Both men hit the ground with a loud thump, and Tornado shifted at the sudden weight change. Tornado stamped a foot and neighed as he looked at Zorro sprawled on the ground. Zorro's body shook as he raised a hand to his exposed face. Fear gripped his mind and he sat there, his hand brushing his face, as Monastario caught his breath and sat up. They had both landed, only feet apart, on the same side of Tornado and now Monastario reached out and took Zorro by the shoulder.
Zorro felt the pressure on his arm but did nothing. Anger at his own foolishness washed over him and his knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists in an effort to control his emotions. How stupid! Monastario was always a threat and I ignored him at the end. Zorro forced himself to take two deep breathes before he turned to face Monastario.
Monastario was not smiling when Zorro looked at him. Instead he wore a frown, his dark eyes serious as he gazed at the face of Diego. Tornado shifted uncomfortably beside them and pawed the ground, but Zorro paid little attention as he watched Monastario. Monastario continued staring; his eyes were wide as he looked toward Zorro, only his gaze was not on the outlaw, but the five riders behind him who had just rounded a slight bend in the road.
Zorro heard the sound of horses and looked over his shoulder toward the five riders who had stopped in surprise several feet away. Zorro turned back to Monastario and grabbed his mask from the Capitan's hand. He quickly tied the black silk cloth in place and then he stood, prepared to mount Tornado. Monastario moved as well and standing he reached for the saddle, but the five men were all ready mounted and they closed the distance before the two weary men could mount the stallion.
Tornado understood the threat and he turned his body so that it was between the riders and Zorro and Monastario. The two men looked at each other, each hoping the other had a plan, but fatigue and pain clouded their minds and in the end neither said anything. The riders surrounded them and both men heard Felipe laugh.
"It has been a good chase, but I fear the game is over. Luis tie their hands." Felipe ordered from his horse.
Luis dismounted and pulled two thin ropes from his saddle bag before he walked toward the two men. He ignored Tornado as he moved closer, even though the stallion snorted and pawed the ground. Luis tried to step around Tornado so he could reach Zorro, but Tornado acted before Luis could grab Zorro's arm. Tornado twisted his body so that he was between Luis and his two riders. As Luis stepped out of the way, his path took him in front of Tornado and the stallion reared, striking Luis in the shoulder and chest with his front hooves. Luis dropped to the ground, breathless and in pain. A shot rang out and blood splattered Monastario's face as the pistol ball dug a trench across Tornado's flank. Zorro grabbed Tornado's reigns to keep the horse still so he could look at the wound, but he saw Felipe loading his pistol for a second shot so he slapped Tornado just above the wound. The horse hesitated a moment before he fled, his black mane flying in the wind.
Monastario nearly fell when Tornado leapt away, but he kept his footing by grabbing Zorro's shoulder for support. Felipe and Raul grabbed both men by the shoulders and forced them to kneel. Raul picked up the rope Luis had dropped and quickly tied Monastario and Zorro's hands behind their backs. Another length of rope was wrapped around the knots tying their hands and then wound around a small tree. "I will take care of you shortly," Felipe spat as he slapped Monastario across the face. Raul followed his example and his fist caught Zorro across the chin. He took the gun Felipe handed him and sat underneath another tree. He let the pistol rest on his bent knees as his eyes flittered from his injured friend to the two men tied to the tree.
While Felipe had tied up Zorro and Monastario, Manuel and Joaquin had dismounted and were now kneling beside Luis. The bandit moaned as Manuel pressed gently on his right shoulder and his left side. "His shoulder is dislocated and he may have a fractured rib. He isn't going to be able to move quickly and I doubt he is going to be able to ride. I need to set his shoulder before we do anything else," Manuel said as he stood and walked to his horse. He pulled a pouch from his saddlebag and returned to the injured man's side.
Felipe spit into the damp ground and moved quickly to Monastario's side. His boot caught the Capitán across the right thigh and Monastario grunted in pain. Pain flared across his right side as another booted foot connected with his ribs. His breath fled in a loud whoosh and it took all his self control to draw in another ragged breath before the next blow caught his knee cap.
