Author's Note: So three hours ago I was on the kitchen floor bleeding to death, but I'm posting anyway cause I promised and I want this story over with, as much as I've enjoyed it. Not really bleeding to death of course, but I sliced my hand up pretty bad and typing and using my oh-so-ergonomic trackball HURTS. Why don't right handed people ever hurt their left hand? Always the right! Hands are pretty important, aren't they?
So this is 40 chapters, and I think I will leave it like this, nice and even. The epilogue wasn't finished and I don't think I like it anyways. More later. This picks up immediately after the last chapter, and continues into the next because I didn't want too many words in one chapter because some people don't like that.
zzz
Speak of the devil, Diego sighed as he spotted DeSoto come out of his office. When the man headed across the plaza toward him, Diego considered getting on his horse and riding away. He was not in the mood to be agreeable. The reminder of Rafael and his wife had been keeping him up at night since the party. This man threatened everything, including Victoria's life.
"Diego?" Francisco shook Diego's shoulder, which was rock solid with tension. "You better calm down. You look ready to kill him."
Diego turned to his new brother, shook his head to dispel the angry haze which had began to cloud his logic. With a final glance at the approaching alcalde, he went inside and hoped DeSoto had another destination in mind. Diego proudly showed them his printing press and tried not to think about DeSoto. He gave them both pen and paper since they wanted to write something of their own for a special issue about their sister's wedding.
Diego didn't turn around when he heard DeSoto's boots approaching. To occupy himself, Diego dropped to the floor and crawled under the press. Surely he could think of something which needed tightening or cleaning so he wouldn't have to play nice with Ignacio. He heard Ramon greet the alcalde and tried to take out his frustration on his beloved machine instead of the alcalde who deserved it.
"Diego, have you seen Mendoza?"
"Why would I know where Mendoza is? He's your sergeant, you keep up with him." Diego's fingers slipped in some grease and his cherished machine took a bite out of his left hand for trying to mess with something which wasn't broken. He slid out from under the machine with a curse and took out a handkerchief. "Are you still here? Check the tavern. He's usually there if he's not with you."
"I didn't realize you had more guests. Quite the host you're turning out to be, Diego."
"I guess I have a lot of friends, Ignacio." Diego stood and looked around for some water, but it had been a week since he'd been here and there was none. Victoria had been the reason he'd come to town so often, and now the office looked dusty from disuse. "Francisco can you…" Diego smiled and relaxed since Francisco was already walking out to the horses to find some water. He sat on the front of his desk and concentrated on easing the tension from every individual part of his body. By the time DeSoto finished calling him a klutz, he'd managed to center himself again.
"And your friends are…" DeSoto eventually asked since Diego was ignoring him.
"Ramon Escalante, meet our alcalde, Ignacio DeSoto," Diego said. "He's Victoria's brother. He's here for the wedding."
DeSoto slowly reached out a hand in greeting. "Ramon? I thought Victoria's brother was Francisco…" He turned as Francisco entered the office with a flask of water. "You are Francisco Escalante." Francisco didn't look up as he poured water over Diego's hand so he could clean the small wound.
When Diego's hand was cleaned and wrapped, Diego stood and put a dull, lazy expression on his face.
DeSoto pulled at his collar because Diego's strange look was making him nervous. He looked at the two brothers. "For the wedding? You got here pretty quick. It's been a big surprise to people here that our resident bookworm has managed snare the feisty señorita."
Diego wondered what would happen if he punched the mocking smirk off DeSoto's face right now. Or told him he invited the brothers here because they were fighters and would protect their sister if things got dangerous. He didn't have a sword, but DeSoto wouldn't be expecting it. He could disarm the man before he recovered. He'd much rather beat on DeSoto than his printing press. He looked at his hand. The printing press was obviously more dangerous, too.
DeSoto took a step back, sensing something of the dangerous intent in Diego's mind. "Welcome to Los Angeles," DeSoto said as he backed out of the office.
Diego's eyes narrowed at the retreating man. That might have been the strangest encounter he'd ever had with the alcalde.
Francisco stepped to the door and looked after the alcalde. "That was odd." He turned back to Diego.
Diego went to the window to watch, too. "You're not here for the wedding. I'm afraid Victoria has distracted me with agreeing to marry me so quickly. I never imagined she would." He turned back to the brothers. "Don't look at me like that. The Alcalde's been quiet, hoping Zorro and Diego would fight. But my leg is better now. It's time to get rid of him. I need to find Sebastian."
"Diego, you're talking treason."
"No, I'm talking revolution," Diego said with barely a glance at Francisco. He walked back to his desk. "But it won't be a revolution, I don't think. The alcalde is a criminal, and he needs to be prosecuted as a criminal and sent back to Spain to account for his crimes. I've been too self-absorbed to do what I should have done a long time ago."
Francisco made a noise to cut Diego off when he saw the alcalde coming back. "Maybe he heard you."
