Sebastian and Alejandro were talking softly next to Alonso's bed, when Diego joined them the next morning. They stopped abruptly when they noticed him in the doorway.

"If we go forwards in a pincer movement at this location, we can trap the..."

"Diego, up before noon? Remarkable!" Alejandro said with enough irritation in his voice to send a message to his son. The arrival of a long lost brother had brought in a new obstacle to their growing closeness, Diego noted.

Diego yawned dramatically, turning a genuine yawn into a show of laziness. It had been a long night, of sleepless tossing and turning. If it was going to be that way, that old familiar way of pretense that they had lived with for years, then Diego could slip very easily back into his role. Zorro had made an appearance, and it would not be the only appearance in the near future.

"Your father says you are a scholar," Sebastian said, thoughtfully. Diego listened and waited for the sting of insult to hit. It didn't. "There needs to be more steady young men in these times of turmoil. What are your main interests?"

Alejandro sighed and left the room, muttering something about the pressing responsibilities of managing a ranch.

Sebastian raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

"I have an interest in ancient history," Diego said, after a moment's hesitation. His interests were many and varied, but he didn't know this stranger. "In particular the Punic Wars."

"Indeed," Sebastian said thoughtfully. "What do you think about the tactics of Napoleon? Do you think they mirror those of the Roman generals?"

"I wouldn't know..."

Sdbastian cast him a look of scorn, and was silent for a few moments.

"Wouldn't you?"

"I'm a scholar," Diego said with a shrug, ignoring the feelings of shame that seemed to gnaw at his insides. "I wouldn't know..."

"Napoleon is a scholar of military tactics," Sebastian said softly. "I am not your father. I am not any of the senseless fools that can't see through that facade that you present to people, Diego."

Diego was silent.

"I see your build, I see the intelligence in your eyes, I see the spirit in your face."

"You have just met me," Diego responded. "You have no idea of who I am."

"I am a quick judge of character, Diego. I haven't had the wool pulled over my eyes as yet."

Sebastian sighed, as he stood and stretched. "I suppose after a separation of a few years, it was easy enough to fool your father and your acquaintances. Would it have been so easy if it weren't for that distance?"

"What would I be hiding, why would I have to fool people?"

"Indeed. What would you be hiding?" Sebastian said softly. "One can surmise."

Diego frowned, his thoughts betraying him slightly.

"The swordsman known as Zorro. He hasn't been seen for a couple of months."

"He's believed dead. He was trapped in the canyon and Risendo buried him under a pile of rubble. He got out, but the injuries he would have sustained could have led to his death."

"Very factual," Sebastian said with a nod. "No one is missing."

"Obviously not a local."

"Hmmm," Sebastian said thoughtfully. "You do not like speculating on this matter, do you?"

"There are other much more serious things to speculate on. The man has been dead for months, these children are lost in the mountains now. Which is the more important?"

Sebastian smiled. "The children, obviously."

There was another strange silence.

"I was interested in your talents, Diego. In what help or assistance you might be able to offer. Your father thought it was a waste of time. What are your plans?"

"Someone has to manage the ranch while my father is away. You are planning on searching tomorrow, when Alonso might have recovered enough strength to join you both."

"Four heads are better than three."

"My father would scoff at the idea of bringing me to the table on this matter. I'm best out of the plans."

"Unfortunate that you seem so bitter about your father's attitude to you. You might be able to bring him around to acknowledging your contributions."

"Not in this field I won't," Diego admitted. "I am easy on this, uncle. Do not feel any concern. My father admires my skills in other areas." Diego grimaced, and wondered if that were really true.

"You need to rethink this attitude of your's, Diego."

"I am sure that you will be on your way as soon as you can be, uncle. We all have our paths to go down. You have yours, I have mine."

Sebastian frowned, and nodded. "Stubborn as any other De La Vega before you." He left the room, firmly closing the door. His father would have slammed it in the same mood.