Don Armando squinted his dark hazel eyes against the late afternoon sun, trying to peer through the light layer of dust that clung to the air. Angry voices reached his ears and he strained to make out the words. "I do not know. But I think we should probably find out." Armando began walking toward the noise. A group of men and women stood huddled beside the fountain. They parted as the six Dons approached. In the middle of the circle, Ignacio Fuentes stood with his sword drawn. Don Miguel Sanchez, a friend of Diego's, knelt beside Ignacio, blood dripped from a wound to his left arm, making dark circles in the dry sand.
"You are worthless. Get up!" Ignacio yelled as he planted a boot on the Don's shoulder pushing the young man backwards. He hit the ground with a loud thump and laid there a moment, catching the breath that had escaped his lungs on impact.
Alejandro was the first to cry out in outrage, his voice sharp and angry. "That is enough. He was finished. Have you no honor?"
Before Ignacio could answer Diego stepped into the circle, "No, he has no honor. He is no different than his brother, Father." Diego moved to the side of Don Miguel and knelt. "Are you okay my friend?"
Miguel nodded and managed a weak, "Si, I am fine. Help me up." Diego helped the man rise and steadied him as he gathered both his wits and his feet. Miguel swayed for a moment but then shook off Diego's strong arm. "I am all right now."
Alejandro, Fernando, and the others had now joined Diego. Don Carlos gripped Miguel's shoulder, "Let's get you into the tavern." He turned to a young boy in the crowd, "Bring Doctor Hernandez to the tavern, please." The boy scurried down the street to the doctor's office and Carlos turned back to the young, wounded Don.
Ignoring Ignacio, Don Carlos motioned for Don Rafael and Don Armando to help the man to the inn. "We will be there shortly. I am going to stay with Alejandro and Diego," he whispered to Don Armando as he reached for Miguel's arm.
Don Armando whispered back his reply, "Keep him safe Carlos. I do not trust Ignacio."
Don Carlos turned back to Ignacio. The crowd remained, wondering if another confrontation was about to ensue, but Carlos ignored them as he moved beside Alejandro. Diego now stood before Ignacio, his hazel eyes dark, his posture stiff. Alejandro and Carlos could not make out Diego's words but the look of fury on his face spoke volumes. Alejandro had never seen such emotion on his son's face and it was unsettling. How he must hate this man, Alejandro decided.
Diego stepped close beside Ignacio. His voice was low and sharp as he spoke to Ignacio, "I know what you are doing. It will not work. I am not going to confront you publicly—I will not give you the satisfaction." Diego's voice dropped and he whispered calmly, "If you harm anyone else in your twisted scheme to get to me, you will know the true temper of a de la Vega. You can not best me, Ignacio. You never have and you never will."
Diego turned on his heel and left a fuming Ignacio behind. The crowd sighed and slowly began to part as they realized there would be no more excitement today. Alejandro and Carlos fell in step beside Diego as he moved toward the tavern. Don Hernandez was entering the door just as the trio neared the steps.
Miguel was seated at a table, his wounded arm resting against his side; a piece of cloth was tied around the puncture wound. "Pilar, could you please get me some hot water and a few more rags." Pilar moved quickly to kitchen and within minutes she had returned with a basin of steaming water and a small pile of rags. The few men in the tavern had moved toward the Dons when they entered and they now stood to the side, watching as Hernandez tended the wound.
"What were you doing fighting that man?" Doctor Hernandez asked as he poured a stinging solution onto the wound and began wrapping the arm.
Miguel looked around sheepishly, his eyes turned down toward the table and his right hand tapping nervously against his thigh. "I was trying to defend my honor." He looked at the faces around him, his light brown eyes settling on Diego's, "and Diego's."
"Diego's?" Rafael asked, his hand smoothing his beard as he spoke. Miguel shook his head and winced slightly as Hernandez finished tightening the bandage on his arm.
"You will heal nicely. Just don't use your arm too much over the next week." Doctor Hernandez returned the small vial to his black bag and sat on the chair next to Miguel. "Go ahead and finish your story," Hernandez urged with a smile.
"He was calling you a coward and a worthless Caballero. He said you cared nothing about the people of this pueblo and would gladly sell them out for the right price. That man said you had done it before in Spain. Most of the people he managed to attract did not believe him. Unfortunately…there are always those who think little of the Dons or anyone with money.
"I called him a coward and told him to take his lies else where. He asked if I wanted to defend your honor like a gentleman. I…I could not refuse, Diego. I know the rumors. And I know what Ignacio said, but I didn't want to take a chance. I thought…I thought I could get him to leave our pueblo and you alone. He is a master with the blade Diego. You must be careful. Even Zorro may not win against him."
The room was silent when Miguel finished his story. Doctor Hernandez cast worried eyes to Diego. He noted the strain on the handsome face and the pinched look in Diego's eyes. What Diego was thinking Hernandez did not know, but he felt himself shiver at the possibility of Diego confronting the cold steel of Ignacio's blade.
"I appreciate what you did, Miguel, but please don't risk yourself on my account. I know what Ignacio is capable of doing. He would have killed you, Miguel."
Don Miguel's face paled at Diego's words. He had never expected the man to kill him. The thought never crossed his mind. He had assumed if he lost, like he had, Ignacio would simply gloat about his victory. Miguel had seen a cold expression on Ignacio's face when he drew blood. Yes, he would have killed me, Miguel thought, the idea chilling him.
"Diego is right, Don Miguel. You are truly a brave and honorable man, but Ignacio is not. He seems to care little about life and would have taken yours even in the daylight, surrounded by your friends and neighbors." Alejandro added, placing a firm hand on Miguel's shoulders.
