Doubloon Trouble 9

Bernardo had seen Diego pulling himself out of his arrest and rushing past him. What happened next he could only see as a blur in his peripheral sight. He heard more than saw the punches flying.

Next he watched one of the banditos that Diego sent to the floor when he freed himself get up and grab a chair. The thug walked past him, lifting it over his shoulder, ready to smash it. There was a big crash and a heavy thump as if someone had fallen to the ground.

"Diego!" Soledad's voice sounded frightened and worried. Dread flooded Bernardo when he heard no reply from his friend and he frantically started tearing on his ropes to get free. He could feel Raúl doing the same.

"What did you have to do that for?" Raúl cried.

Sergio Ibarra picked himself off the floor, his hand rubbing his jaw. He felt his split lip and his jaw throbbed mercilessly. Walking over to the fallen figure, he noticed a deep gash on the young man's temple that was bleeding profusely, coloring the floor crimson.

Shaking his head carefully, he ignored Fabregás' question. Instead, he grabbed Soledad by the arm, dragging her with him.

"Vámonos, muchacha. You're coming with us. Señor Fabregás, if you want to see your sister alive again you will have the chest of doubloons here for us to pick up at midnight tonight. No soldiers, no friends. Just you and the chest. Is that understood?"

Without waiting for an answer, he waved his compadres to follow him and left, with a struggling Soledad being dragged along.

***zzz***

Time seemed to drag into eternity for Bernardo while he worked on freeing himself. Finally, he felt the rope giving way and he pulled his hands up front. Taking no time to check the rope burns on his wrists, he rushed towards his master, Raúl right on his heels.

Diego was lying on the floor, unmoving. His head wound wasn't bleeding badly anymore but it looked gruesome with all the blood around it. Bernardo breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Diego's chest rise and fall steadily. He moved to straighten out the don's legs to make him more comfortable.

"Ah, Diego. For one who's given up fighting you dished out some nice punches," Raúl sighed. "You're not that much out of practise."

He patted Diego on the cheek to rouse him, but he got no reaction. Frowning, Raúl tried again, this time pinching his earlobe, which earned him a low, pained moan.

"Aha, there's still life in you, Diego. Now let's get you cleaned up a bit before you feel all the pain." Raúl looked around for anything he could use to wipe the blood off Diego's face. He was surprised when Bernardo produced a handkerchief.

"How'd you know I..." Raúl murmured, amazed. "Ah, never mind," he finished when he met Bernardo's innocent gaze. The former soldier accepted the cloth and dabbed at the blood, revealing a cut right at the hairline of the eyebrow.

"That might need stitches, my friend," he murmured to himself, dabbing around the edges which made Diego flinch, wincing with pain. Bernardo looked like he winced, too. His face lit up when he saw Diego's eyelids flutter. Raúl noticed it, too, and smiled.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Diego. For a moment you had us worried, mi amigo." Raúl's voice expressed the relief he felt. Groggy, Diego wrestled his eyes open, focusing on the faces of Bernardo and Raúl. His head felt like it had been split in half and it took him a moment to recall the events before everything had gone black.

"Soledad!" With a jerk, Diego tried to sit up but both Bernardo and Raúl held him down.

"Not so fast, Diego. You likely have a nice concussion, so take it easy," Raúl couldn't contain a grin despite his worry for his sister and his friend. This was more like the Diego he knew than he had seen in the previous days.

"Where's Soledad? What happened?" Diego asked with a slight slur.

"Those scoundrels took her with them after they knocked you out. I received a deadline to exchange my sister for the gold." Anger colored Raúl's words. "They warned me not to involve the military but I must free my sister. I cannot exchange for her if I don't have what they want. I will get a few men from Sergeant Garcia to look for them."

"I will come with you," Diego replied, sitting up for real this time. Almost immediately, he regretted the move as his head started pounding and he rested it in his hands. Upon feeling the stickiness of the remaining blood, he looked at his hands. "Great," he mumbled.

Raúl chuckled at his reaction. "No, Diego. You are going back to your hacienda and let a doctor stitch you up. And you should rest. You mustn't aggravate your concussion."

Behind Raúl, Bernardo nodded his agreement. The two men went to either side of Diego and helped him stand up. Swaying slightly despite the support, Diego couldn't do anything but comply.

"Maybe you're right, Raúl. I do not feel so good. Bernardo will take me back. But you shouldn't waste time. Go look for Soledad. Bring her back safely."

Nodding, Raúl smiled tightly at Diego and then rushed to his horse and raced off. Shaking Bernardo's supporting hands off, Diego walked steadily to the fireplace, picking up Soledad's rapier. He studied it briefly and then turned to his manservant.

"Let's go, Bernardo. This is a job for Zorro."

***zzz***

Sergio Ibarra and his mercenaries arrived at the inn, certain that nobody had followed them. Pulling Soledad off her horse, Sergio himself led her into the inn, pushing her roughly down in a chair.

