After making his selection, trying to return to their safe haven, Diego found himself unable to, and realized he hadn't taken the precaution to search for the mechanism opening the door from the main house.
"Don Diego?" A voice asked from behind him as he was trying to find the way back.
Turning around, the tall caballero saw a man in his late 40s, staring at him in surprise.
"Don Diego de la Vega?" The man repeated, and he simply nodded. "What are you doing here?"
The younger man took a few moments to consider his answer. He didn't know who the man before him was, not having seen him since he had put foot in the hacienda. He was black-haired and wore a thick moustache and beard, but was dressed as a caballero, wearing a dark-brown suit, a white shirt and a black sash around his waist. He looked like a strong man, although he was more than a head shorter than Diego. But, on the other hand, most people were much shorter than him, except for Juan, who was still about 2 or 4 inches shorter anyway. Most importantly, though, the man seemed to know him since he had called him by his name. That piece of information, corroborated with his clothes and general demeanor indicated to the younger man that he was, most probably, standing before the master of the house.
"I came from behind this bookcase, but I can't seem to find the mechanism opening it in order to return." He answered, after having determined who it was he was talking to. "I hope you don't mind I helped myself to your library." He continued at seeing the man staring at the books he was holding. "I'll make sure to return these in a few days."
"I…" the older don looked suspiciously at him before continuing. He had just returned home and had been informed about the people hiding in his house, but he didn't expect the De la Vega heir to be among them. "You're here with the rebels?" He asked, ignoring the volumes Diego was holding in his hands. "But… But your father is a Royalist and so are you from what I know. What are you doing with Correna's men?"
"Well… It's a rather strange story, I guess..." the tall caballero muttered. "From what I was told, they believed me to be a spy, so they fired at me, managing to scare my horses and cause me to injure my head. All I remember is waking up in their camp just before the lancers came. Then I was taken to jail with those who survived the attack, but I don't really remember that. The next thing I know I was in a meadow, and we were headed here. I'm not sure I know where 'here' is, though… seeing how I've been feeling quite ill the entire ride… But you seem to know me, Señor…"
A few seconds of tense silence followed.
"Alvaro. I am Don Alvaro." The older man introduced himself hesitantly. "And yes, I do. I know your family rather well. It's the reason for my stupor about your presence here. But forgive me… I haven't even offered you some wine. Please, take a seat!" He invited him.
"Thank you," Diego answered as he accepted the glass of wine. Taking it to his mouth, he sipped a little, then made a face and put it down. "Would you mind offering me some water, instead?" He asked his host.
"Of course…" The other man answered and headed for a pitcher filled with water resting on a side table. Pouring a glass, he brought it to his peer then sat in a chair next to him. "So… you don't remember anything?" He asked somewhat suspiciously.
"I fear not," Diego replied honestly. "Well… Yes. Bits and pieces I can't yet put together. Not much, though… And now I seem caught in the middle of something I am not sure I understand. This rebellion… What is the reason for it? I asked Lieutenant Ortiz but he said I shouldn't concern myself about it. That I am not involved. Not truly…"
"I'm sure the Lieutenant is right! This is not your fight." Don Alvaro said categorically.
"But still… I do feel involved. Perhaps, I might even be able to help, if somebody told me what this is all about…" Diego insisted.
"Señor…" the don said, seeming infuriated, as he stood up. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you need in order to get better, but please try to keep yourself out of our way. You may not remember who you are, but I do. And one thing I remember about you is that you are not a fighter. Quite the contrary. Even if we would accept you within our ranks, you'd still be useless to us."
"I…" Diego hesitated, taken aback, then paused. "Excuse me, Señor," he said as he finished his water and also stood up, "but I fear both Victoria and Zafira will get worried if I don't go back soon. If you'd be so kind as to show me how to return to the cellars…"
It was now Don Alvaro who seemed to be hesitating for a few moments. "Allow me!" He eventually muttered and headed for the bookshelves, where he moved a large clock.
The big bookcase slid to the side, revealing an opening, and Diego smiled cordially at his host as he went through it, then remained on the other side to watch as it swung closed behind him.
As soon as the tall caballero was gone, Don Alvaro called one of his men, a tall vaquero called Enrique.
"Did you know that we were harboring Don Diego de la Vega at the hacienda?" He asked.
"Some of the men mentioned a don who had lost his memory, but I didn't know his name before now." The man replied.
His patron started pacing the room, pensively.
"Correna is dead and the Governor knows about the rebellion. He must also know about the Mexican army heading north, towards California. Unless we act now, there will be bloodshed. We need to take Monterey as soon as possible." He ended up telling the vaquero.
"But the Mexican forces are still several weeks away. I thought you wanted us to wait for the troops to arrive at least as far as Los Angeles or, better yet, Buenaventura." His man uttered.
"That would have been best, but I fear we are running out of time and too much is at stake at this point. We must act soon. Besides, young De la Vega's involvement doesn't sound right to me. His father is a former soldier, faithful to the Spanish Crown, and he is known to be one of the brightest and best-educated men in the territory. He could very well be a spy, pretending he had lost his memory to fool us into revealing our plans to him."
"He's just one man. We can kill him and be done with it." The vaquero suggested.
"No! We'll need the dons on our side after we'll have succeeded. His father is a leader in Los Angeles, and very well-connected. Besides, we'd jinx it all if we'd shed blood at this point, especially since there is a chance he's truly innocent!"
"Si Señor."
"But keep an eye on him nonetheless…" Don Alvaro ordered.
"And what about the Lieutenant? Should we trust him?"
"I believe so. He risked his life to save our friends, and escaped with his wife, taking, from what Luciano told me, his most valuable possessions with him. He knew there was no way back. Besides, unlike the De la Vega, he's a fighter. He'll be useful to us." Don Alvaro replied. "Get every man loyal to the cause here and begin the training! I want them ready in 10 days, no longer. And make sure we have enough men guarding the estate. If soldiers come this way, I want to be informed in due time." He continued, before heading towards the stables to check on the ammunition hidden there.
ZZZ
The young De la Vega had instinctively stopped to listen to the conversation behind the hidden door, before heading back downstairs.
"Don Diego? Are you feeling alright?" Juan asked as he found him in the corridor, a frown on his face and deep in thought.
"Yes… I'm fine." He answered, trying to smile at his childhood acquaintance, wondering how to explain his thoughtfulness. The conversation he had just heard worried him, yet not because the older don he had just met suspected him of being a spy. "It's just… Lieutenant, there is something I don't understand." He uttered, focusing on the one fact that bothered him most somehow.
"What is that?"
"You and Victoria are married. You had a career in the army as far as I understand, yet you left it all and put yourself and your wife in danger by rescuing us. Why did you do that?" Diego wondered.
"I did what I did because my wife would have tried to rescue you even without me, which would have probably ended her life. Besides, our marriage is… well… it's more of an arrangement of sorts. The man she loved had just died and she needed my help. So I agreed to marry her." He explained.
"I see," Diego replied pensively. "Yet you still left everything behind –"
"How's your memory today?" Juan asked, changing the subject.
Diego squinted his eyes a little at realizing his interlocutor wanted him to stop asking questions but replied anyway.
"There are bits and pieces I remember. A little more than yesterday. I remember an older man calling me by my name. And a boy on a black horse. It's all scattered images, I guess… But it's more than nothing." He answered. "And my head is much better."
Juan nodded. "That's good to hear! I was hoping…"
"Yes?"
"Nothing." The younger man said, changing his mind. "I'll tell you about it when you are feeling better and have recovered more of your memory." The officer promised, then, leaving Diego, pensively headed outside.
