Alejandro joined Sebastian with their horses as quickly as they could.
"What did you mean, those things you said about Diego?" Alejandro asked.
"Never mind," Sebastian said, turning his horse roughly.
Alejandro grabbed his brother's arm. "Tell me. You know something about my son."
"I only just arrived, how would I know anything about Diego?"
"You are an observant man, a trained agent of the crown. Have I missed something?"
"You need to talk to your son," Sebastian said.
"You need to talk to me," Alejandro said.
"You have believed what you wanted to believe, seen what you wanted to see. I suppose it is a father's weakness."
"About Diego?"
"He plays ignorant, you assume he is ignorant. You think he is unskilled at swordplay, because he never carries a sword. You think he is at home all day reading or studying, but you are not there with him. You have no idea what he does."
"What are you saying?"
"Think about how you would have been in the same circumstances and at the same age. If our father had been threatened, arrested and punished, would you have been openly fighting against his oppressor?"
"Oppressor? The alcalde?"
"You called him from Spain, to help?"
"I never asked him to abandon his studies. I wouldn't have wanted that. The alcalde was unjust, but we were handling it."
"Handling it so well that you were arrested on Diego's first day back. Did you even ask him about his studies before you were arrested? Any action he took after that arrest was probably secretive. Even from you. He was trying to protect you. Your interests."
"He's Zorro, isn't he?"
"Finally…" Sebastian sighed. "I think he is Zorro. I think he is the best candidate."
"Surely he would have told me?"
"Maybe it isn't easy to admit to something hidden for so long. He was trying to protect you, that could have included from yourself."
"I said so many things that must have stung," Alejandro said softly.
"That stupid fool passing himself off as my son, is Diego," Sebastian added. "He could be up against an enemy which surpassing his skills. He could be outnumbered."
"Zorro can fight off ten men," Alejandro said.
"Ten incompetent soldiers who fear him by his reputation," Sebastian retorted. "It makes a difference."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Alejandro said, urging on Dulcinea.
They scanned the landscape for a lone man, on a horse or on foot. No one stood out in the snow, whether on the road or off the road.
"If he is Zorro, he knows the art of stalking his man, Sebastian," Alejandro said thoughtfully. "He is keeping to cover, and going slowly. Do we know the approximate direction?"
"Alonso said it was to the north, and mid way up the mountain. I hope the children are still alive, or this will be a sad adventure."
Alejandro studied the landscape again, his sharp eyes still clear enough to pick out the man on the side of the mountain. He pointed out his son to his brother. He had never been so proud, or so worried at the same time. That wasn't the safest route up to the cave, but it was the fastest, and as such required a great deal of athleticism and gymnastic skills.
"Damn fool," Sebastian murmured, impressed despite himself. Diego was good, he'd give him that. Maybe he was as good as everyone seemed to think. He would wait for a final judgement on that when the day finished well.
Zzz
Diego climbed the rocks on the side of the mountain slowly, and carefully. He realised the bandits were slightly to the side, and if he showed himself the alarm would be raised. Shots would be fired, and his climb could be suicidal. If they had seen him he would have occasionally made a good target, but only occasionally. The speed of the climb and the cover available was worth the occasional risk.
The wind was picking up strength, and he felt the sting and the chill. He thought of the children shivering in the cold, terrified and colder than he was. It gave him energy for the last couple of footholds and handholds and the lift up to where the cave would be.
The last effort hoisted him up in front of the cave, and he rested a moment to catch his breath. He approached the cave carefully, drawing Alonso's sword in case he had badly miscalculated and the cave contained bloodthirsty criminals.
He could hear sniffles and sobs in the darkness, and quickly knew he had found the children.
"Don't be frightened, I'm here to take care of you," he said gently.
"It's so dark," came a plaintive reply. "I'm afraid."
"Lizzie, it's alright. This nice man is here to help us." A younger voice spoke up. A child crept up to him, and grasped his hand. "I know you are a good man."
"Maggie, you are blind. How can you know these things?"
"It's dark for me all the time, Lizzie. I'm afraid all the time. This man is nice. I can tell."
"Maybe we can set up a fire?" Diego said, allowing himself to be led to where the other girl was sitting.
"I don't know how. Uncle William made it last time, and we kept it going for a long time. It went out when we feel asleep."
Diego's eyes adjusted to the gloom, grateful that the campfire area was organised. There was a flint and striker discarded to the side, and a tiny amount of tinder and fuel was available. It would do in a pinch, for a short time.
Diego struck a spark and fed it carefully so it became a small campfire. Now he could see the cave a little better, he became aware of the nest where a man lay. The man was very still, and the girls seemed to avoid looking towards the area. Lizzie put an arm around Maggie as they shivered near the fire, and Diego crept towards the man.
He sat by his side and checked for signs of life. He was alive, for now. For how long, Diego couldn't guess, but probably not very long. He was very warm, and drenched through. Feverish, and had been for a while.
"I know he is dead. It is my fault," Lizzie said weakly. "I didn't know how to help him."
"No, Lizzie. I can see the problem. He is badly wounded," Diego said gently. "A doctor would be at a loss at this late stage."
"He never told us he was wounded. Maybe we could have helped him better," Lizzie said. "Are you a doctor?"
"My name is Diego de la Vega, I have been looking for you."
"De la Vega? Like Aunty Margaret's husband?"
"Yes, Alonso de la Vega is my cousin."
"I am Elizabeth, and this is Margaret. We are pleased to meet you."
"Let's get you warm and fed," Diego said, removing a bag over his head. It had laid across his body in the climb. It held oranges, sandwiches and a flagon of water.
The girls took the sandwiches delicately, using well trained manners that seemed to make the environment feel off centre. Unreal almost. They were hungry but resisted the urge to eat hurriedly.
"Was this your lunch?" Maggie asked, suddenly.
Diego shook his head. "No, this was packed for you. I have had my lunch."
Diego busied himself with peeling the precious oranges, a delicacy in Los Angeles at the best of times, and now, almost a godsend. Their sweetness would cheer the girls, and give them a lift for the hours ahead of them.
"There are bandits somewhere out there, Uncle William said not to go outside. It is too dangerous."
"Your uncle was wise. The bandits may be a problem. I can deal with that as well," Diego said with confidence.
"But how? You are only one man, sir. Surely they outnumber you?" Lizzie said, whispering in an attempt to save her sister from being frightened again.
"All I need to do is plan around the numbers. Maybe you can tell me how many there are?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"You need to finish your sandwich. We have oranges to eat as well."
"Oranges?" The girls echoed him in wonder. "How wonderful."
"In California, anything is possible," Diego said with a smile.
"Oh, maybe we will be alright after all," Lizzie said with a sigh.