"Make sure they're all dead!" The captain ordered, and the lancers started reaching to check the people's pulses.
They found no sign of life thanks to the rocks Diego had instructed the men to hide beneath their armpits below the exposed side of their necks, which, at squeezing them, interrupted the blood circulation for just enough time to fool the lancers into believing them dead.
Content, the captain lowered his sword just as his men started dragging the bodies to the front of the hacienda.
The tall caballero chuckled nervously, then looked around, trying to make sure the lancers were each choosing a man to drag to the hacienda. When he liked what he saw, he scratched his nose, seemingly pensive. Moments later several explosions were heard from all directions, scaring the horses into throwing down their riders. The lancers let go of the men they were dragging, trying to find the source of the explosions, and, in those moments of distraction, the "bodies" came to life like a true army of the undead, hurriedly deprived them of either their swords or their pistols, and pointed their own weapons at them.
From the ground, where his stallion had thrown him before galloping away, the captain looked dumbfounded at the rebels before turning around to find himself at the wrong end of two swords, one held by the De la Vega heir and one held by his father.
"What are you doing? You were pardoned." The captain uttered, looking at Diego with ire.
"I need no pardon, for I have done nothing wrong. What I need is for the people of California to be free of those trying to exploit and harm them." He answered in the same tone of voice he normally used as Zorro.
"But you are Spanish!" The man answered.
"I am a Californian. My allegiance is to the people of this land, be they Spanish, Mexican, or American, White, Mestizo, Indian, African or Asian. It is not the color of one's skin or the place where one was born to make a man, but who he is inside that counts." Diego answered.
The captain looked around nervously, his eyes falling on Don Alejandro.
"Get your son to see some reason, old man!" He ordered in one last, desperate attempt to turn the tables on the rebels.
"He does see reason, Captain. He is able to see things clearer than most of us... And I stand by my son!" The older don said and Diego smiled at him.
A few shouts were heard at that moment from behind the hacienda, a clear sign that not everyone had been successful in surprising the lancers.
"Tell your men to surrender and you will all be spared!" Diego ordered, pushing the tip of his sword into the captain's neck until piercing it just enough for a few drops of blood to fall down his skin.
ZZZ
Victoria hurried to untie Juan, her hands shaking as she did so. Her gesture was brought upon by desperation and she wasn't even sure she was right to do what she was doing. There was a big chance that her faith would prove misplaced, and that could lead to very unfortunate consequences.
They were supposed to be safe in the cellars, yet the lancers had come straight for them as if they knew exactly where to find them. They had injured the servant women and severely wounded the man with the injured leg. Victoria had barely had the time to hide, but the other young woman had not been as lucky. Now, her only option to save her was Juan. He could order those men to let Zafira live, and if he cared for her, he might do it. That was, though, where her hesitation lay. She had a rather good idea about the young widow's feelings for the Lieutenant, yet she was not equally certain about his feelings for her.
"Help Zafira!" She told the Lieutenant as she finished untying his hands.
"Help Zafira? What happened?" He inquired.
"Two of your men took her. They headed for the ravine, threatening to kill her! Please do something, Juan! If you care for her as I believe you do, help her!" Victoria requested and he didn't wait to be asked again.
ZZZ
"Stay here, and it will all be over before you know it." One of the lancers ordered the young widow as he forced her to kneel before him, and pointed his pistol at her, the barrel of his gun touching her forehead.
"Sergeant! Don't you dare harm her!" Juan warned as he exited the cellars to look in horror at the scene before him. "If you press that trigger, you will not live long enough to see her body fall."
"What are you talking about, Lieutenant? I am only obeying the Governor's orders! He said the women had to die, and that I was to start with this perra or your puta wife!"
"Victoria was promised a full pardon!" Juan replied, enraged by the man's vial language.
"That can't be, Lieutenant! His Excellency said she had to die, too, for your sake." The Sergeant muttered.
"Zafira!" A shout was heard as Diego ran their way, coming from the front of the hacienda, Victoria following a few feet behind him.
"Put down the gun, Sergeant!" Juan insisted as the caballero stopped right next to him.
"Sergeant, the Captain and the other lancers are our prisoners. Should you press that trigger, I promise you will not live long enough to see the light leave her eyes." The caballero threatened.
"I already tried that." Juan discreetly informed him as the young woman held at gunpoint was barely able to breathe, waiting in agony to find out what fate had in store for her.
"You're lying!" The man uttered. "You said yourself that you poisoned the rebels."
"I lied, Sergeant! Everyone is alive. It was just a trick to make sure there would be no victims. But, trust me, neither you nor your companions will get out of this alive if you dare press that trigger." Diego told him and saw the man starting to doubt.
"How do I know you're not lying now?" He inquired as he turned his head towards the caballero.
Juan breathed easier, certain his man was doubtful enough to give up.
A shot was heard next, and Zafira fell still on the ground.
Diego's mouth fell open as he tried to understand what had happened, while Juan gave a shout and headed for the young woman, whom he took to cradle in his arms, as tears were running down his cheeks.