Monastario could hear Zorro's voice beside him and he turned to see the wide eyed expression of the masked man. Zorro was yelling, but Monastario could not understand his words past the ringing in his head as a fist caught him on the ear. His world faded into a scene of black and red as Felipe let out his rage on the helpless Commandante.
ZZZ
Tornado raced across the fields toward the one place he considered a refuge. The cave was deserted when he returned so he simply lay in the soft hay, waiting for Zorro or Bernardo to return. It wasn't long before Bernardo stepped into the opening. He was certain Zorro should have returned by now and worry kept him pacing the hacienda and the cave. Alejandro and the other Dons had not returned either and Bernardo was growing frustrated. It was not unusual for Zorro to be gone over night, but Bernardo could not stop worrying, even though his rational mind told him not to worry.
Any rational thought fled his mind as he looked up and saw Tornado in the cave. The horse stood and Bernardo could see the stain of red across the dark hair. Bernardo quickly scanned the cave for signs of Zorro's return, but he found nothing to convince him Diego was home. Grabbing a bucket of water and some rags, Bernardo busied himself with Tornado's care, even as his mind conjured horrifying reasons for Tornado's condition and Zorro's absence. As he worked, he decided that come morning, he would mount his own search. But first he had to think of a reason for Diego's absence. He could not remember if Alejandro told the servants where Diego had gone, so he needed something vague enough to cover anything Alejandro might have said. Or, he thought, he could simply ignore the fact that Diego had not been home since the night before.
Whatever his decision, he would worry about that when morning came. It was too late to search now – night would fall soon and Bernardo knew he would not find anything let alone anyone in the darkness. Right now he focused on fixing Tornado. He had a feeling Zorro would need the black stallion's help soon. As Bernardo worked he prayed that Zorro and the Commandante were both safe. But in his heart he knew that something had gone terribly wrong.
ZZZ
Zorro jerked against his ropes, the rough material dug into his wrists as he tried to free his arms. Zorro tried to use his legs to trip Felipe, but the bandit simply sidestepped out of reach. Monastario was barely conscious when Felipe stepped back and grinned at his work. "Even if you escape, you will not leave him here. And now, he cannot travel with you. After we take care of Luis I will be back for you Zorro. Tomorrow morning both of you will die. Make peace with God if you think it will help save your soul, but I doubt he can be helped," Felipe said as he nodded toward the bleeding figure of Monastario. "Cherish the sunrise when it comes, mi amigos."
Zorro glared at the man as Felipe turned and walked away. Before today Zorro had only truly hated two men, but Felipe had just been added to the list, and perhaps, Zorro thought he hated this man more than he had Ignacio and his brother Benicio. Zorro growled in frustration as he continued to work on his bonds. The rope was thin but strong and Zorro's wrist stung from where the rope cut into his skin. He could feel blood trickling across his palms, but he ignored the pain and continued struggling. His efforts were fueled by the beaten figure beside him.
He had to free his hands or tomorrow, both he and the Capitán would die, and then his secret would mean nothing. Zorro paused momentarily as he glanced as the bruised face of the Commandante. If they made it back, Monastario would have him arrested and likely hung within a day of his recovery. Because he was a Don from a prominent family, there would have to be a trial, Zorro reasoned with himself. He knew that he still had a chance if someone other than Monastario ruled over the court. Monastario was the only one to see his face, and maybe Diego could convince whoever sat in judgment that Monastario was simply desperate to capture Zorro. But Diego was not convinced he would be free after he escaped.
He threw those thoughts aside and continued working on freeing his hands. Tomorrow would arrive soon and Zorro knew he had only hours to come up with a plan to free both himself and Monastario if they were going to escape at night. The evening was coming to a close and the west had begun to turn shades of red and deep purple. Zorro closed his eyes against the image and the pain in his arms, and prayed that his strength alone could save them both.
TBC
A/N: Thanks for all the comments and reviews. As always, it is greatly appreciated. Just so you know, there aren't very many chapters left to this story (probably only a few, unless they are short like the last two). I will try to update as soon as possible, but it will probably be a couple of weeks before I get a chance. But I will do my best to update sooner if at all possible. Awen