Chapter 2: Revelation.
The few lancers still upright were gathering together by the sergeant who ordered them to help their comrades as well as the dons.
"How's that?" Exclaimed the governor. "Why are you just standing there? Chase after these rascals!"
"Your Excellency, with all due respect, the lancers aren't in a state to chase after them. The bandits certainly will be faster, and will have anticipated a plan of withdrawal... If we follow them in these conditions, there won't be a single available lancer to assure the security." Retorted the sergeant.
"The security?" Repeated the governor. "Do you believe to have ensured the security? If there had been real security, the dons wouldn't have been obliged to fight." Growled the governor beside himself.
"Come now, Governor, the sergeant and his men reacted well... If they wouldn't have been present, these men would have come down on us in silence." Intervened Don Alejandro. "While in present time, the fight noises made us react."
The governor grumbled once again and went back to sit down.
"Capitán Toledano, take back your post today and take care of your wounded lancers. Sergeant Garcia, relax yourself, the bandits won't come back. Go summon Doctor Avila if the injured men aren't fit to move. Señores, it will be wise to put off this meeting to tomorrow." Enunciated the viceroy as he observed each of them. His look lingered on Diego which just came to put away the poker at its place.
Then the young De la Vega exchanged a knowing look with Señorita De Castillos before taking her by her shoulder, and coming closer.
"Señores, we're going to escort you home one by one." Ensured Capitán Toledano.
"It won't be necessary, Capitán. Your men seem more hurt than us... Repatriate them." Intervened Don Nacho.
"Gracias, Señor. But I have in mind to ask you to wait here while I was going to look for the relief troop. Very fortunately all the lancers weren't here. The sergeant has acted well by assigning one majority to ensure the security of the pueblo."
"You know, Capitán, I can't take the credit for it. The idea comes from Don Diego." Explained the sergeant naively.
No more surprised, the capitán turned toward Diego and thanked him silently. That was when Diego noticed the signature on the capitán's vest. He came closer to better observe it.
"Who did this to you?" Asked Diego by frowning.
"My opponent, the one who must have been their chief."
"Did he have a distinct sign?" Interrogated Diego.
"He is a good fencer... Oh... And he was wearing a goatee..."
"A goatee!" Repeated Diego with surprise and intriguing then his father and the capitán.
"Diego? What is it?" Asked Don Alejandro.
For an answer, Diego indicated the signature on the capitán's vest.
"M?" Says Don Alejandro puzzled. "It can't be..." He whispers then.
"Why all these questions? Do you have any idea about the identity of this bandit?" Interrogated Toledano.
"No. This M intrigues me as much as you". Retorts Diego with calm and assurance.
His look before his departure, this M... Could he be Señor Monastario?
"Diego." Called the viceroy by getting him out of his thoughts.
"Si, Don Esteban." Answers the latter by turning to him under the curious looks of each.
Don Esteban made him sign to follow, intriguing each of them even more.
"Don't worry, Don Alejandro, I'll be back with him in a moment." Smiles the viceroy by putting a hand on Diego's right shoulder as soon as he was beside him.
As the two men go out, each astonished more and more... Salena proposed her help to take care of the wounded men, making forget the exit of both men.
Once in the garden, safe from prying ears of dons and lancers, and as they were walking side by side:
"Don Esteban, what do you have so particular to share?" Asked Diego whose pain in his left arm was becoming throbbing.
It may be not so superficial. Says Diego to himself by hiding a wince.
"I will be direct, Diego... After the charade with Capitán Monastario, I read again the different letters from Marcos... Then I exchanged with him... You won a lot of fencing jousts in Madrid."
Diego felt ill at ease.
I should have thought about it.
"I also took time to read again the sergeant's report. At least, the copy which he had sent me at that time, as well as the posterior reports... By matching the different elements at my disposal, I came to a conclusion." Asserted the viceroy by halting and stopping Diego a step away.
"However, Diego, you're remaining the first and the only to who I announce this."
"You're being too kind to me, Don Esteban. But I don't see why?" Tries Diego which knows well where the viceroy wanted to go.
"Diego, not this charade between us! You know perfectly well what I'm talking about... And after all, the first to be informed of my thoughts must be the person... incriminated. I don't want to know why, Diego. I understood it a long time ago. However, there are two points which puzzle me."
"I'm listening." Asserted Diego without deny the facts.
"One year ago, Zorro pled for his enemy with the governor and with Judge Vasca, why?"
