Capitan Destara led Isabella Azarola along the path outside the alcalde's office. He waited patiently for her to speak, as she seemed lost for words for a few moments.

"Capitan Destara," she began, her voice very soft and hesitant. She looked up and her face was stern. "Capitan Destara."

"Yes, Senora?"

"I don't wish to be irritating or annoying, but I feel I must speak up."

"Must you?" He said with interest. Her voice was gaining strength and determination flashed in her blue eyes.

He gestured to a seat in the shade, and she sat on it, a little tired.

"Yes, I must. Francisco would speak up."

"Francisco is no longer with us," he murmured, positioning himself near a post. "My deepest condolences…"

"You've already visited and said all that you needed to say."

"Hardly… he was a good friend. He never gave up on me. I have my faults and my failings, but I've tried to live up to Francisco's hope and faith in me. What would Francisco speak up about, Senora? What would he have to say?"

"You're laughing at me," she said with irritation. "I wish to be serious and talk sensibly to you."

"I am completely serious."

She stared at him hard and was silent for a few minutes, as if gauging the man's sincerity.

"You are a lecherous man, full of flirtations and wicked seductions," she murmured.

"That's what Diego would have you believe. A betrothal is inevitable of course…."

"No. We have no love for one another."

"Love is hardly a prerequisite for marriage, Senora."

"It is to me…. You know what I am going to say, of course."

"Of course," he said with a nod.

"Drawing it out is hardly the behaviour of a gentleman, senor Capitan."

"I am a leech and a seducer of innocents, apparently. Not a gentleman."

"Francisco would tell you to organise a search party for Diego and Victoria. Francisco would be out there searching right now, and he wouldn't stop until he brought home their bodies. He would be ashamed of you," she murmured. "Nevertheless he would have been ashamed of Diego's behaviour in the tavern the other night, as well."

"Yes, he would have broken up that fight, definitely."

"You would resent him for it?"

"He should have let us fight it out once and for all," Destara said with a sigh. "De la Vega and I may have come to some sort of understanding. Francisco was always telling us to forgive and forget, and to suppress our feelings of displeasure for each other. Nothing was ever resolved. We never came to a resolution on anything."

"That's all very well, Capitan. Diego is possibly still alive, and he needs rescuing."

"I doubt he needs rescuing. I am well aware of who Diego is, and what has been going on in this pueblo. It's a good thing my mission has nothing to do with the general goings on of this pueblo. Zorro would be a worthy challenge, but easily confounded. It always helps to know who the man behind the mask truly is."

"He needs rescuing, Destara."

"Zorro, no doubt, has the matter well in hand, Senora. I will consider your request, but really, my responsibilities leave no time for it."

"Francisco would be ashamed of you. He truly would be arguing with you about this reluctance to stand up for your friend."

"I am well aware of your displeasure, Senora Azarola," Capitan Destara said with a frown. "But I think this conversation is over."

Isabella sighed, and watched him march back to the office without a backward glance. Alejandro exited the office, and made his way over to her.

"What did you talk about?"

"Francisco would have wanted a search party… I just made a stand. Not that it made any difference to that stubborn man."

"I'll get a search party together. Diego has friends, and I have some money coming in. We'll find them, Isabella. They'll be alright."

Alejandro helped her to her feet, and supported her. "Let's get you out of this heat," he murmured. "You look ready to collapse."

"I'm fine, Alejandro. Perfectly fine."

Zzz

Diego gazed into the inky darkness of another cave, and wondered if it was easier to navigate than climbing further up the cliff. His ankle throbbed more and more, and it was unlikely to be strong enough to cope with further climbing. His decision was forced.

"Is there a lantern in that magic bag of yours?" He asked, as Victoria made her way over to him.

"No, I'm afraid not."

"Perhaps we could fashion some sort of torch."

"How? With what?"

"I don't know, Victoria," Diego said with a sigh.

She put an arm around him, trying to comfort him.

"Come over here and sit down. We can have some bread and cheese. It will do us both good if we have something in our stomachs."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Drink some water as well. It might be stale, but it's still water."

"Victoria…"

"Yes?"

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life, Diego. Why?"

"I hardly trust myself, Victoria. I don't know where we are, and I don't know if we will get out of here."

"It doesn't matter. I love you, you love me. We are together. We are trying, and we will get somewhere. I truly believe we will get somewhere."

"If we can just get out of the caves, we could get a bearing on where we are. I could navigate by the stars…. I could get us home eventually."

"That's more like it, Diego. If we give up we are never going to get anywhere. We need to keep going."

"One step in front of the other," he murmured. "What would I do without you?"

"You'd still be a stubborn de la Vega, Diego. You'd still fight on."

"Probably," Diego said after a moment. "I'd fight without even having a purpose."

"Nonsense. Freedom from injustice and tyranny. Your purpose would be the People."

"Zorro was born to protect you and my father, the People were just another purpose tacked on. You are my purpose, Victoria. Your love for justice fosters mine, every single time you stand up for the People, you call forth the champion. Without you, Zorro would dissolve back into legend. The mask would be trampled, and the man behind it would falter."

"You are tired and emotional, you are not talking sense," Victoria said, with concern. "Eat some of the bread and cheese."

He took the offered food, and broke pieces off. He put a few in his mouth to please her, but he found the stale food pretty unappetising. The water was stale, but he swallowed some to please her. She did the same to please him, and they smiled at each other.

"I'll go first," Victoria said, standing up and glancing into the dark. She helped him to his feet, and guided him to the wall for support. "My balance is better at the moment, and I don't want to fall in any deep holes. I'll be careful. You have no idea about this cave. We are both wandering around in the dark," she murmured, seeing Diego frown. "If you were to stumble, you would fall, Diego. I won't have that."

"Of course, Victoria."

"What? Diego de la Vega is at a loss for words?"

"It makes sense for the moment. If you stumble, I may be able to catch you. As my ankle recovers I can lead again from the front."

"The ankle won't recover if you don't rest it, and we need to keep going. I saved some of the bread and cheese, and we can have some more later. Perhaps we can toast it over a fire, and it will be tastier that way."

Diego nodded, and shouldered the bag, even though Victoria frowned at him. "You will not make me completely useless, Victoria. I collected the rope again, and I will carry the bag."

"Oh, alright," she said with a sigh. "I don't want you overtaxing yourself. Your ankle…"

"My ankle is sprained, Victoria. I am not an invalid."

Zzz

Alejandro helped Isabella into the buggy to begin the journey back to the hacienda. She missed her children, and she was feeling discouraged that she had not gotten through to the stubborn officer. She seemed tired and he wanted to keep her safe, and encourage her to be happy and strong. He appreciated the growing fire in her spirit, even if she didn't see it yet herself. She was regaining some of the spirit that Francisco must have so admired in her, but the effort of fighting was a little too much for her pregnant body.

"You are welcome to rest at the hacienda for as long as you need to, Senora. The children are happy there."

"Thank you, Alejandro. You truly are a firm friend."

Alejandro sighed, as he gazed ahead. He was beginning to think he wanted to be more than a firm friend, but it was wishful thinking. Several of his friends had chosen much younger second wives, but he would not be so selfish. She obviously needed someone young like Diego, or even the Capitan.