~~~
The days passed with no sight, sound, or scent of Marée to tempt him. Relm showed him a portrait she’d painted of the female captain, promptly giving it to him as a going away gift when she saw how he reacted to the full body painting.
Stupefied wonder at Relm’s ability to capture the woman’s spirit and passion in eye and body.
Then, while unloading the knickknacks for the Item Shop owner, Relm regaled him with stories of Marée’s kindness, her wild sense of humor--which included practical jokes of their design--and her tales of adventures on the sea surviving on nothing but her own wit and ability. The stories of pirates Setzer took to be specifically for Relm’s young heart and her appreciation of adventure. But those stories of overlords that held power within their control and abused the tender-hearted, those he believed. Hadn’t that been Kefka? And Gestahl before that? And perhaps, like Leo, she’d been trapped into the service of this overlord?
Again, he needed to see her again to make sense of it all.
So once the Falcon was unloaded and Relm had been appeased with a long turn at the wheel--under Setzer’s careful eye--he departed for Doma. While it wasn’t a favorite stop for traders, merchants, and vessels of sea and air, it was a necessary one. Due of course to Cyan’s dogged determination to build it to its former glory. Because of that, the castle attracted a reasonable amount of attention.
Setzer’s included.
While the trip itself was uneventful, Setzer caught sight of a cargo vessel bound for Nikeah. He filed the information with what had been gathered from Relm and then pressed on toward Doma instead of taking a closer look. Upon arriving at Doma, he found the castle to be a mass of activity.
Setzer anchored his ship and disembarked, mulling through the crowds with one purpose: to find Cyan. The Doma swordsman wasn’t so easily found. While he was in the direct center of the bustle, that fact alone forced Setzer to be patient and wait his turn. After an hour of waiting, Setzer contented himself with catching Cyan’s attention and gesturing to his airship beyond. Cyan briefly nodded before having his attention again distracted by the roofer.
Setzer strode away; impatience and something dark bit at his heels.
A ship without a captain. A captain without a ship. A ship without manifests. A captain with a past involving the Empire. Frequent stops to Thamasa, one being to buy books originally from the Empire libraries. A surprising stop at Kohlingen’s small port, the only port nearest where Edgar most frequently kept Figaro Castle moored, and thereby making it extremely useful to procure machinery and whatnot.
But it was all so . . . weak. All the information, when kept separate, didn’t amount to even a blink of notice. As Edgar had said. Even viewed as a whole Setzer was hard-pressed to make anything out of it. As Relm had said, buying and shipping books wasn’t against the law. Neither was procuring machinery from Figaro. But something just wouldn’t let him leave it alone. Something kept pushing at him, dogging him forward, irritating his sense of curiosity with questions that wouldn’t stay silent.
He had to talk to Marée.
Setzer strode aboard the Falcon with a dark look, slamming doors and pushing chairs out of the way as he went. He slammed into his office and threw himself onto the couch, kicking his boots up onto the arm as he put one arm behind his head and one over his eyes. Marée. What adventure have you wrapped around that quick mind? What poor fool are you using for your own private amusement?
Dullness and boredom were frightening things for a person familiar with adventure and action. The fear of that dullness could often make a thrill-seeker do unwise things. Hadn’t he joined up with Edgar and his troupe because of his own boredom? It made him afraid for Marée. Afraid that she’d embroiled herself in an adventure that she wouldn’t want to leave because of the constant and addicting thrill.
Setzer lowered his arm from his eyes, looking to his right where Marée’s portrait leaned against the wall. Her aquamarine eyes sparked with laughter and a dare. Her lips were caressed with a rebellious smirk that seemed to declare life held nothing but amusement for her. Her left hand rested on a rounded hip as her right fell straight at her side holding her uniform coat. Hair swirled about shoulders and face as her very stance defied anyone to withstand her charm.
Setzer stood to slowly make his way to the portrait. He stared down at it for a long silent moment before taking it up, holding it tightly between his two hands. The ship Relm had painted in the background was named the Ace of Diamonds.
A knock sounded. Setzer raised his gaze to the door as he lowered the portrait back to its original position. “Enter.”
Cyan opened the door, closing it behind him. He greeted Setzer with a slight smile and a firm clasp to the hand. “Thy presence warms this heart, Setzer.”
“Good to see you, too, old friend.” Setzer gestured to the chair opposite his desk as he
made his way around to sit at his office chair. He kicked his feet up onto his desk as Cyan lowered himself into the offered chair. “Edgar wanted me to get a list of supplies from you that will help with your current project.”
Cyan nodded. “Yes. I had known to expect such a request.”
Setzer smirked at the stoic, stalwart warrior. “I’ve some things for you from Terra and Relm as well.”
Cyan’s face softened. “Be so kind as to inform Terra and Relm I am pleased they continue to think of me. I shall do my best to invite them to see the progress made thus far.”
“Do you think it might be completed before Locke and Celes’ wedding? I don’t think they will mind a relocation of events.”
“While the thought had also occurred to me, I do not believe such is a possibility. There is too much yet needing to be done.”
“Too bad.” Setzer lowered his attention to the cards on his desk. He cut it before taking the top card. Jack of Hearts. “Have you noticed anything odd about Edgar lately, Cyan?” Setzer raised his eyes to meet those of the Doma swordsman.
“To what might thee refer?”
Setzer again lowered his eyes to the deck. He tapped on the top of the deck before taking the next card. Deuce of Hearts. “About bachelorhood not agreeing with him as well as it did at one time.”
Cyan shook his head and crossed his muscular arms. “No. Pressing this matter would be unwise.”
“Why?” Setzer drew the next card. To his surprise, it was the ten of Hearts. Ten. Ten? Of course. The children. He smirked and replaced the card.
“They are not yet ready. Hearts must be whole before joining.”
“When did you know?”
“I know nothing for certain. I have observed many things, as have thee. The knowing must be their decision.”
“Bah,” Setzer grumbled as he tossed the cards to the desk. He crossed his arms with a scowl at the toes of his boots. “Arrogance and naivety seldom find a home together.”
“Yet the choice must be theirs.”
Setzer adjusted his crossed arms, his gaze drawn by Marée’s portrait. His frown lightened. “Cyan, what have you heard of a sea captain by the name of Marée?”
“Marée.” Cyan lowered his head in concentration before giving a slow shake. “I have heard naught of this name. Why?”
“Curiosity. Don’t concern yourself.”
“I shall inform thee if I do indeed hear the name mentioned.”
Setzer gave a nod. “Thank you, Cyan.”
Cyan stood. “Dinner shall be served within the hour. I would be honored if thee joined me.”
Setzer nodded again. “I’ll be there.”
Cyan left the room, again closing the door behind him. Setzer lowered his head to another intense examination of the portrait. His brows knit in a frown. The scar over his left eye twitched.