Diego woke up feeling much refreshed though the pounding in the back of his skull told him he'd hit his head harder than he'd thought. His side was considerably less stiff however and his eyes no longer felt as if they were covered in dust. Tentatively, he sat up and was mostly happy with the results as the room only slowly spun. The weak light filtering in the shutter told him it was at least late afternoon, perhaps dusk.

Frowning at his dusty pants and the not inconsiderable dirt they had left in his bed, he changed quickly into more suitable attire and went to find Felipe. The boy would, undoubtedly, have more information about what was going on than anyone else.

Felipe was found in the kitchen. He looked Diego over imperiously and then, apparently satisfied with what he saw, gestured for Diego to sit.

Fighting to keep his expression serious, Diego took the proffered bench and leaned toward his young companion.

"Any news?"

Felipe nodded. *Juan says that they rounded up the men you saw this morning and took them to the pueblo. Rodrigo should be fine."

Diego relaxed a bit. That had taken care of his most pressing concerns. "Did anyone call?"

Felipe nodded. *Don Olentzaro and Don Hector.*

Diego grinned crookedly. "I suppose they took the news of my 'illness' with all due grace?"

Felipe nodded solemnly, but then smiled.

Diego clapped him on the back. "I owe you many thanks. Don Hector is a dear and brave man, but the man can out do even myself for inanity."

Felipe winked.

Diego moved into the parlor and called for Maria to serve them a late supper. Felipe, who undoubtedly had already eaten, joined in with no lack of enthusiasm. Sometimes Diego wondered if his young charge was not part wolf.

"What is everyone saying about what happened today?" Diego asked, keeping his voice low.

*They are a little upset, but not too much. They are a bit concerned for you.* Felipe signed with a shrug.

"Hmm. Is anyone saying anything about my involvement?"

Felipe shook his head. *They are too worried, I think. Maria has told everyone that you came home covered in blood and have taken to your bed.*

Diego groaned. "She will have me banished there for a week at least if she gets her way. I cannot have father hearing about this when he returns. He will ask more questions than Maria."

*I don't know if we can do that. Everyone is talking a lot.*

"I'll just have to think of a way to get it out of their minds. Father is usually more concerned with the business end of things. So long as Zorro has these bandits more under control before father returns, he shouldn't need to hear of what happened today."

*Miguel and his wife stopped by. They wanted to thank you again, but left when they discovered that you were asleep.*

Diego nodded and then frowned. "I knew Tomas should not have accompanied us. I do not know what possessed me to allow him to come."

Felipe looked at him strangely. *Tomas rides with his father all the time. It is how he learns to handle the cattle.*

Diego nodded, knowing the point wasn't worth fighting over.

"Any news from the pueblo?"

Felipe shrugged. *Nothing new. They are worried still. They are glad Zorro is here but wish the alcalde would do something.*

Diego considered his physical state for a moment, but was eventually forced to give in to his common sense. "Zorro won't be riding tonight."

Felipe looked surprised but pleased.

Diego knew that he probably ought to return to his bed, but he thought his mind probably needed diversion as much as his body needed rest.

"Since father has gone the chess board has seen little use. Why don't the two of us have an evening of it?"

Felipe smiled and nodded eagerly, much of the remaining tension in his face relaxing.

Diego smiled as well, relieved to see that he'd found the right thing to do for Felipe, even if the situation with the bandits and the alcalde was far from mended.

Felipe grabbed his hand and pulled Diego into the parlor where the chess board sat. The one advantage of his father's absence was that Diego could allow himself to win for once, even if Felipe might not enjoy that so much.

But the expression of contentment on his friend's face was real, even if he did lose the three rounds they played that night. Diego forced himself to stop worrying about the world at large and enjoyed for one evening a moment of peace.