The Past Is Prologue

Chapter20: Reunions

"It is said that everyone in Avalor City flocked to Princess Elena's banner when she marched on the palace to take back her throne from the tyrant Shuriki. To my lasting shame that was not true. Oh, I despised Shuriki, and complained about her to anyone who would listen, but I didn't believe Princess Elena was really who she said she was. After all, the crown princess should have been 57 years old, not 16. I thought she was another pretender, like the woman who tried to claim she was Princess Isabel when I was a boy. I told my sister not to go, but she did not listen. So I stayed home and worried, while my sister got to help overthrow that evil sorceress." – Don Julio Guzmán, Magister of Trade, former member of the Grand Council of Crown Princess Elena Castillo Flores. A People's History of the Reign of Queen Shuriki, compiled by Professor Catalina de Torres

The next morning, it was sunny but muddy. Olivia kept slipping as she tried to walk. She and Ash had tree bark for breakfast. It was…odd, but better than the grubs Ash had offered to dig up for her if she preferred. Olivia had thanked the malvaga for teaching her which trees were edible, "so I won't bark up the wrong tree." Ash grumbled that it was clear Olivia had spent entirely too much time around Victor if she thought that was funny. The ex-apprentice wizard didn't mention that Mateo and Queen Elena were better at puns than Victor. She didn't think Ash would appreciate it.

Around mid-morning, a few of Ash's wounds started bleeding again, and Ash showed Olivia were best for curing that. As Olivia was tending a chinopo bite on the wizard's wrist, she noticed an unusual-looking pink and white striped bracelet which didn't seem to be the malvaga's style at all. "What is this?" she asked curiously.

"Don't touch that!" Ash snatched her arm away. At Olivia's startled glance, the malvaga said shortly, "It's a weapon I don't intend to use on you, so you don't need to worry about it."

"If it's a weapon, why didn't you use it on the chinopos?"

Ash hesitated, and then said almost wistfully, "I can take the life of anyone I wish with this bracelet, and it will only cost me my life."

"That's terrible! Why do you even have such an evil thing?" Olivia was appalled.

"There are some beings whose gifts one dares not refuse," Ash observed drily. "No matter. As I said before, you have no reason to worry." She lightly bopped Olivia's nose. "Now we must be off. I still have no idea how I am to get you safely home. Fiero never explained his trap to me; De Alva and his people could be anywhere."

Olivia wrenched her mind from the ghastly bracelet, and focused on the problem at hand. "Is your chanul still around?"

The malvaga snorted. "She never leaves my side, more's the pity."

"Well, chanuls always know where their humans are. If your chanul could find Mateo's chanul, then he could tell her where he is, and she can tell you."

Ash scoffed, "I sincerely doubt that chanuls can just…what do you mean it's not a bad idea? You're not…and she's gone. Well, at least we got rid of the pest. I'll have to think of more fool's errands on which to send her. Let's go, niña."

Ten minutes later Ash stumbled back in surprise. "How are you back already? What do you mean, it worked?" The malvaga seemed put out. Olivia really wished Ash would just summon her chanul already; these one-sided conversations were getting old. Ash sighed, and said to the girl, "I know where De Alva is; let's go." They'd only walked a few paces when the malvaga snapped, "Stop looking so smug!"

"Who are you talking to? Me or your chanul?" Olivia wanted to know.

"Both of you!" They walked in silence after that. They briefly stopped for lunch (more bark – yum), then continued on their journey.

Around mid-afternoon they stopped at the edge of a clearing. "According to Tecolote, De Alva is a quarter mile in that direction. Once you reach him, you should be safe," the malvaga said. "Now I shall take my leave."

"You're not coming with me?" Olivia had not expected that.

"I am a wanted criminal, remember?" Ash smiled, a genuine smile and not mocking for once. "But I am happy to have gotten to know you. You will make a formidable opponent one day, young Olivia."

