost it all and had to find it again.”

  The woman wrinkled her nose before finally bringing flashing eyes to meet Setzer’s of silver. Hers were an intriguing shade of aquamarine with black flecks.

  “All these little nothings gathering to tell stories of how they’ve had such a hard life and made it through,” she continued. “‘Boo hoo hoo’ they’ll all cry as they pat each other on the back and say King Edgar’ll take away their problems now that Kefka’s dead.”

  Much to his surprise and secret delight, she spat a good six feet to her right.

  “Makes me sick to the stomach,” she scoffed. A loud laugh sounded from the other side of the room, drawing her focus and those intriguing eyes.

  “Then why have you come here?” Setzer asked between card shuffles.

  She turned her head to catch Setzer’s gaze. Several locks of bluish-black escaped to the partially unbuttoned neckline of her silken blouse. “Bored as hell.”

  Setzer’s eyes twinkled. “It seems we suffer the same fate.” He guided his focus from her face and gestured to the crowds engrossed in their own views of ‘adventure’. “Perhaps we’ve both come in order to assure ourselves that our lives of adventure and risk are worth the effort, rather than becoming attached to a life of rigor and . . . normalcy.”

  “Dragon piss,” she exclaimed, and Setzer noted the different harmonies of personality and adventure tickling within her voice. “Normalcy,” she continued in a sneer. “It’s a lie. Something for people like them.”

  “I agree,” Setzer said simply.

  Her eyes zeroed in on his face . . . and then his shoulders and chest beneath his shirt with the top lacing undone--his captain’s jacket carefully hung on the back of the chair--before drifting ever so slowly down the length of his legs, t
hat were also upon the table, and finally back up his frame. Setzer continued to absently shuffle his cards.

  “Now why is it I haven’t seen you around sooner?” she asked in a tone of mild interest.

  Setzer held her gaze. “I’ve been around.”

  “Then why haven’t I ever seen you?” she pressed again. “I’d like to think I’m a popular girl.” Her eyes made another adventurous trip of his physique. “And I’d definitely notice you.”

  Setzer smiled slightly. “I could say much the same for you.”

  Perfect white teeth flashed as her smile brightened the aquamarine to the color of the deepest ocean on a summer day. “Tongue as forked as a demon,” she said, her tone filled with laughter. Then she uncrossed her arms and brought her feet down from the table in a fluidity of movement and grace that added to her alluring persona. She stuck out a hand. “Marée.”

  Setzer brought his feet and legs also down from the table and accepted her hand, pressing his palm against hers. “Setzer. Gabbiani.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Marée sent him a flash of a mischievous smirk. “I don’t see why I told you my name. I probably won’t ever see you again, and it’s such a drag when you click with a gent that’s just going to disappear the next morning.”

  Setzer nodded, the faint smile lingering in his eyes as he continued to hold her warm grasp. “Too true. I suppose that’s what comes from having so many intriguing adventures.”

  Marée retrieved her hand, allowing a slight linger. “Adventure’s only what we make of it.” Then she crossed her arms with a deliberate action and leaned back in her chair, again bringing her legs up onto the table. Each movement was sultry and feminine. “This little discussion we’re having could be quite the adventure I’m thinking.”

  Setzer echoed her posture, nonchalant, and his tough hide boots occasionally touching the soles of hers. “How long are you in port?”

  Marée rocked slightly onto the back legs of the chair. “‘Til I’m loaded again. Usually takes half a day. If I’m in a good mood, I let the boys have the other half to themselves.” Her eyes twinkled as she jerked her head enough to toss a rebellious portion of hair behind her shoulder. “I can sometimes use one myself.”

  Setzer released a soft chuckle as he moved his eyes to his cards. He palmed the Ace of Diamonds. “Ah distractions. Makes life a bit more interesting, doesn’t it?”

  “Interesting? Hell no. Makes it more damn fun.”

  And Setzer felt the intensity of her gauging look.

  “So... Where’re you staying?” she asked. “Anyplace different you’d recommend to a fellow, finicky sea captain?”

  This time Setzer lifted his eyes to meet her gaze; interest and invitation fairly glowed. “I generally remain on my ship,” he responded easily. “More privacy and less likelihood of being a victim of thievery.”

  One side of her full rosy lips tilted in a slight smirk that laughed in her eyes. “I’d love to take a gander at this ship of yours.” Another chorus of laughter erupted from the far side of the room, this one poisoned with an empty flutter of brainless twittering. Marée’s eyes darkened with irritation as she sharply focused on them. “Blasted Landers,” she hissed. “Laugh at anything that tickles their flat existence with a single spark.”

  “At least now they’ve cause to laugh,” Setzer responded.

  Marée scoffed, adjusting her crossed arms as she brought her gaze back to Setzer’s face. “Philosophical nonsense.”