Diego turned to see the alcalde returning with four soldiers behind him. "He couldn't have heard me from all the way over there. Felipe, go to the horses." The three remaining men sat down quickly and bent over paper and pen while Felipe slunk outside to listen from the sidelines.
Diego somehow managed to find his old persona and greeted the alcalde much more cordially this time. DeSoto was less cordial.
"Francisco Escalante…" DeSoto called, and the man stood up, followed by Diego and Ramon.
"What's this about, alcalde," Diego asked.
"Francisco Escalante, you are under arrest for being in league with the outlaw Zorro." No one paid any attention as Felipe took off on his horse.
Diego tossed his pen onto the table. "What are you talking about?"
"I read Luis Ramon's journal about Zorro," DeSoto answered. "Francisco Escalante came into town to join the garrison. He promised to capture Zorro. In the end he wound up fighting with Zorro and attacking the soldiers and the alcalde."
"That hardly means he was in league with Zorro," Diego laughed.
"It doesn't matter what you think. Arrest him." Two soldiers walked over to flank Francisco. "And while you're at it, arrest Diego, too."
"HA! What are you arresting me for?" Diego asked.
"For harboring a criminal." Diego took a step toward the alcalde but Ramon took his arm to hold him still. The other two lancers didn't look too happy at the prospect of arresting the caballero. He knew the soldiers, and he tried to relax because he knew they didn't want to arrest him. They didn't touch him, and Diego rolled his shoulders to keep himself from reaching for the alcalde before he turned back to face him.
"I didn't even know he was a criminal." Diego was glad his voice sounded even and calm.
"Diego, ignorance of the law is hardly an excuse." The soldiers pushed Francisco outside and Diego followed more sedately. Everyone turned when they heard riders approaching.
"Victoria, what are you doing here?" Diego asked as Victoria jumped down from her horse. All the revolutionary thoughts he'd been having hinged on her being safe at the hacienda, and now here she is in the thick of it. She brought company, too. He nodded to the twenty or so of his men who had ridden in with her. It looked like he was right when he thought she won everyone over. They all looked as mad as Victoria, and many had rifles in hand. He smiled briefly when she reached up to kiss him, then frowned as she turned her back to him to face the alcalde.
"What's going on?" Victoria put her hands on her hips and glared at the alcalde.
"Señorita Escalante, I'm arresting your brother and your betrothed. Don't make me arrest you, too." DeSoto said, as if he were talking to a small child.
Victoria grinned, looked over her shoulder at the De La Vega men. "You're going to arrest me?" She crossed her arms and her smile got evil. She looked at the two soldiers standing behind Diego. "I suggest you do not touch my husband." DeSoto glanced at the mob she'd brought with her and tugged at his collar.
"Why are you arresting Diego?" Victoria brought DeSoto's attention back to her.
DeSoto narrowed his eyes at the way she was talking to him. "He has been harboring a criminal."
Diego was the only one who noticed her shoulders relax at the charge. Then the woman actually advanced on the alcalde! "And what makes you think my husband will set one foot in jail?" DeSoto looked slightly uncomfortable. "You are going to arrest a man with royal blood because you think he was harboring a criminal?"
DeSoto floundered a moment for what to say. She didn't let him continue. She spoke to Diego though she still glared at DeSoto. "Diego, dinner is waiting. Everyone was relaxing and waiting for you to return for the barbeque. My men don't like being kept away from good food. We're going home."
"Diego is not going anywhere! Lancers, take him to jail. Tomorrow I might decide to let him out on bail." He turned away only to freeze when he heard several rifles being cocked.
"My wife seems to have made friends with my men." Diego smirked and wrapped an arm around his tiny wife who brought an army to save him.
"What's going on?" Mendoza raced into the middle of the growing crowd.
"Sebastian where have you been?" Diego asked, annoyed that Sebastian hadn't been around, curious about the soldiers standing behind him. Had Sebastian been arrested, too?
"I was just looking for you. What trouble are you getting into now?" Sebastian asked grinned at his friend.
"I hope you're not going to interfere," DeSoto warned Sebastian. "Diego and Francisco are under arrest. I'll even offer bail right now. Say…1000 pesos each. Then, Señorita you can take your precious husband home for dinner."
"Doña Victoria De La Vega, Ignacio," Diego's voice was gritty when he stepped up beside Victoria, put an arm around her waist and pulled her even closer to the little man who was the bane of his existence. "Say it."
DeSoto glared at Diego for several moments. "Fine, Doña Victoria, pay the bail and you may take your husband home. Otherwise anyone who interferes can join them in jail."
"You want to arrest a descendant of the King of Spain?" Sebastian asked from the sidelines.
Diego's withering look turned into a smirk and DeSoto's face started turning red. He turned to the soldiers behind Sebastian. "It doesn't matter who he is! If anyone interferes, shoot them." Facing Diego again, he straightened his coat. "I'm the alcalde of this town, and I will maintain law and order. You broke the law. Pay the fine."