"But you're still in danger from Fiero! You saved me! I'm sure Queen Elena would pardon you if you agreed to help…" her voice trailed off.

"You are concerned for me," Ash said in a curious tone. She lightly touched Olivia's cheek. "You needn't be. I can take care of myself. Besides, there will be no pardon for me. My enemies are not forgiving."

"Queen Elena pardoned both your husband and your daughter," Olivia insisted. "Once I tell her how you saved me and turned against Fiero and Duke Cristóbal…"

"But I haven't turned against them," Ash interrupted. Her voice turned cold. "Did you think just because I felt sorry for you I would join your queen's cause? A word of advice, young wizard. Never mistake pity for goodness. I agreed to help you, nothing more. Now…"

"Canaza!" Olivia and Ash both spun around as Ash's tamborita went flying. The malvaga made a grab for it, but it was too late. A firm voice called out, "Both of you! Put your hands where I can see them and don't move, or I will freeze you where you stand." The caster walked around to face her captives.

Antonia Bello! "Antonia! It's me!" Olivia said excitedly. "I got away from Fiero! Ash saved me!"

"Olivia?" Antonia sounded shocked. "Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me," Olivia felt like laughing and crying all at once. She was home! Or at least on her way there. "Oh, I changed my clothes and hair as a disguise. Ash helped me escape. I have so much to tell you! Did you know chinopos are real?" The ex-apprentice could tell she was babbling now. Get a hold of yourself, she told herself sternly.

"Olivia, come here. Quickly!" Antonia kept her tamborita firmly pointed at Ash. Uncertainly, the girl took a few steps forward and then stopped, deliberately positioning herself between Ash and Antonia.

"You don't have to worry about Ash," Olivia insisted. "She rescued me from Fiero!"

"Olivia, get behind me, now!"

"Do as she says, child," Ash snapped. Olivia reluctantly complied. She had to find a way to convince Antonia that Ash was not a threat.

"Antonia, where are you? What's going on?" At the worst possible moment Victor Delgado came crashing through the trees. When he saw his wife, he froze.

"No," he whispered. "You're dead."

"So sorry to disappoint you, Victor," the malvaga said acidly.

"No matter," he responded coldly. "That's easily remedied." He drew his tamborita.

"No!" Olivia cried out. "Ash saved me!"

"Olivia?" her former fellow apprentice spared her a bewildered glance, but only for a second. Then he returned his glare, and his tamborita, towards his wife.

"Victor, I've already disarmed her, and we'll take her back to Avalor City to stand trial for her crimes," Antonia said in an urgent undertone.

"I like my solution better," the ex-malvago growled.

"Striking an unarmed woman down?" Ash tsked. "Aren't you supposed to be a good wizard now? Hardly appropriate behavior for your new station in life."

"For you, dear, I'll make an exception." Although it was rare, Olivia had seen Victor angry a few times, but never had she heard his voice so cold or deadly as it sounded now.

"Not even a farewell kiss? Come to me, cariño." Ash extended her arm towards her husband, the arm with the fatal bracelet. Olivia had never in her life seen such raw hatred as she did at that moment between this husband and wife.

She couldn't let them kill each other! Olivia dashed forth, hoping to place herself between the two would-be combatants. "Woah!" Antonia grabbed her before she could. "Olivia, don't! Victor, stop! This is not the way! Don't throw away everything you've worked for!"

"You do not know how dangerous this woman is, Antonia," the apprentice wizard replied. "I'd be doing Avalor a favor to eliminate her once and for all." He raised his hand to strike his tamborita.

Suddenly, Don Esteban was there! He hadn't run up, he simply…appeared! He must have used his staff to teleport! Olivia had never seen anyone teleport before. Don Esteban stood directly in front of Ash, facing Victor. "If you want to harm her, you'll have to go through me," he hissed.

Ash snatched her arm away from Don Esteban. "Now you protect me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Don Esteban glanced back for an instant with a sardonic half-smile. "I am nothing if not a creature of habit, as you so often pointed out." Ash let out a short laugh.

