Chapter 3

Diego's Bedroom...

Diego tossed and turned remembering the events of this evening. If only we had never gone to the pueblo…if only we had not accepted his dinner invitation, Sir Edmund would still be alive. We were foolish to trust Ramon…It's all my fault, the caballero thought.

***
Written invitation or not, I still don't trust the alcalde, Father.

You've got to relax, Diego. Please. He is anxious meeting a member of British peerage.

Knighthood does have its perquisites. Diego, stop worrying. I'll be quite safe in the tavern, surrounded by your friends.

Actually, if we don't go, son that will make him even more suspicious.

The caballero awoke suddenly and wiped a stray tear from his cheek…You have unique gifts, Diego. Never hesitate to use them in the cause of justice. Now go out there and fight the good fight…."I will, my friend…Your sacrifice will not be in vain…I promise."

The Next Morning

"You are up early, this morning, son," Don Alejandro took a bite of his breakfast, "I am going to the church to go over the arrangements with Padre Benítez."

"I want to go with you. Sir Edmund was more than a teacher," Diego sighed, "I owe a great deal to him…"

"I am grateful for his influence, son," the old don sighed, "we will give him a proper burial in our family plot."

"Thank you, Father," Diego was overcome with emotion, "I…I don't know what to say…"

Don Alejandro hugged his son tightly. "Edmund deserves nothing less. Now, I suggest that you eat this delicious breakfast that Maria has prepared, or I will never hear the end of it…."

The Cemetery….

Diego and his father placed the last handfuls of dirt on Sir Edmund's coffin. The simple yet heartfelt ceremony touched the tall caballero's wounded heart. The alcalde stood at a distance unwilling to risk the ire of Don Alejandro and his son.

"Thank you, Sergeant for everything," Diego glanced at Mendoza, "you are a real friend."

"De nada, amigo…I am here if you need me. I must be on my way…"

"I understand, Mendoza…Gracias."

"Come, Diego. Victoria has prepared a meal for us at the tavern…it will do you good to be around friends and family."

The Tavern…

"That was a delicious meal, Victoria. It was exactly what I needed."

"De nada. You need to take care of yourself…we can't afford to have you wasting away, Diego."

"Is that your not so subtle way of telling me that I haven't been eating enough? I promise you that I will do better," he smiled, "you can count on it."

"Good…I have missed seeing your smile, Diego," she said sincerely, "let me get you some more lemonade…while I leave you two alone to talk."

"Victoria is a very insightful woman. She cares for you a great deal."

"Despite all that has happened…I have a lot to be grateful for…I…I miss Sir Edmund…"

"We could have known that it was a trap…I blame the alcalde's greed…his thirst for power…I don't know how long this pueblo can exist under his leadership," the old don ran an agitated hand through his hair, "something should be done and now…"

"Father, I don't have much confidence that anything can be done," Diego surmised, "all the government is concerned about is us paying our obligations…"

"A direct approach may be the best answer. There is a cattle auction in Monterrey. That would be the perfect opportunity to discuss the situation with the Governor," Don Alejandro admitted, "and I would like you to go with me…"

"Are you sure? You are probably better equipped to talk to the governor…"

"I underestimated you in the past, but Edmund thought well of you to come all this way to ask for your help. When we get home, I want to show you something…"

"Come into my study, son. Padre Benitez found a will among Edmund's belongings, leaving this to you," Don Alejandro handed Diego Sir Edmund's dagger….

You've been a superb pupil, Diego. Now you must be a superb man. Take this. Sir Edmund handed his championship saber to Diego. You're the first student to ever best me in the courtyard. You've earned it.

This is your championship saber.

You'll have to work with it, become accustomed to its weight. Its Toledo blade has never been defeated in competition, Diego. My only prayer is that is does as well in the heat of battle.

And mine will be that it never draws blood, Sir Edmund.

A worthy goal, Diego but the fight for justice often demands more than intellect.

"Diego, are you listening? Your mind was a thousand miles away," his father's voice drawing him out of his momentary revelry, "Son…."

"You sent me to Madrid to become a man of whom a father would be proud. I was just remembering…the first time that I saw this. Sir Edmund teased me about always having my head in a book," his son smiled wistfully, "he said that in this world, there is often greater value in daring, self-reliance, intrepid courage and sharp Toledo steel." "

"Sir Edmund said that you should use it in your struggle, son. Is there something that you are not telling me, Diego?"

"What could I possibly be hiding from you, Father?"

"Edmund didn't come from halfway the world to escape a royal death warrant if you couldn't help him."

"Perhaps, he thought that our name could have some influence," Diego shifted uneasily, "or that he could outrun trouble…I don't know…."

"Why would he give his most prized weapon to someone who has such disdain for weapons…I cannot believe that after four years of study with Edmund that you didn't at least get some rudimentary skills, son."

"I never said that I didn't have any skills, Father. You never gave me the chance to explain," Diego paced the floor of his father's study.

"Then, perhaps you should start at the beginning, son…"