"One year ago, a friend of mine, Dona Isabella De la Cruz, came from Spain to ask for my help. It is proved that she is Señor Monastario's niece. The events made that Señor Monastario saved my life, and vice versa. His perception of things matured, in a good way. He realized his mistakes... his injustices, and had changed his behavior, but not his character... And the reunions with his niece have, it seems, appeased him. It seemed fair that the reunions continue." Explained Diego.
"I understand... Another thing, Diego. In the stagecoach, the governor told me a negative report about Zorro."
"Oh... Which is it?"
"It concerns the death of Capitán Felipe Arrellano."
"I see... Capitán Arrellano belonged to a plot meant to oust the governor from his assignment. When he saw that nothing was working to demote him, thanks to the Fox, he tried to murder him with his accomplices. Letting the capitán live was a risk for the governor which suspected nothing, as he had all confidence in him."
"Is the sergeant aware of the facts?" Asked the viceroy.
"No, Don Esteban. It is difficult to tell him what happened. Dona Leonar, the governor's daughter, which was there, tried on her side to explain him the facts; but on that evening, the sergeant saw Zorro killing the capitán without hesitation. And he badly believes the real cause; like the others plotters were only rendered harmless, gagged and tied."
"And the governor can't testify?"
"He was sleeping." Smiles Diego to the memory.
"... Diego, I would like to help you to get rid of this... burden."
"My father shares the same opinion as you, but by legalizing my actions."
"It shouldn't be a problem to explain this to the governor... Nonetheless, as far as this new case isn't elucidated, there is no need to disclose this topic. Your secret identity will remain between us."
"Gracias." Answered Diego by bowing.
"Besides, for a young man who doesn't like violence, you defend well with a poker. Could it be for the love of the Señorita De Castillos?"
Diego reddens to the comment, making smile the viceroy which had guessed right.
"I presume that the señorita knows your secret."
"She discovered it by accident." Asserted Diego.
"Let's go inside, our friends and your father will end to ask themselves questions." Says the viceroy by giving a friendly hit on Diego's left arm, making him flinch.
Don Esteban felt Diego's move and lowered his look to his arm, discovering with stupor his injury.
"Diego, you're wounded!" He exclaimed.
"It's nothing, Don Esteban."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I'm not used to complaining... And as for my father, he has gotten used to seeing me disappear."
"He knows your secret?" Realizes the viceroy.
"He learnt it a long time ago, but he only told it to me some months ago."
Don Esteban smiles to the comment. Then both men went back inside.
There were, fortunately, no seriously wounded among the dons and the lancers. Diego has hardly made one step inside the hacienda that his father busted him, preventing anyone to be concerned about his mysterious conversation with the viceroy.
"Diego!" He exclaimed, finally noticing his injury.
Diego winced like a child caught in the act, and continued to walk toward Salena.
"The wound is less important than it seems." Diego explained trying to assure him and also his friends.
"Forgive me, Don Diego." Whined the sergeant.
"Come now, Sergeant, you're in for nothing. You can't fight against a full gang of bandits at the same time all by yourself." Diego says, trying to cheer him up.
The sergeant sighed.
"Sergeant, when you'll be in the pueblo, and after having seen Doctor Avila, go to the tavern for a drink, it's my treat. Capitán Toledano, I count on you to take him along." Adds Diego with a smile in front of the wince of the sergeant which was hoping that his injury wouldn't be seen.
"You can count on me." Retorted Toledano with a smile by discovering what Diego meant.
The sergeant needed to be cheered up and Don Diego knew how to do it with him. Diego catches a glimpse of Bernardo, in a corner, lost in thought. As soon as the manservant saw his master, he got back his smile and stood up to come closer.
"I thank you, Don Diego, but without you it's not the same." Made remark the sergeant.
"In this case, wait for my visit later. We will go together." Diego sustained.
"Is this true, Don Diego?"
"Si, Sergeant."
Already the sergeant's smile was visible again, taking back his seriousness; he made then exit his men. In the same time, Don Alejandro sent away his friends. Then, Diego takes a seat where he took off his shirt... All found themselves in the patio except, Bernardo, Salena and Diego.
"Sergeant Garcia!"
"Si, Capitán." He retorts by turning.
"Is there a lot of wounded among the lancers?"
"No, mi Capitán. But some need to see Doctor Avila."
"Beginning with you, Sergeant. Don Diego is right; you should go and see the doctor."
"It's only a superficial cut." Says the sergeant.
"Superficial or not, it's an order from your capitán."
"Si, mi Capitán."
"Viceroy, Governor, would you honor us with dinner tonight?" Asked Don Alejandro.
"Gracias, Don Alejandro. We will be there. Won't we, Governor?"
"Of course!" Smiles the governor.
"Oh, Don Alejandro, do you mind to count also on Capitán Toledano?"