"Is 1000 pesos the standard bail for such a minor crime as this?" Sebastian asked.
DeSoto rounded on him. "Stay out of this, or you'll join your friend."
"And what would I be charged with?" Sebastian stepped further into the crowd and Diego pulled Victoria away as DeSoto's attention was diverted. "I've done nothing wrong. I even paid your traveler's tax."
Diego looked around and saw Amanda and Rafael come out of the tavern. "Go to Amanda." When Victoria turned to protest, he squeezed her shoulders. "Please. We talked about this. This ends today. Go to Amanda, go inside and bar the door. Promise me."
"Diego," Victoria gripped his waist. No sword, no whip.
"Victoria, you knew this was coming. I need to know that you are safe," Diego pleaded. Victoria looked around at the soldiers, at the men she'd pulled off the ranch, at Sebastian. She reached up to smooth Diego's jacket and turned away from him. She held Sebastian's confident gaze, touched the arm of this man who had come to protect them, and went inside with Amanda.
"Now that you've lost your protector, why don't you send one of your men home to get the money," DeSoto suggested.
"No. As my wife has said, Francisco and I are expected for dinner. Or maybe I should tell my cousin the king that you are trying to extort money from me."
"Ha. The king. The king is thousands of miles away. What will you do in the mean time?"
Mendoza stepped between the men and went to Francisco. "You cannot arrest Francisco, Alcalde," Mendoza said as he pushed his fellow soldiers away and straightened Francisco's jacket. He stood in front of his friend's brother and tried to bargain with the alcalde.
Diego crossed his arms and glared at Sebastian during the interruption.
"What's that look for?" Sebastian asked, the picture of innocence. Diego decided now might not be the best time to give Sebastian a black eye.
They both watched as the alcalde directed his anger at Mendoza.
"What are you talking about?" DeSoto asked Mendoza.
"You cannot arrest him. You were not there," Mendoza faced the alcalde. "Luis Ramon was trying to shoot civilians just to get to Zorro. Francisco was doing his duty as an army officer to defend innocent people."
"That man," DeSoto pointed at Francisco behind Mendoza, "aided a notorious outlaw. Luis Ramon knew he was in league with Zorro. It doesn't matter if my predecessor made a mistake. Francisco shouldn't have gone against his orders."
"But now you are making a mistake, alcalde," Mendoza said miserably. "Francisco is only here for his sister's wedding. He is not in league with anyone."
DeSoto advanced on his sergeant. "Mendoza, if Francisco Escalante isn't in my jail in five minutes, I will have you up on charges. If he's not in league with Zorro, he will be found innocent at trial."
Diego joined Mendoza, exasperated. "There is no way Francisco was in league with me. That was the first time he'd come to Los Angeles, and he didn't even know who Zorro was before he agreed to capture him. And Mendoza is right. The alcalde was wrong, and Francisco is innocent."
Diego heard a strangled sound and he turned to see Rafael and Alejandro join Sebastian. His father's eyes were wide and he shook his head at his son. Diego shrugged. What?
Sebastian laughed and shook his head at his friend after a long silence. "I've been here two months." He glanced over as his father came to stand beside him. He pointed at Diego and spoke to his father. "Can you believe this? Two years of mystery. He attacks me if I say the wrong thing in an empty tavern, but he can say whatever he wants. Hardly seems fair, does it?"
Diego looked from Sebastian to Alejandro and Rafael. "What are you talking about?"
"He's as surprised as I am you just admitted you are Zorro," DeSoto looked Diego up and down. "Though I'm still having a hard time believing what I heard."
"What? No I didn't."
"That is not what he said," Mendoza told DeSoto as he edged in front of Diego. "He said Francisco was not in league with Zorro. That is all."
DeSoto peered around Mendoza to take another measure of Diego. Mendoza moved again to block his view. DeSoto straightened back up and glared at the sergeant standing in his way.
Sebastian chuckled again. "I think he's dumb, Mendoza, but I don't think he's that dumb." DeSoto shot Sebastian a glare, then turned back to face the wilting sergeant, who nonetheless stood his ground in front of Diego.
Diego silently asked Sebastian if he'd truly given himself away, and Sebastian nodded with a laugh. Diego scratched his head. "What did I say?"
"You said there was no way Francisco was in league with me," DeSoto repeated. "You. Zorro."
"I did?" Diego looked around. Eight soldiers and the alcalde, standing against his friends and his men armed to the teeth. Of course, standing unarmed in the middle of eight soldiers wasn't the best position no matter how many people were on his side. He shrugged and pushed Mendoza out of the way. "Ok, I did. Francisco wasn't in league with me." He grinned at the alcalde. "Zorro." He tilted his head and looked at Francisco. "Though I guess he is in league with me now."