"Stand aside, Esteban," Victor said in a low voice.

"Lower your tamborita," the former chancellor responded coldly.

"Get out of my way or I will blast you along with that witch."

"You've always underestimated me. I've been trained to use this staff by Zopilote and your wife. Do you really want to see what I can do to you with it?

"Oh, I'd love to see you try," snarled Victor. "This battle has been a long time coming, El Segundo."

Don Esteban coolly answered, "For once we agree, malvago." Olivia, still restrained by Antonia, gasped. Ash might not consider the word an insult, but Victor certainly would. He raised his hand over his tamborita as Don Esteban leveled the Crystal Staff of Takaína at Victor.

"Stand down, gentlemen." Mateo came into view, flanked by Rico and Ixlan. He was alive! Olivia was not too late. At least, not too late for Mateo. She was still worried about Ash and Victor. Both the Queen's cousin and the apprentice at first paid no attention to the royal wizard. Mateo drew his own tamborita and pointed it at the two combatants. "I said, stand down. Now!" There was steel in his voice that Olivia had never heard from her gentle teacher before. Both Victor and Don Esteban reluctantly lowered their weapons.

"Mateo! Ash saved me from Fiero!" Olivia called out. "That's why she's here!"

"Olivia?" Mateo looked at his former apprentice with widened eyes. "You're here?! You're all right?"

She shook herself loose from Antonia's grasp. The guardswoman immediately pointed her tamborita back at Ash. "Yes, Mateo. I'm fine." She found herself trembling, though. Was Mateo still mad at her? You have to be professional, she scolded herself. You have a report to make.

Not taking his eyes from his former apprentice, Mateo asked, "Is Ash secured?"

"Yes," Antonia answered. "I disarmed her and I have her covered."

"You three," Mateo indicated Antonia, Rico, and Ixlan, "watch – those three." He vaguely pointed to Ash, Victor and don Esteban. "Olivia," and here his voice turned hesitant, "may I speak to you for a moment?"

Olivia nodded, a lump in her throat. She walked over to the royal wizard, reviewing in her mind what she would say. Mateo led her a little way from the others.

The ex-apprentice took a deep breath and began her report. "On the way back to Avalor City we were attacked by Fiero and he –"

Suddenly Mateo pulled her into a hug. "Thank God you're all right." His voice broke. "I've been so afraid for you. I kept thinking that my last words to you were angry…Can you ever forgive me?"

Professionalism forgotten, Olivia hugged Mateo back. "I'm so sorry. You were right about everything. I put everyone in danger; Fiero was going to use me to trap you! If anything had happened to you it would have been my fault!"

"No, it wouldn't have been. I'm just so glad you're all right." They hugged for a moment longer, and then Olivia realized her legs really hurt.

"Hey, Mateo, do you mind if we sit down? Ash and I have been hiking through the jungle all day."

"Oh, of course," Mateo smiled sheepishly. "You must have quite the tale to tell me." They looked around and Mateo indicted a fallen log. "Have a seat, apprentice."

That brought Olivia up short. "Um, I thought I wasn't your apprentice anymore," she said hesitantly.

Mateo winced. "Right. Why don't you have a seat and we'll talk about that?" They sat down and Mateo took Olivia's hands in his. "I was so upset when I found out you had run away and straight into danger, and had gotten into a magical duel with Fiero. You scared me. I'd failed to keep you safe and reacted in the heat of the moment when I dismissed you. I wouldn't blame you at all if you didn't want to study with me anymore. But if you do, I'd love to have you back as my apprentice."

Olivia didn't even have to think about it. She threw her arms around Mateo and said, "Of course I want to study with you!" She'd been Mateo's apprentice since she was nine years old. It's who she was. It had hurt so badly when she thought she'd disappointed him. And now they were both safe and he'd forgiven her!

The royal wizard briefly hugged her back and then held up a hand. "It may not be up to you or me," he cautioned. "Elena and your parents will have to agree to that as well."

