"Alcalde!" Victoria watched the young caballero stir from his seat near the buggy. He made his way slowly but confidently through the soldiers to reach the Alcalde.

"If you persist in this you may have an uprising on your hands."

"And who will be their leader? You, de la Vega?" Victoria would have laughed at the idea, but for the calmness in her friend's posture. Maybe the people would follow him, if he did choose to lead.

"No of course not. I am simply warning you that you may have gone too far this time."

"Your warning is duly noted. Arrest him," Louis Ramone snarled, the words sending shivers down Victoria's spine. Diego was too gentle, too inexperienced about the world to spend much time behind those bars. What had gotten into her friend?

"Arrest Diego de la Vega? Why?" Mendoza was genuinely confused, as was the rest of the pueblo. Diego had done nothing, said nothing wrong. He had chosen to speak up for the people. That in itself was braver than she had expected of him.

Diego smiled faintly. There was no trace of fear in his posture. It was almost as if he was laughing at the haughty alcalde. A bad move on his part, surely he knew that?

"If he's not on his way to the jail in 5 seconds, you will be joining him, Mendoza." The alcalde had lost his temper enough to be irrational. Victoria was afraid for her friend.

"Sorry Don Diego."

"It's quite alright sergeant. Lead the way." Diego followed the sergeant at a relaxed pace, as if it was merely a child's game.

Victoria shook her head at her friend's refusal to complain or fight in any way. She opened her mouth to protest, but that would be ignored at best, and bring more trouble on all of them at worst. An idea sprung to mind, and she grabbed Felipe.

Surely, Don Alejandro would know what to do. He could save Diego, and prevent the people spilling over into rebellion. Already agitated murmurings could be heard in the crowd, as she sent Felipe back to fetch help.

She stared at the jail, wondering why Diego had chosen to speak up today. He never seemed to care very much normally. Why did he dive headfirst into trouble like that? What an irritating man he could be.