Zorro raced Toronado through the early evening's fading light. The horse responded to his slightest touch, and he felt an incredible connection with the stallion, as if they were part of a whole, not just rider and steed.
He dismounted next to the cuartel. He hesitated, and held his breath, waiting for a guard to notice and challenge him immediately. Something felt so easy and effortless, and his senses were buzzing with energy. Zorro glanced at the wall, and began to scale the building. It felt like he had done this forever, his muscles responding almost without thought.
He reached the roof, and lightly ran across to where a skylight was positioned. Something he knew was there, one of the memories without a reason, just resting in the back of his mind waiting to be rediscovered. Zorro waited, and then opened the skylight, listening intently for movement below.
No one was below, and he swung down into the alcalde's unoccupied office. Wondering where the alcalde was, he shrugged and crossed over to the door leading to the cells. He opened it, still listening intently for any threats.
"Good evening," Zorro said, as Alejandro and Victoria found their feet, and gasped at his entrance. "What are we waiting for?"
"Zorro…" Victoria said, in a hoarse whisper. "But how?"
"I'm a creature of the night, a fox. We are masters of survival," Zorro said with a smile and a shrug.
"But…?" Alejandro said softly.
Zorro reached out and took the cell keys from their nail.
"Freedom awaits, come on."
He unlocked Victoria's cell door first, then Alejandro's, opening the doors just enough to let them out. He threw the keys back to their hook on the wall. Victoria ran to him and embraced him tightly.
Alejandro grabbed his discarded jacket, and left his cell, shaking his head with wonder. Zorro opened the door leading out of the cuartel, checking for obvious threats. He held the door open to let his friends leave safely. It felt very easy, and so much like a trap, and he found his heart racing in his chest. Something was about to happen, he needed to be on guard.
"Quickly, out you go. Make for the hacienda," he whispered. They ran quietly across the plaza, while Zorro went back into the cuartel, leaving the door ajar. A lancer came in front of the door, his hand on his sword, glancing towards where the escaped prisoners ran. Zorro opened the door, tapping the lancer on the shoulder. As the soldier turned, Zorro landed a punch which knocked him out, landing him on the ground in front of him.
Mendoza approached the door, and started to quiver visibly. "Ah, Zorro, I...I...I."
Zorro shrugged.
"If you aren't willing to fight me, stand aside, Sergeant."
"Si, Senor."
Mendoza gulped, nodded, and keeping his hands away from his weapons, shuffled away from the immediate area.
De Soto walked outside, pushing the door of his office open.
"This head on approach will do you no favours, Senor Zorro," De Soto said, drawing his sword. "I had a feeling I would see you this evening."
Zorro couldn't help but shrug and grin. He saluted the alcalde with a sweep of his sabre. De Soto approached him cautiously, and Zorro had a few flashes of memory. They had met in battle many times, and he had always been the better swordsman. He was slightly concerned with the distinct ache in his head, and knew he just might be at a disadvantage.
De Soto led with a very cautious attack, which Zorro easily parried. Several more lunges and parries were exchanged, Zorro remembering more with every move.
"This is very entertaining De Soto, and great exercise, but I happen to be quite busy this evening," Zorro said, blocking a thrust from De Soto, pressing his sabre down so forcefully that De Soto struggled to lift his sword away. Zorro raised his sword, and hacked off De Soto's blade, inches from the hilt.
"You are always such a challenge, alcalde." The sarcasm came so easily, and lifted Zorro's spirits.
Zorro's whistle rang through the air, and Toronado joined him. He saluted, a hand to his hat, as he mounted, and spun away.
"Lancers," De Soto shouted. "Get him!"
Zzz
Zorro raced Toronado down barely remembered dirt tracks, outmaneuvering the soldiers with ease. He chuckled to himself, resting his stallion in the shadows, as he watched them race past.
"Good evening, Senor Zorro," a voice said in the darkness. A strangely familiar and eerily dangerous voice. He turned his head, and Toronado fussed slightly.
"I have you at last, Zorro," the man continued, urging a fine horse of his own out of the shadows. "Such a wonderful race. And now it is over."
Zzz
Victoria and Alcalde scampered over to the tavern, ducking down to hide as the soldiers raced past. Victoria unlocked the door, and let them in. She led Alejandro to the basement, in an effort to get some breathing room to think about what had happened.
"It's him? Do you think?" Victoria said, worriedly. "He didn't seem…"
"It was similar to when he first acted, when he rescued us the first time," Alejandro replied. "I don't know what it means. It worked with Luis Ramon, but De Soto is another man altogether."
"Maybe he doesn't really remember?"
"I told you, the man is Zorro, deep down. It was bound to emerge under the right circumstances. Hopefully Diego is up for any challenges the night will bring."
"What if he has another headache? He has told me they are extreme," Victoria said worriedly. "I don't know if I like this. He is in so much danger."
"He always was before."
"That was before I knew who he was," Victoria said with a sigh. "Before I really knew what he meant to me."
Alejandro held her to him, comforting her. "He will be fine. Diego is Zorro. He trained under one of the best swordmasters of the world. Even without all his memories, those things never leave someone. Not the intense training he has put himself through, in Madrid and since becoming Zorro for five years."
"I need to make sure he is alright. We need to follow him."
"If the lancers can't find him, I doubt we will," Alejandro said warily.
"If you don't come with me, I am going without you."
"Victoria, you could endanger him just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time," Alejandro said. "You are better placed here."
"He could be hurt, bleeding to death, and I am not going to wait here and let him die, not when I could do something. I am going to gather some blankets, food and drink and some bandages. Just in case," she insisted. "Are you coming with me or not?"
"If only to keep you out of harm's way, my dear Victoria," Alejandro said with a sigh. "We have no idea what is happening out there."
"If you could harness the mare to my cart, I'll pack. Then we can try to find him."
"Alright. I am sure he will be safe and sound in the hacienda before we need to use your supplies, but I will accompany you," Alejandro said, heading towards the stables.