  “No,” he countered, “it’s a statement of fact.” Setzer palmed the Joker to toss it onto the table. He gestured to it. “Take the wild card from the deck and you even the odds.”

  Marée stared at the card in thoughtful silence as she tapped her upper arm with graceful movements of her fingers. Finally, she reached out and took up the card, staring down at it for another instant before raising her eyes to meet his. She caressed her jaw with the edge of the card before saying, “Gods. Can’t argue with that, can I?”

  “The cards never lie,” Setzer responded with a slight smile.

  She pointed at him with the Joker card. “But they can be persuaded pretty damn easily.”

  Setzer chuckled. “Upon occasion, but only when what I want is on the other side of the hand I hold.”

  Marée arched an eyebrow. Then she pulled her legs down from the table and stood with languid grace. “Walk me to my ship, captain?” She tucked the Joker into a section of her blouse beyond his view.

  “Bored?” Setzer asked. He held her gaze as he continued to shuffle his cards.

  Marée crossed her arms yet again, striking a seductive pose of command and assurance. “No. Just curious,” and her expression twinkled.

  “Ah.” Setzer lowered his gaze to the cards as his hands paused shuffling. He took the top card, flipping it so that only he could see. Ace of Diamonds. He slipped it back into the deck and set it on the table as he stood and slipped into his jacket. When he looked up, Marée was busy in yet another perusal of his form with a quirky smile.

  “Nice,” she said simply.

  Slipping the cards into an inner pocket of his jacket, Setzer allowed another slight smile. When his eyes again met hers, Setzer gestured to the door. Marée moved toward it, and Setzer noticed that each portion of her body moved with as much fluidity and grace as ever imagined in the workings of a woman. It left him shaking his head with wonder as he followed.

  Setzer closed the door of the pub behind them and followed her down the stairs to the brick walk below. Then he motioned to the left. “If you’d care for a tour of my ship, I have it anchored just outside of town.”

  Intrigue brightened her expression. “Then I definitely want to get on board.”

  Setzer guided her the first step with a gentle touch on her elbow. Then he lowered his arm to his side and silently walked beside her. The night breeze felt pleasantly cool and continued to tickle his senses with her intriguingly unique aroma. A combination of musk and flowers. A pleasantly inviting scent of adventure and femininity combined.

  “What do you call her?” Marée asked.

  “The Falcon.”

  “Glorious.” Her gaze examined his profile. “How fast she go?”

  Setzer chuckled. “Fast enough.”

  “Gods! I’d love a turn at the wheel.”

  “Something might be arranged.” Her persona fairly exuded expectancy and excitement. Setzer found it both exhilarating and entrancing. “Steering an air vessel is much different than a sea vessel, of course.”

  “Of course. If it’d been just the same I’d have been as mad as hell. I want to wrestle with the beaut before having my way with her.”

  “At times the winds are still the mistress that controls the man,” he warned, chuckling.

  Marée sent him an intense look. “You don’t say.”

  They exited the town with long strides, quickly erasing the distance between Albrook and the Falcon. Then the moonlight struck her metal silhouette, halting Marée’s steps forward. She whistled long and low before looking over at Setzer. Setzer kept his appreciative gaze on his ship . . . Daryl’s ship.

  “She’s a beaut, captain. A damned awesome wonder to see.”

  “Yes. She is.”

  Marée’s gaze moved again to the ship. She crossed her arms. “Damn, damn, damn, I wish I had a ship like her.”

  Moving his smiling expression to her profile, Setzer motioned forward. “Shall I give you the tour?”

  Marée met his gaze. “Hell yeah.”

  The two moved forward. Setzer opened the door and ushered her aboard, nodding a greeting to the two men who had that evening’s watch. Setzer then guided Marée through the room and secured the door behind them.

  He gestured to the large room with the couches and billiard tables. “This is where I generally entertain guests and friends. The entry to the engine room is there, and my private office is there. The entry to the flight deck is ahead.”

  “Well I’ll be a virgin mermaid.” Marée moved her wide-e
yed gaze from corner to corner. “It’s like I stepped into the center of a damned castle.”

  Setzer’s lips tilted upward in a smile as he ushered her forward to the stairs leading to the flight deck. Marée ascended them with quickness and ease, immediately making her way to the side. She looked down to the grass and town lights below. “Gods!” was all she voiced.

  Setzer moved toward her. “The controls are this way,” he offered.

  Marée straightened from the railing and moved the direction he gestured. Her agile movements overflowed with eagerness. “Please tell me you’re going to start her up.”

  “I believe I can be persuaded.”

  Marée sent a bright smile over her shoulder before she hurried her step to the wheel and stood to one side, waiting for Setzer to arrive. He stepped up to the wheel and pressed the appropriate controls. The engine roared to life and Marée’s eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head.

  “Gods, that sounds good.” She shifted her gaze to her feet. “I can feel the engine clear through my bones.” Then Marée lifted her head and tilted it back, raising her arms out to each side as she closed her eyes and relished the feel of the wind around her and the vibration of the engine through her body.