"I understand." Olivia wasn't worried about Queen Elena. She'd always been understanding. Her mother, though…She was probably worried sick. Olivia didn't know how she'd react. Both her parents had been so proud that she was only the second Avaloran wizard in over four decades. Her mother had even made her wizard robes. But now that the apprentice wizard had faced real danger that might change. Olivia felt a sudden wave of homesickness. She wanted to be sitting on the divan at home between her parents with Sr. Whiskers on her lap.

"Could you tell me what happened to you after Fiero's attack?" Mateo asked gently.

"He got the jump on me. I failed to protect the others. He turned them to stone and immobilized me." Olivia closed her eyes for the next part. "Then he…shattered César."

Mateo took her hand in his. "It wasn't your fault, Olivia."

"He was after me, specifically. He wanted to use me as bait…" the apprentice wizard let her voice trail off.

"To get to me," the royal wizard finished for her. Olivia shot him a guilty look. "Again, not your fault. What happened next? Where did Fiero take you? And how did you end up with Ash?"

"He took me to a hacienda in Baja Bahia."

"Fiero has a hacienda?"

"No, it belongs to Conde Cantú. He's a supporter of Duke Cristóbal, who's calling himself King Cristóbal now. Ash was there too. She took care of me while I was Fiero's prisoner."

"Did she hurt you?" Mateo asked sharply.

"No," Olivia responded, "I think she felt bad for me."

"Ash felt bad for someone?" The wizard sounded like he couldn't believe it.

"Yeah, she did," the apprentice said defensively. "And when she caught me trying to escape, she helped me."

"Why?" Mateo sounded puzzled.

"I told you, she felt bad for me. And I don't think she likes Fiero very much. So anyway, she was just going to help me sneak out of the hacienda – that's why I'm wearing a disguise – but then guards caught her with me so she had to come too." She looked directly at her mentor. "I wouldn't have made it out of the hacienda, let alone through the jungle, without Ash's help. She really did save me. It's not fair to just throw her in a dungeon - or worse – when she's only here because of me."

Mateo sighed. "I promise I won't let Victor hurt Ash, but I can't promise anything else."

"Can we go back and check on them?" Olivia asked. She was worried about the malvaga.

"That's probably a good idea." As they got up to rejoin the others, Mateo put his arm around Olivia's shoulders. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Olivia was relieved to see that no one had been harmed while she and Mateo were chatting. Don Esteban was talking animatedly with Rico, Ixlan was firmly holding on to Victor's arm (he looked furious), and Antonia, with grim determination, kept her tamborita pointed at Ash, who was sitting primly on a boulder.

"My apprentice tells me you helped her escape from Fiero. I'm grateful to you," the royal wizard said.

"Grateful enough to let me go?" the malvaga replied with a mocking tone.

"You're still a wanted criminal in Avalor," Mateo replied coolly. "You did unleash the Shadows of the Night on us to bring about civilization's destruction."

"I would never have let it get that far," Ash said loftily. "I would have controlled them. Besides, that was years ago, was it not? And I doubt there is a law specifically forbidding summoning the Shadows of the Night…"

"There are laws against trying to overthrow and assassinate the rightful ruler of Avalor," Rico coldly pointed out.

"I am hardly the only person here guilty of that," Ash jerked her head at her husband without looking at him. "If he can find forgiveness, why not me?"

"I worked hard to earn my pardon," Victor growled, "risking my life to fight…"

"Me," Ash said. "I remember."

"After everything you've done, you deserve far worse than to rot in a dungeon," the former malvago continued. "Just be grateful your fate is not in my hands. You're as evil as you ever were."

"She saved me from Fiero," Olivia said again. "Besides, I'm sure she's sorry for what she did in the past. Aren't you, Ash?"

"Uh, sure," the dark wizard said dubiously. Esteban rolled his eyes and Victor let out a bitter laugh. Olivia ground her teeth. Ash really wasn't helping her own case here.

