Ace of Diamonds, The

  ~~~

  Terra sat up with a scream.

  Setzer reached out to place a hand on her shoulder. She changed wide, frightened eyes to his face. “It’s all right, Terra. We’re nearly to Figaro. Lay back.” She resisted with a gnawing of her lip. He smiled in reassurance. “Come now, Terra. Don’t be difficult. Lay back and tell me what happened.”

  Terra released a deep breath as she rested back into the cushions, accepting the tissue and drying her eyes. “I-I don’t know what h-happened.” She pulled and twisted the tissue between her quivering fingers. “I was working in the g-garden like I a-always do in the m-morning when I heard--” Terra’s voice choked on a sob as she covered her mouth with the hand that held the tissue. Her terror-stricken eyes sought out Setzer’s.

  Setzer’s face remained as calmly controlled as possible. “What, Terra? What did you hear? Men’s voices? Monsters? Machines?”

  She shook her head. “A s-scream. A g-girl’s scream. A-And then I heard sh-shouts and yells for h-help . . . .” Terra sat up, her hands reaching out to grip Setzer’s arms in a frantic showing of desperation. “You’re playing ‘kidnap’ with them, Setzer, right? Please say they’re here and it’s all just a game!”

  Setzer carefully removed her hands from his arms and clasped them tightly in his. “No. They aren’t here.”

  Sobs racked Terra’s shoulders as she lowered her head; tears dripped to the blanket that covered her. “Oh gods. M-My children are g-gone.”

  Setzer coaxed her back down as his mind desperately tried to make sense of the action. Who would steal children? What good would it do--Setzer’s thought broke off in a flash of painful realization.

  Terra tightened her hold on his hand. “What? Tell me, Setzer. I want to know. I need to know.”

  Setzer took in her harried expression, her exhausted eyes, her yellow complexion. Damn. “Have you noticed any men around your home, Terra? Has anyone new been seen coming and going? Anyone? At all?”

  She shook her head. “No one but Marée. But she’s been--What is it? What did I say?”

  Setzer slightly shook his head. “Nothing. Go on.”

  “Marée stops in every once and a while to drop things off for the children. Dolls. Books. Clothes. Toys for the boys. Sometimes we talk about the Empire and things that ‘were’--she used to work for them like me--but she didn’t ever bring anyone with her.”

  “How did you meet her?” Setzer’s mind and voice were deadly calm.

  “A storm stranded her ship on the beach near us. She and the crew had to stay until they repaired the damage.”

  “When?”

  “Six months or so after Kefka moved the statues,” Terra said while watching his face. “Why? Do you know her?”

  Setzer stood as he said, “I’ve met her once or twice. Intriguing woman.” He touched her cheek. “You rest now, Terra. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

  Setzer made his way toward the door.

  “Setzer. Tell me who you think took them.”

  He halted by the open door, his hand gripping the handle. “Slavers of the old Empire.”

  Setzer heard her choked sob as he stepped through the door, closing it firmly behind him. Any thoughts of possible connections and conspiracies wouldn’t come. All that repeated itself in his mind was the fact both Terra and Relm had met Marée. They had both formed a type of bond. As to what it meant . . . he didn’t know.

  Setzer pressed his lips together and went on deck.