  Setzer leaned against the wheel as he watched the full and complete experience of his ship. He smiled broader as he felt the attraction grow. Only Daryl and Terra had fully appreciated the wind and the seduction it brought to the soul of those who loved to fly. In fact, Setzer had grown closer to Terra only since that one moment after the defeat of Kefka when she’d freed her hair to allow the complete and utter experience. He had felt then that she understood him.

  Marée voiced a slight growl in the deepest part of her chest as she gave a body-wide shiver. Then she lowered her arms and slowly brought her head up. She met Setzer’s gaze, and her lips tilted upward with a slight smile as she moved to stand in front of him. Leaning against the wheel, she reached out a finger to coil one of the laces of Setzer’s shirtfront around her finger. “I don’t suppose . . . ?”

  Setzer stepped from the wheel and motioned to it without a word. Her eyes flashed with eagerness as she took his place, resting her hands on the wheel as Setzer reached for the throttle.

  Setzer eased it forward. “Keep your hold steady and firm,” he said as he came to stand close behind her. “She’ll fight you, believe me. Don’t be afraid to fight back.”

  Marée’s lips parted as the Falcon moved forward into the wind. “Gods!” she exclaimed.

  Chuckling, Setzer pushed the throttle forward slightly more. The Falcon dove ahead, and Marée laughed. It had been a long time since he’d seen a woman at the wheel of the Falcon. Too long . . . Setzer took in a slow breath of the wind and the aroma of her perfume. It felt good to see one there again.

  Reaching up and resting his hands on Marée’s, Setzer helped her guide the Falcon over the mountains surrounding Zozo. Then he pushed the throttle the remaining way forward, lowering the Falcon over the still water of the ocean to create a spray of white wetness along behind them.

  Marée pulled back on the wheel, causing the Falcon to soar upwards toward the stars. Setzer eased the ascent only slightly, weaving the ship from side to side through the low hanging clouds and racing through the sky like a great bird.

  Setzer and Marée’s commands on the helm of the Falcon moved as one until Marée’s control drifted to nothing. Instead, she leaned back against Setzer; her head tilted backward and her eyes closed. Then she turned in the circle of his arms, lifting hers to encircle his neck and draw his lips to hers. While surprised at the sudden invitation, Setzer didn’t pull from her touch. Instead, he reached out to pull back on the throttle, slowing the Falcon.

  Marée’s kiss deepened, her hands submerging into the thickness of his white hair as his lips responded to hers. Then her body moved slightly against his and Setzer pulled back, his hands holding her face and fingers submersed deep into her thick tresses.

  “What?” Marée queried in a low whisper. “Don’t stop, Setzer. This ship. The wind.” She moved closer. “You . . . Don’t stop.”

  Setzer stepped slightly back as his lips twitched with his smile. “I’m a distraction that will have to wait, captain.”

  “Come on now,” Marée purred. She teased his mouth with hers. “Aren’t you a little curious?”

  Setzer stroked her cheeks. “I’d prefer not to become a bore the first evening.”

  Marée kissed his lips slowly once, twice, three times. “I won’t be back for a while, Setzer,” she whispered against his lips. “The wind can be cold, and memories are better than wishes.”

  Chuckling, Setzer lifted his head from the warmth of her mouth, resting his hands on the curves of her hips. “Yes, but as there are but few ports for a sea captain, I believe I have a good chance of another meeting.”

  Marée’s aquamarine gaze never left his. “Odds are good, are they?”

  Setzer lowered his head for another taste. “Most definitely.”

  Once he’d pulled back, Marée’s eyes heightened their twinkle of permission. “I’m a sore loser, you know. I don’t like the word ‘no’.”

  “Consider it a ‘not yet’.”

  Marée’s pressed her lips against his again, doing her best to coax what she wanted. Setzer took hold of her arms and pushed gently away.

  Her eyes sparked. “I might not be so open to adventure next time we meet, captain.” Marée yanked her hands from his grip and straightened her coat and blouse. “Like I said, I don’t like the word ‘no’.”

  Donning his most charming smile in an attempt to soothe her temper, Setzer reminded, “A ‘not yet’, Mar e. Only a ‘not yet’.”

  “Same damn thing.”

  “‘No’ isn’t nearly as much fun.” Then Setzer turned for the controls to push the throttle forward, guiding the Falcon back toward Albrook. He felt her intense eyes on him, and moments later she had positioned herself between him and the wheel of the ship, again resting her hands on top of his.

  Marée leaned against him as she had before, this time entwining her fingers with his as they guided the Falcon together.

  Setzer smiled. “Marée, expectation and discovery is always the greater adventure.”

  Turning her head, she met his lips in a lingering promise of something more. When she pulled back, she held his gaze. “Alright, captain,” she said in a sultry whisper, “we’ll play it your way.”