Mateo's youngest and most senior apprentice looked directly at her teacher. "Ash risked her life to rescue me. She can help us stop Duke Cristóbal and Fiero."

"What?!" Mateo, Esteban, Victor and Ash all chorused together in shock. Everyone just stared at Olivia.

"Erm, well, why not?" the girl demanded. "They're a major threat to Avalor, and they're enemies to Ash now as much as to any of us. I'm no military strategist, but doesn't that make her an asset?"

"It might," mused Ixlan, "if we could trust her. But we cannot."

"Ash doesn't have an ounce of goodness or loyalty," Victor hissed. "Mateo, tell me you're not seriously considering the suggestion of this child." He waved dismissively at Olivia.

"This isn't up to any of us," Mateo reminded his apprentices. "The decision is Elena's. We need to take Ash back to Avalor City where she will be tried for her crimes against Avalor. I promise you both will have an opportunity to give testimony." The royal wizard seemed torn.

"This is what comes of showing kindness," Ash muttered.

Olivia felt a great many emotions at once. She felt guilty that Ash was being punished for helping her, and thought that was unfair. She was so relieved to be safe and back with Mateo. She had a burning desire to bring Fiero down. She wanted to prove Ash wrong. And Victor was getting on her last nerve.

"Mateo, please listen to me," she implored. "We need to stop Fiero and Duke Cristóbal. You know that. Ash is our best shot at accomplishing that goal. I get that rescuing me isn't enough to win her a pardon, but wouldn't it be worth it to capture Avalor's greatest threat?" The royal wizard seemed to consider her words.

"Antonia has already done that," Victor sneered. "Mateo, you know better. Olivia is naïve to assume Ash can be trusted. There is not a monster in the Compendium that the girl doesn't think is 'cute.' There are times you need to protect her from herself!"

Well, that wasn't condescending at all. "I don't believe all monsters are 'cute,'" she answered angrily, "and I don't trust as easily as you think. I certainly know that Duke Cristóbal and Fiero are evil and should be brought down."

"Javier needs to be on that list, too, Olivia," Ash interjected sharply.

"He's not really evil so much as misguided…"

"Javier?" Mateo looked questioningly at Olivia, but it was Ash who answered.

"Teenage mad scientist with a grudge against Princess Isabel."

Mateo sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Javier needs to be on that list, too, Olivia," he echoed.

"My point," Olivia said, trying to get back on track, "is that people are complicated. Someone who has done evil in the past can do good in the future."

"Not Ash," Victor growled.

For the umpteenth time Olivia repeated, "She saved me from Fiero. That shows she can be good."

"Does it?" her fellow apprentice asked. "She is on our side because she showed you pity? Were you a broken bird she took under her wing?" He took a step towards her. "Let me tell you about Ash's 'broken birds.'"

"Victor, don't!" For the first time since being captured Ash lost her composure. "I told you that in confidence!"

"I owe you nothing!" he snapped at his wife before turning back to Olivia. "When Ash was much younger, perhaps even your age, she used to have a fondness for small, helpless creatures. If she would find a sick mouse, or a bird with a broken wing, she would nurse it back to health. She was Zopilote's apprentice then, and he did not approve of her little hobby. So they made a deal, the two of them. If Ash could keep the creatures hidden, she could do with them what she would, but if Zopilote found any of her hiding spots, she was to end the creatures immediately. Ash always complied." How awful, Olivia thought. Contrary to Victor's apparent intention, though, it didn't make her think less of Ash. She was angrier at Zopilote's cruelty, and saw how he had warped the malvaga's outlook on life. "So even if Ash experienced a fleeting moment of pity for you, she would squash you like a bug," he clapped his hands, and Olivia jumped, "the moment it suited her purpose."

"You snake!" Ash spat. "Once again you prove why I should never have trusted you."

