Chapter 4 [Los Angeles—Early the Next Morning]

[In Front of the Tavern Victoria]

Victoria stepped out into her establishment. She sucked in a deep lungful of air. The day's offerings were ready for her patrons. Her broom pushed the dirt away from the front tables. She smiled and waved to her friends and neighbors.

The activity picked up in the plaza. People arrived to do their business. Mendoza had the lancers drilling out in front of the Alcalde's office for some reason. De Soto remained out of sight for the moment. That seemed somewhat normal.

Alarm however slapped at her consciousness. Instinct felt as if something was truly off. Her eyes spied movement on the rooftop next door. In the peasants' midst, a seemingly prim and proper stranger studied his surroundings. She could tell that Mendoza and the other lancers saw nothing of this business.

Look around you! She huffed and fumed. She shook her head. Frustration and Impatience tapped out on the ground. Her eyes glanced to where her horse and carriage waited in back of the tavern. She knew someone needed to seek help.

Things seemed to deteriorate….

[The Alcalde's Office]

The Alcalde frowned. He straightened the papers on his desk. Nerves pushed him to look over every inch of his office. Why did they not let me know before late yesterday? WHY? He rushed outside. "SERGEANT!"

Mendoza rushed up to the door. He stood as straight as possible. "¡Si Alcalde!"

Annoyance furrowed the Alcalde's brow. "Sergeant, follow me." He hustled out the door and to the left.

The lancers stood at attention. They fidgeted with their muskets. Their eyes drifted toward the passersby congregating about them in increasing numbers.

"ATTENTION!" the Alcalde yelled. He straightened his coat. "It has come to my attention that we have an important visitor to our pueblo!"

"¡Mas importantissimo!" Mendoza interjected.

The Alcalde narrowed his eyes. While he appreciated the sentiment, he did not need the interruption. "Thank you, Sergeant." He cleared his throat. "Therefore you will keep an extra sharp eye out! We do not need any problems! Every little detail shall be addressed! If anyone sees anything, you are to talk with me IMMEDIATELY!"

The lancers nodded. They moved to salute albeit at different paces.

Mendoza smiled and nodded. He'd see to more drilling….albeit after a meal at the Tavern….

"Sergeant, make sure these men drill in the armory. These men should be meticulous. They should be precise! I will never nothing to chance! ¿Entiendes me?" the Alcalde instructed.

Mendoza raised an eyebrow. He shrugged off not knowing what 'meticulous' meant. He knew what the Alcalde meant by 'precise'. "You heard him!" He motioned toward the armory's entrance. "Let's go!" He started to march toward the door.

Sarcasm prompted a loud guffaw from the crowd.

The Alcalde stiffened. Indignation narrowed his eyes. His lip curled. "WHO SAID THAT?" He wheeled about to face the crowd.

The pueblo's residents retreated several steps. Fear bleached their faces. They wanted no part of the Alcalde's jail or worse. They had farms, livestock and families. They had lives not needing an abrupt ending.

Mendoza stopped the other lancers. "BE ALERT! WHO SAID THAT?"

Riscendo bulled his way through the crowd. His elbows had no qualms with bruising them. Ridicule raised an eyebrow. "I did!" Insolence's smirk dared a response or any firm gesture from the pueblo's leader or his troops. His eyes took in the entire plaza. "I've seen less offensive dung heaps in the slums of Madrid!"

"WHY YOU…!" The Alcalde raised his hand. "LANCERS! ARREST THIS MAN!"

The lancers stumbled through their motions. Despite that, they managed to get into position within two heartbeats' time. Their rifles trained on their target.

Riscendo snorted. He produced a scroll from his coat pocket. He smacked it against his open palm. His eyes took another look around. "I wouldn't."

"And why ever not, Señor? This is my town!" the Alcalde snapped.

On cue, Riscendo's guardsmen emerged from their concealed positions. As per his instructions to Hidalgo, the soldiers moved in lock step. Their rifles swung into position. Two rifles apiece pointed from a western and an eastern rooftop. Three more strode into view from the south. The remainder flanked the lancers from behind.

"Are you sure?" Riscendo rolled his eyes. His eyes dared the Alcalde to make a move. He waved the scroll in the air to his right.

"Who are you?" the Alcalde demanded. Frustration flared in his eyes.

"My credentials. In the name of King Ferdinand, I am taking control of this pueblo!" Riscendo shoved the scroll at the Alcalde.

"King…? What in?" The Alcalde stared at the royal seal. He broke it and opened the scroll. His eyes scanned the document. Shock widened his eyes.