"Of course not. He is welcome." Don Alejandro retorted. "So, see you soon, Señores." He salutes then while the governor and the viceroy entered the stagecoach.
Don Nacho saluted Don Alejandro and mounted his horse.
"You're sure you don't want any escort, Señores?"
"We thank you, Capitán, but we're all more or less neighbors. We're going along together on our way home." Explained Don Cornelio.
"Very well... Señores." He saluted then before making sign to the sergeant and his men to go. Then, he took his place nearby the coach driver and gave the start.
Don Alejandro went back inside the hacienda. He had orders to give for this evening, indeed, but before all he went to find Diego. Salena was ending bandaging his left arm. Diego's face was pale and covered with sweat.
"Diego?" He says without hiding his worry.
"I'm alright, Father. Salena just ended to take care of me." Asserts Diego raising his face to him.
"The fired shot?" Interrogated Don Alejandro.
"Si." Confessed Diego.
Don Alejandro sighed before opening his eyes wide, realizing then that Diego wasn't the target of the gunman. Diego guessed that his father came to understand and gave a faint sheepish smile.
"Diego." Sighed the old hidalgo with a tone full of reproach.
"Don't torment yourself, Father, the bullet only grazed me."
But in front of the reproachful glance meant for Diego, Don Alejandro guessed the truth and smiled in spite of all.
"What do you think about this M?" Interrogated Diego.
"To be quite honest, Son, it makes me think about Señor Monastario, and you?"
"For my part, I'm obsessed by the opponent of Capitán Toledano who looked at me a long time before going away. Like if he was looking to be identified."
"If Señor Monastario is implicated, this doesn't bode well for him." Underlined Don Alejandro.
"The question is, is this a voluntary involvement? Señor Monastario has learnt not to act lightly anymore."
"Let's not be hasty in conclusion, Diego."
"Is he the same Señor Monastario who you told me about six months ago?" Asked Salena intrigued.
"We're speaking well of the same, Salena."
Don Alejandro looked at Diego with astonishment.
"During my convalescing days in Salena's home, we spoke a lot, she and I." Smiled Diego in front of the surprised face of his father.
"The viceroy, the governor and Capitán Toledano made us the pleasure to come for dinner tonight; you will stay with us Dona Salena?" Asked Don Alejandro.
"It would be with pleasure, Don Alejandro, but I promised Florencia that I'll get home early to permit her to prepare the anniversary of her little one."
"I will get you home!" Asserted Diego.
"Go first slip on a shirt, Diego." Made him remark Don Alejandro. "And take a weapon with you, we don't ever know." He added just after.
Don Alejandro sighed while Diego was going to dress. Salena smiled to hide her embarrassment.
"You know, Don Alejandro, I came along with Miguel."
"Miguel escorts you? That's a good initiative. Diego won't be in the way in case of troubles. Besides, Miguel risks to be surprised by seeing him armed."
"That's the reason why I prefer to inform you."
"... In this case, please wait for me before your departure. I will come along too." Explained Don Alejandro letting Salena and Bernardo alone in the sala.
"Bernardo, I'm confused in front of such agitation."
Bernardo smiled and rose up one finger to get her attention; then with a magic trick, he made appear a letter which he handed her.
"A letter? For me?" She asked. "Are you sure? There is no name on it, just an initial. And for me, it's a Z, and not a S."
Bernardo frowned and looked at the initial more closely. It was indeed not a S.
"I think that this message is intended for Zorro." She breathed in a whisper.
Bernardo nodded silently and took back the letter which he put away in a pocket inside his vest.
As soon as he was ready, Diego went back in the sala, but had the surprise to find no one.
"Salena, Father?" He called.
"We are outside." Retorted Salena.
Trusting the sound, Diego joined them in the rear court.
"You're going out, Father?" He asked when he saw him on his mount.
"I will come along too. I gave orders for tonight, I'm not worried."
"Very well." Retorted Diego before mounting at his turn.
Miguel observed Don Diego and noticed a sword at his side. He opened his eyes wide, doubtful. Since when was Don Diego going out with a sword? Does he know how to use it? Of course, he doesn't verbalize his questions; it would have been a lack of respect against him.
The ride went without mishap both ways, and as soon as they returned to the De la Vegas' hacienda, Bernardo gave the letter to Diego.
"What is it?" Asked Don Alejandro.
"I ignore it, Father... Where did you find this letter?" Asked Diego.
Bernardo indicated the floor, and then he mimed a fight and a masked man.
"You found it during the fight there has been previously."
Bernardo nodded firmly, then Diego opened the letter.
'Señor Z. I need your help. E.S.M.'