"Why you should never have trusted me?" Victor asked incredulously, turning back to the malvaga. "After everything you –"

"Enough," Ixlan interjected. "This gets us nowhere. Wizard," and here she looked at Mateo, "is it your wish to let the malvaga aid us in bringing down our enemies, or do we take her back to Avalor City to be judged by the Queen?"

"I don't know," Mateo said.

"You are all forgetting one thing," Don Esteban pointed out. "The lady herself has not offered her help."

Everyone turned to look at Ash. "I could help you," she mused. "I would be the perfect spy to sabotage Cristóbal's little coup. And you have no chance to defeat Fiero without me."

"I've done it twice before," Mateo pointed out.

"Ah, but this time he won't underestimate you," the dark wizard purred. "It's why he brought me back, so he wouldn't have to face you alone. And why he intended to murder your apprentice in front of you to leave you too distraught to fight properly."

Olivia winced. She hadn't wanted Mateo to hear that part; it would only upset him. The royal wizard gasped and protectively put his arm around her shoulder.

"The real question," Ash continued, "is what do I get in exchange for helping you?"

Antonia looked at her in disbelief. "The chance to make amends for your previous crimes."

Olivia sighed. "The chance to win your freedom so you don't end up in a dungeon for the rest of your life." Really, Ash could be so obtuse. Then Olivia remembered Carla's picture in Ash's room back in Baja Bahía. "Plus the chance to be on the same side as your daughter," she added.

For a moment, for one brief moment, the dark wizard's icy façade melted, genuine anguish on her face. But then it was gone, and the coolly mocking villainess was back.

She raised an eyebrow and looked to don Esteban, of all people. "Could I earn my freedom? If I aid you, could I win a pardon?"

Don Esteban was quiet for a moment. "Possible, yes," he said slowly, "but the service you would provide Avalor would have to be great indeed. If only Elena were here," he added in frustration.

"Very well," Ash replied calmly. "I accept. I will be your spy and stop Fiero and King – I mean, the usurper Cristóbal."

"No offer has been made," Rico told her coldly. "None of us here have the authority to pardon you." Then he said to Mateo's youngest apprentice, "I am sorry, Olivia. I am so happy you're all right, and if the malvaga did help you, it's likely that her sentence will be mitigated. But we have to bring her back to Avalor City for the queen to judge."

"I have the authority," Mateo spoke up suddenly. He held up his hand as Victor began to protest. "I didn't say I will. But as Royal Wizard dealing with magical threats is my responsibility, and I have wide latitude in how I do it. And Fiero is definitely a magical threat."

"As is Ash," Victor snarled. "Have you considered how easily she could betray us? It's not worth the risk."

"There are three possibilities if we pursue this course of action," Don Esteban mused. "One, Ash does not betray us and with her help we defeat that wretched Cristóbal. Two, Ash betrays us, and Victor is proven right. That would be horrible." Olivia was not sure which Don Esteban thought would be horrible – Ash's betrayal or Victor being proven right. "Three, Ash does not betray us but our enemies discover what she is doing. She would not long survive. We face one good outcome and two bad ones."

"Your math skills are poor, El Segundo. I only count one bad outcome there," Victor replied.

Mateo spoke again. "This is what I propose. We vote on it. I will abide by the wishes of the group, and will take full responsibility for the decision."

"Do I get a vote?" Ash asked.

"No!" all of the other seven people shouted.

"Just checking," the malvaga shrugged.

"I'll begin," Mateo continued. "We have an opportunity to stop Fiero once and for all. I say it's worth the risk. I vote yes. Olivia?"

"Yes."

"Victor?"

"No."

"Ixlan?"

The Maruvian warrior was silent for a moment before speaking. "While the reasoning of the young one is sound, this malvaga has proven time and again she cannot be trusted. It is not worth the risk. I vote no."

"Rico?" Mateo asked.

"I agree with Ixlan," the lieutenant responded. "Ash has never expressed any sort of remorse for her crimes, and has no compelling reason to aid us beyond her own immediate self-interest. I vote no."