"¿Alcalde, quê es?" Mendoza tried to remain calm in spite of everything. He peered over his superior's shoulder. "Can that be?"

"You…you're the King's emissary?" the Alcalde blinked at Riscendo. His mind swam to digest the detail of everything going on around himself.

"I am indeed! I am Gilberto Riscendo, Emissary of King Ferdinand! Your very lack of preparation and lack of defense are treason! Your threat of arrest against an agent of the King is also treason! You are to be executed!" Riscendo snapped his fingers.

Two guardsmen stepped forward. They seized onto the Alcalde's arms.

Fear rippled through the crowd. Sweat beaded across foreheads. Limbs locked in place and trembled. Teeth chattered. Loved ones held each other closely. Their minds not sure if the muskets would mow them down like so much grass in the field.

Riscendo cleared his throat. "GOOD PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES! I AM THE KING'S EMISSARY! SPAIN IS IN A WAR WITH FRANCE! KING FERDINAND REQUIRES YOUR ASSISTANCE! HE IS LEVYING A WAR TAX TO PAY FOR THE EFFORT! YOU WILL PAY 10,000 PESOS!"

Victoria raised an eyebrow. Is he serious? She considered the burden on everyone's heads already. She knew that such a tax would break the pueblo's financial stability. First Riscendo deposed the Alcalde and ordered his execution. Then he ordered the entire pueblo held at gunpoint. Now he exhorted extra taxes? She glanced toward the pueblo's sign. Her eyes desperately sought her beloved avenger in black. Her ears pined to hear Toronado's hooves beating a frenzied rhythm up the road.

Alas the road was quiet….

Don Alejandro and Diego would have to be late coming into town. She sighed. She set her jaw. It is for me to do this. I will not submit without a few words of my own! She set her broom against the wall.

"¿Señorita Victoria, quê está haciendo?" A teenaged girl in a well-worn brown top and patched dark pants seized onto her left arm. She shook her head.

Victoria cleared her throat. She leaned close to the girl. "Lucinda, por favor. Toma mi caballo. Paseo a la hacienda de la Vega ahora." She motioned toward where her horse was tied out of view. She slowly lifted Lucinda's hands away from her arm. She managed a brief smile. Then she pressed on toward the Alcalde and Riscendo. Even if the Don, his son/best friend and her hero were not there, she would stand for her people. Purpose guided her steps. Anger smoldered on it fuse within her heart. "¡Seáor Emisario! We pay taxes on everything now! Food! Supplies! Our income! What else is there?"

Riscendo narrowed his eyes. His lip curled further in on itself. "And your King requires MORE!" He whipped around to face her. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

"I AM A CITIZEN OF THIS PUEBLO! THE PESOS WOULD SERVE US BETTER THAN SOME CANNON MAKER!" Victoria retorted. Insolence and Determination flared. "WE ARE LOYAL TO THE KING! HE KNOWS THAT!"

"Señorita Escalante, for once, be quiet. You're…." the Acalde implored her.

"She should have followed your advice, De Soto. Pity she did not!" Riscendo scowled. "Señorita, you are under arrest for sedition and treason against the Crown! Lieutenant Hidalgo!"

Hidalgo stepped up from his position behind the subdued lancers. He seized onto her.

"Lock her and this incompetent up! Disarm these so-called soldiers!" Riscendo ordered. "Prepare for their executions in the morning!" He leveled his pistol at her. "If you won't pay your share in taxes, you'll pay another way."

She leveled her shoulders. She met Rescendo's glare with one of her own. She allowed Fear no place in her mind or heart. "We have faced other butchers, Señor Emisario. This is not over! Zorro will make you pay yet!"

The crowd murmured. Hope flickered through their hearts. Their hero's name brought Strength's iron. His promise washed Insecurity away.

The Alcalde ground his teeth. He didn't want to have to put his faith in his greatest nemesis. As if Indignity hadn't burdened him enough at that point, it seemed to increase ten thousand fold.

"Zorro." Riscendo smirked. "I have heard of that bandito. He roves over this area because of the inept leadership! Because of rebels and traitors like you, Chica!" He got right up in her face. "I hope he does come. I am quite prepared."

She coughed. "Others think that as well!" She motioned toward the Alcalde. "I believe in him."

"And I believe in my guardsmen." Riscendo frowned. "Lieutenant, lock the prisoners up. Tell the guardsmen to watch for the bandito, Zorro. We will deal with him as well."

Hidalgo and the two closest guardsmen pulled Victoria and the Alcalde toward the waiting cells. He knew the execution detail would take time. Even so, they'd need to be ready for the dark suited fox.

Stand Off brewed….