"You better hope your brother brings the gold. Else we will keep you here. It does get very lonely for a man out in the wild." Soledad's gaze showed all her disgust at Sergio's words. Somehow it just served to encourage him even more. Putting his hand under her chin to lift it he growled. "Maybe I'm lonely now already..."

Soledad pulled her head back and her knee up at full force, connecting with Sergio where it would hurt a man most. The success was instant. With a yelp, Sergio backed off and sank to his knees, his hands covering the abused area.

Satisfied, Soledad glowered at the other banditos, daring them to try their luck. Nobody came close, but they all stared at her unabashedly. When Sergio had recovered enough, he slowly got to his feet. Hatred oozed from his eyes towards her.

"Sancho, lock that damned wildcat in the cellar and make sure she cannot escape!"

***zzz***

Diego de la Vega was glad when they finally reached his father's hacienda. The ride had taken more out of him than he had thought. They made it to his room without running into anybody.

Lying on his bed to rest a minute, Diego allowed himself to close his eyes. His head still pounded but it didn't bother him too much anymore. Listening to Bernardo's steps, he smiled. It was good to have his faithful friend with him.

A cold, wet cloth on his temple caused Diego to open his eyes again. Bernardo had fetched a bowl of water and a towel and made sure all traces of blood were rinsed off his skin. The cut had stopped oozing blood and Bernardo examined it. He signed for needle and thread and turned to fetch it when he was seized by the sleeve.

"No, Bernardo. We don't have time for stitches. You can see to that later. Just fix a bandage for pressure. Zorro's mask will hold it in place."

Bernardo's wide eyes told him the manservant didn't approve of Zorro going after the banditos. Diego understood his concern but he just couldn't sit by idly doing nothing.

"Don't worry, my friend. I'm feeling better. Besides, Zorro thinks he knows where to find the bandits. It will be a straightforward trip." Diego smiled to reassure Bernardo.

Not completely convinced, the manservant went to fetch a bandage while Diego moved to the secret room to begin the transformation.

***zzz***

Raúl raced his steed straight to the garrison. Not taking time to stop the horse, he jumped off in full flight and ran past the blindsided guard into the cuartel. He almost collided with the sergeant who just left the office.

"Señor Fabregás," Garcia exclaimed. "What's the rush? Is there a fire?"

"No, Sergeant. I need your help. I need some of your lancers to help me. That bandito you let escape yesterday," the sergeant cringed at that, "has found himself reinforcements and attacked us at the hacienda again. Only this time he took my sister as hostage and badly knocked my friend, Diego. I need to find my sister!"

Sergeant Garcia stood around dumbfounded for a moment. Then he sprang into action. Calling out six lancers, he instructed them to follow him and the Señor Fabregás. Within five minutes the small posse was underway.

***zzz***

Bernardo finished helping Zorro tie the mask. Then he made sure the white bandage wasn't visible from under the mask. When he was satisfied with his handiwork, he smiled and nodded.

"Gracias, my loyal amigo. Now Zorro must ride like the wind." Bernardo laid a hand on his arm and signed quickly. "How do I know where to go?" A nod. "I had seen one of the new banditos once in the inn on the way to San Bernardino. It is said to host a lot of shady characters."

Bernardo nodded, then pointed at Zorro. Be careful, he signed. Zorro flashed him a brilliant smile and dashed down the steps. Bernardo watched him leave, wondering if it was the right decision.

***zzz***

Tornado stretched his long, powerful legs and he and his master virtually flew along the trail towards San Bernardino. They covered the five miles in record time and Zorro reined in his steed when they came close to the inn. Leaving the main trail, he took cover in the bushes and dismounted when he was behind the building.

"Go hide, Tornado," he instructed the black beast which immediately obeyed. Zorro found no trace of Raúl or the soldiers so they were obviously on the wrong trail. Using his whip, Zorro climbed up a balcony to the first floor and slipped inside through an open window.

The serving room was virtually empty but for five men who were sitting around a table playing cards and drinking wine. There was no trace of Soledad or the sixth man. Zorro could only hope it didn't mean the woman was being manhandled at that very moment.

"Are you sure nobody will find us here before the time?" A bandito asked the man Zorro recognised as the leader behind everything.

"Si," Sergio simply answered. "No need to get nervous. Rico, go and relieve Sancho guarding the wildcat. You're done eating, let Sancho have his meal."

The man called Rico got up and walked off. Zorro saw him moving in the direction of the wine cellar and turned around. Sneaking out of the same window he had used to enter, he climbed down and circled around to the back entrance.

Crouched in the shadow of a cart, he saw Rico leaning on the wall, indeed guarding the door to the wine cellar.

Zorro knew he had to wait for dusk to act and decided to see if he could find reinforcements in the form of Raúl and the soldiers.

***zzz***

Raúl and Sergeant Garcia, along with the soldiers, had covered a fair bit of ground. So far they hadn't found the lair of the banditos yet. It was maybe just another half hour until the sun would set and Raúl grew increasingly frustrated and anxious.