Doctor Hernandez stood and stretched slightly, "Come Miguel. You need to rest. Perhaps Don Armando could help you home. His hacienda is close to yours."
"Si. I will make sure he gets home safely." Don Armando helped Miguel stand and together they left the tavern. Don Rafael stood and followed his friend outside. After the two men helped Miguel gather his horse and mount, Rafael pulled Armando to the side.
"Meet Carlos and I at my hacienda tomorrow morning. Come for breakfast. We have much to discuss." Don Rafael shook Don Armando's hand and the two parted. Don Rafael reentered the tavern. Doctor Hernandez and the other Dons were seated at the table Miguel had just left. The spectators had returned to their table, preparing to leave. Rafael knew that today's events would be spread throughout the pueblo within hours. He laughed quietly and shook his head. He hoped there weren't any more exciting days for a while. Rafael felt too old to have so much excitement in his life. Perhaps they would see an end to Ignacio soon, Rafael hoped as he pulled a chair up to the table.
"Do not blame yourself Diego," Alejandro chided his son. "Miguel chose to fight Ignacio. You can not control everything around you."
Diego sighed and rubbed his eyes with the palm of his tanned hands. "I know, Father. Ignacio knows that as well, and he will use it against me. He wants to challenge me before the pueblo. I disgraced him once and now he wishes to disgrace me. Killing me will not be enough. He wants me to suffer…he wants me to fail."
"What will you do Diego?" Alejandro asked. He wished he had an answer for Diego. He felt like a failure as a father and the thought that there was nothing he could do to help Diego only made the feeling worse. Alejandro had never felt so frustrated. If he could, he would Ignacio and end his son's pain and worry, but the years had caught up to him and he was no longer a fine swordsman.
Don Fernando spoke, "Enough of this for now. We are all tired and the afternoon has left us. Our minds will be clearer in the morning. We can think of options then. For now, let us return to the hacienda and relax."
Doctor Hernandez stood and nodded his head vigorously. "I think that is a wonderful idea. You all look exhausted. Go home and rest. Nothing will happen tonight." Hernandez moved toward the door when the others stood. Alejandro dropped a coin on the table and followed the tall figure of his son. The early evening sun poured into the tavern and Alejandro blinked against its brightness. Alejandro was glad they were leaving. The tavern would soon fill and he was in no mood for noise and laughter.
Hernandez reached out a hand and lightly grasped Diego's jacket. "Can I speak to you a moment Diego?" Diego nodded and moved to the side to let his father pass. "It will only take a moment."
When the others had left and the door slid shut, Hernandez looked around the tavern. Pilar was no where to be seen, probably in the kitchen preparing the evening meal, leaving the tavern empty. "What will you do Diego? If you fight Ignacio, Monastario will know you are Zorro. He will see it."
Diego laughed, the sound caught the doctor by surprise, "He already thinks I am Zorro. He simply can not prove it yet. Ignacio has not told him what he knows, but I have little doubt he will soon."
"You must tell your father, Diego. He deserves to know. Don't let him find out because you are suddenly in prison."
Diego knew the doctor was right. Alejandro deserved to know that he was Zorro. He did not want his father to find out because something happened to him. "I know you are right. But it is not easy to tell him that he has been lied to all these years. I have tried to tell him. Every time I saw how disappointed he was in me I wanted to tell him, but something held me back."
"Do not wait Diego. He may all ready know. He is a very smart man and he has seen the scars, Diego. He remembers what you were like before you went to Spain."
Diego sighed heavily. He had given his father one more piece of the puzzle, "He has also seen me sword fight." Perhaps, Diego realized, his father may have figured out the man behind the mask. He had not been able to talk to his father alone and Diego knew from years of experience that Alejandro was good at hiding what he was really thinking. With a firm shake of his head, Diego sealed his decision. "I will talk to him tonight."
"Good, Diego. Let me know if I can do anything. We all owe you more than we could ever repay. Never forget that."
"I won't Doctor." Diego said as he opened the door. The others were saddled and waiting for Diego. Diego swung atop Esperanza and gently nudged her into a walk. Don Carlos bid the men goodnight as he turned off the main road and headed toward his hacienda. He had to take care of some ranch business before he could meet Don Rafael and Don Armando in the morning. Alejandro and Diego rode home in silence, each wrapped up in their own thoughts, and each fearing what may come.
ZZZ
Ignacio found Monastario in the tavern slowly sipping a glass of wine, his empty plate cast aside and the wine bottle barely empty. Without asking permission, Ignacio pulled out a chair and sat. He waved toward the pretty serving girl, instructing her to bring him a glass. When Pilar returned, he poured himself a glass of wine. Ignacio studied Monastario's annoyed expression for a moment before speaking. "The last time we met, I told you I may have a proposition you would be interested in."
Monastario narrowed his eyes at the man across from him. He did not particularly like this Don, and he would be glad to see him leave. Still, Monastario nodded his head and waited for the man to finish.
"What if I told you I know who Zorro is?" Ignacio smiled, but the emotion did not reach his dark, calculating eyes.
Monastario shivered slightly at the look in Ignacio's eyes. For a moment, Monastario wondered if the man was slightly mad, but he shook off the feeling and asked, "Do you?"
"Yes. But I will need your help to capture him. You can take the credit, but I get to deal with the Fox."
Monastario thought for a moment. He could take the credit, yet he wouldn't get his hands dirty…well, too dirty. But did he want to work with Ignacio. Something about the man made the Commandante uneasy. Yet he could not pass up a chance to capture Zorro. "What do you have in mind?"
TBC
A/N: I am co-coordinating a banquet that is fast approaching, so the next chapter update may be in a couple of weeks, but no longer than that. Thanks for all those who are reading my story, especially those who have reviewed. The plot should start to move along quicker really soon.