"Antonia?" Mateo continued.

"I understand what you are saying," Antonia said to her wife and to Rico, "but this is too great an opportunity to pass up. It's worth the risk. Besides, I trust Olivia. I vote yes."

Ixlan impassively replied, "As you can tell I am gravely disappointed in you."

"Well, that's three yes and three no," Mateo said. "Esteban?"

Don Esteban stroked his beard and looked hard at Ash, as if he would read her mind. Finally, he sighed. "Very well. I vote – yes."

"Splendid!" Ash smiled. "Since we are allies now, may I have my tamborita back?"

Mateo shot her a cold look and then glanced at Antonia, who handed him the drum wand. He contemplated it for a moment. "Just to be clear, your task is to find out exactly what Fiero is planning, and either scuttle it or return to tell me what it is."

"That, or simply eliminate Fiero or Cristóbal if the opportunity presents itself," Ash replied coolly.

Mateo winced, and said, "Or…that. But you don't need to." He seemed uncomfortable, and Olivia couldn't blame him. "We'll meet you outside of Baja Bahia in three days time. Of course, you could still decide to betray us, but Carla will know. Decide how you want your daughter to think of you."

Ash pursed her lips and then imperiously held out her hand. "My tamborita."

"Deliberately, Mateo dropped the tamborita on the ground and brought the heel of his boot down on it. Ash cried out and Olivia gasped. For a moment her goofy, kindhearted mentor reminded her forcibly of Fiero. "I'm already taking a tremendous risk by letting you go. I have no intention of leaving you the means to attack us."

The malvaga looked furious but said nothing. Abruptly she turned to go. On impulse Olivia ran to her and threw her arms around her. Ash seemed taken aback. "Thank you for saving me. Don't be so quick to dismiss goodness as pity."

Ash awkwardly patted Olivia on the back and then said to Mateo, "The girl's protection is your responsibility?"

"It is," the royal wizard answered.

"Then do a better job." She gave Olivia a little shove towards Mateo.

"I intend to."

"I'm right here," Olivia grumbled. Ash merely smirked while Mateo shot his apprentice a sheepish look as he motioned her back. Victor rolled his eyes.

"A moment, if you please, Ash," Don Esteban said as he stepped forth. He took the malvaga's hand in his and brought it to his lips. "Buena suerte, amiga."

"I've told you before, Esteban, I make my own luck." They held hands for a moment longer while Victor fumed.

Olivia knew that don Esteban and Ash had been on the run together when they were fugitives, but it had never occurred to her that they were close. "Were they, like, a couple?" she whispered to Mateo.

"Nobody knows," he whispered back. "I'm not going to ask either one. Are you going to ask?"

"I'm not going to ask." She watched as the enigmatic woman disappeared into the jungle.

"That was a mistake," Victor rounded on Mateo. "She will betray us, just wait and see." He stomped off. Olivia sighed. At least she was safe, but her return had created unexpected complications. She really, really hoped Victor was wrong.

AN: A story cannot contain a song, of course. But if you would like one, imagine this: A classic Spanish romance, sung by Victor as he is alone in the jungle, entitled "Broken Bird." He sings of his back story with Ash. To get back into Shuriki's favor, Victor had set out to capture the notorious malvago Zopilote and his mysterious apprentice. While setting a trap, Victor fell from a tree at Ash's feet, breaking his leg in the process. She left him for dead, but that evening returned and set his leg. She nursed him back to health for a month, as if he were a broken bird, and he fell in love with her. When Zopilote caught Ash and Victor together, he demanded that Ash eliminate Victor. She refused, and they fled to Cordoba where they were wed. It wasn't until Carla was born and Victor saw Ash truly love another that he realized she had never really loved him, but Victor had to admit that Ash hadn't lied to him; she was simply too damaged to know what love was. By the end of the song, it's not clear if the "Broken Bird" of the title is Victor, Ash, Carla, or all three.