"Sergeant, maybe we should search to the east once more. We didn't go too far there yet." Raúl urged his tiring horse in said direction without waiting for a reply. Sighing, Garcia and his lancers followed him. They were tired, too.

Only a short time later, a dark spot at the horizon could be seen. It quickly got bigger and bigger. Raúl squinted his eyes, trying to make out what it was. Suddenly he gasped and then called out.

"Sergeant, it's Zorro!"

Garcia sat up straight in the saddle, following the direction Raúl pointed at. "Zorro," he shouted. "If anyone knows where they are holding your sister, it's him!" The group stopped their horses, waiting for the masked man to arrive.

Zorro approached the posse and brought Tornado to a stop about thirty yards away. "Señores!" he called. "If you want to help me free Señorita Fabregás, follow me!" He reared his stallion and turned him in the same motion before galloping off in the direction he came from.

"Follow him," Garcia yelled, spurring his horse on again. The group continued along Zorro's path until the masked man slowed his steed to a stop.

"Sergeant," Zorro called softly. "The señorita is being held in the wine cellar of the inn up ahead. There are at least six banditos. One is standing guard at the cellar. Surround the inn and wait until Señor Fabregás and I start the move. Comprende?"

"Si, Señor Zorro. We surround the inn and wait for you." Garcia and the soldiers dismounted and spread out. Zorro waited for Raúl to join his side. Then the two men crept along the walls of the inn to get to the rear.

Hiding behind the cart again, Zorro observed the bored guard. The man was turning his back to them. Zorro brought his mouth close to Raúl's ear.

"Señor, can you distract him so I can sneak up and take him out?" Raúl nodded. "As soon as he's down, open the door and save your sister. The sergeant will enter the inn when I move and I will see that nobody escapes through the rear door."

"Consider it done," Raúl confirmed and moved to the end of the cart, picking up some stones on the way. Still crouched down for cover, he started throwing the stones against the cellar wall in a pattern.

"What the..." the bandito turned when he heard the noise and followed it for investigation when it didn't cease. Moving past the cart, he briefly saw a dark shadow rising next to him before a gloved hand grabbed him over the mouth pulling him down. The second his assailant removed the hand, he opened his mouth to alert his friends, but before he could utter a sound the hilt of a sword connected with his head and he collapsed, unconscious.

"Señor, get your sister and leave," the masked man told Raúl and moved to the back door, entering the inn. Quickly, Raúl pushed back the lever that kept the cellar door locked. Pulling it open, he heard a commotion coming from the inn.

The moment Zorro had entered the sala, Sergio saw him, drew his weapon and immediately charged him. He wouldn't let the masked devil interfere with his doubloons a third time.

When their swords clashed, the soldiers, lead by Sergeant Garcia, invaded the inn and engaged the remaining banditos. Zorro's fight with Sergio didn't lack intensity. While Ibarra's skill didn't even come close to Zorro's, his anger made up for it. The Fox had to be on his guard in his weakened state.

Garcia and his men fought commendably and when Raúl entered through the back door, his sister in his wake, only Zorro and Sergio were still fighting. Raúl thought he could see weariness in the Fox's movements but he didn't make much of it.

At last, Zorro surprised Sergio with a move not even Raúl had ever seen, using the beam of the banister like a deflection pulley. Sergio, who had been charging, attacked thin air and Zorro, now behind the bandito, disarmed the man as he swirled to face him. Pointing his rapier at the bandit's heart, Zorro let Sergeant Garcia seize the man.

Zorro watched as Garcia and the lancers ushered the banditos out of the inn. Almost out of the door the sergeant turned and wiggled his fingers at the masked man in a goofy wave. Zorro smiled and tipped the brim of his hat in reply. Now that the adrenaline subsided, he felt exhausted. His head started pounding and he felt slightly dizzy. Zorro started to control his breathing and the dizziness passed.

"Señor Zorro."

Tensing, the Fox turned around to face Raúl, who stood right behind him, his sister right next to him. Soledad smiled at him and Zorro allowed himself to beam back at her.

"This is the third time now you've helped me out of a tight spot, Señor. I am eternally grateful."

"De nada, Señor," Zorro replied. "I hope the señorita didn't take any harm."

"I'm just fine, muchas gracias," Soledad confirmed.

"These men, they didn't... bother you?" Zorro's voice held concern.

"No, Señor," Soledad smiled ruefully. "Not for the lack of trying, though."

Zorro paled slightly at the confession, as did Raúl. He pressed his jaw together as another wave of dizziness rose. He couldn't prevent himself staggering slightly.

"Señor, are you hurt?" Raúl's voice grounded the masked man again.

"No, just tired. It's been a long day. Hasta la vista, amigos." With a salute, Zorro locked eyes with Soledad for a brief moment, then he vanished out of the room. Rapidly leaving hoof beats let them know the Fox was on his way.

For a split second, Soledad had thought she'd seen a shimmer of white underneath Zorro's mask, but she wasn't sure. Stepping outside with her brother, she saw the masked man in the fading daylight, interrupting his flight to rear up the great black stallion before vanishing in the dark.