The three Dons dismounted silently and handed their reigns to a vaquero, thanking the young man before they headed into the hacienda. Diego turned immediately toward the stairs, his father and Don Fernando headed into the sala. Neither Diego nor Alejandro was yet ready for the conversation they knew they would share. Instead, Diego sought out Bernardo and the reassurance of his friend. Diego found Bernardo in the cave, combing Tornado's black coat. The horse whinnied as Diego approached and Bernardo turned, his welcoming smile fading as he saw the expression on Diego's handsome features. Diego's usually jovial attitude was instead somber and quiet, his lips turned in an unnatural frown, and his hazel eyes seemed weary to Bernardo.
Diego managed a half smile for his friend before turning to pat his trusted mount. "It has been a long time, hasn't it my friend. In some ways it has been a relief that Zorro has not been needed, yet his exploits would take my mind off of Ignacio. And you," he said, rubbing the nose of Tornado, "have probably grown bored. Tomorrow, you will be needed, I think. Monastario is planning something," Diego said turning his head to look at Bernardo.
Bernardo shook his head and shrugged. Monastario was always up to something and it was rarely, if ever, beneficial to the pueblo or Zorro. Bernardo nodded his head for Diego to finish.
Diego sighed and continued to rub Tornado's neck, "He is going to start taxing all farm goods brought to the pueblo. The farmers can not afford to pay such a tax, and Monastario knows this will draw Zorro out. I am not sure what the actual trap is, but it is something he seems to think will surely work. I should ride tonight, but I am too tired and I fear I would not be able to escape if he was ready for me. And I fear I have other matters to take care of. Tomorrow night or perhaps the next day, Zorro will ride." Diego sighed again; his shoulders heaved under the strain and rubbed his tired eyes. "Ignacio will move soon, too. I am sure of it. I just don't know what his next move will be."
Bernardo signed that he would help, that Don Alejandro would help if he let him. While the Dons were gone, Bernardo had sat in the cave trying to figure out how to help Diego. Alone, he knew he could not do it. Ignacio was a cunning, deceitful man and Bernardo knew he had no hope of outmaneuvering him. Yet the Dons, especially Alejandro, were educated men, some of them ex-military officers. Don Fernando, Bernardo knew, would help Diego without a second thought, and Bernardo would trust the man with Diego's secret. Besides, he mused, he probably all ready suspected Diego was Zorro after the fencing expedition Diego put on. Don Carlos, Armando, and Rafael would also make excellent allies, and like Fernando, Bernardo trusted them. They were all good men who treated their workers with respect and believed in Zorro's outings. Eventually, they too would likely connect Diego to Zorro, so Bernardo felt it was worth the risk to tell them. He would do anything to save Diego's life even if it meant telling a few people the identity of Zorro.
"I know Bernardo. My father wants to help and he is frustrated because he doesn't know how." Diego stilled his hand and turned to Bernardo. He looked at his longtime friend for a moment before speaking again, "I am going to tell him today Bernardo."
Bernardo did not need to ask Diego what he meant. As a reflex, Bernardo started to protest, but stopped himself almost immediately. Only moments before he had come to the conclusion that Diego should tell not only Alejandro, but also Fernando and the other Dons. He smiled at his natural instinct for a moment, before his face became serious. Bernardo met the questioning gaze of the younger man and he simply nodded. Diego let out a long, slow breath. He reached out a hand and tightly squeezed Bernardo's shoulder as he passed his friend and servant. Bernardo watched as he ascended the stairs and disappeared in the gloom of the tunnel. Bernardo sat heavily onto the straw laden floor and pressed his hands to his face. He was beginning to get a headache, and not for the first time, he prayed that Diego would survive this latest trial.
Alejandro sat on the divan, his head bowed over his wine glass. Fernando had remained quiet, unsure of how to broach the subject with his friend. Long minutes stretched by until Fernando stood, his lean body moving swiftly across the floor as he paced. Alejandro looked up, "Try not to wear down my rug," Alejandro half-heartedly jested.
Fernando stopped, his stride halted quickly, and he brought a hand up, swiping a stray lock of brown hair from his face. "Alejandro, I…this is harder than I imagined," Fernando confessed.
"What is wrong, Fernando?"
"I know Alejandro. I know the truth…the truth you have only recently discovered yourself." Fernando whispered, his voice barely reaching the grey-haired Don.
For a moment, Alejandro's face remained blank. Slowly, his features contorted as recognition sank in, and his brown eyes turned darker, his brow knitted in concentration. That emotion faded quickly, to be replaced by a look of pure relief. Alejandro welcomed the thought of an ally, especially that of his trusted friend. He knew Fernando would do whatever he could to keep Diego safe. Fernando saw the muscles in his friend's body relax.
"How has he kept this from me for so long? I have been a fool for all these years. I have not known my son since his return from Spain. Why didn't he trust me? I would have helped him." Alejandro's voice was deep, his words etched in grief and confusion, emotions the man was not quite able to deal with.
"It does not matter. Why or how he kept his secret are things better left for another time. Right now, Diego needs us. You should tell him, Alejandro. He needs allies now more than ever."
Alejandro knew Fernando was right. He had planned on talking to Diego all ready, but that did not make the task an easier. What would he say to his son? How do you tell your son that you have failed him? The thought that Fernando would be there to support him was a small comfort to Alejandro, but his mind was still occupied with doubt and worry. Would Diego accept the fact that both Alejandro and Fernando knew the secret he had so desperately kept hidden, even at the cost of his own pride and self?
Alejandro's thoughts scattered as footsteps echoed on the tiled floor. He looked up to see the strained face of his only son enter the room. Diego looked at his father and willed his emotions to still and remain calm. Diego took comfort in the fact that his father could finally and truly be proud of his son and that the lies could end. Diego walked slowly into the sala and stood before his father. Fernando stood to leave but Diego beckoned him to stay with a wave of his hand. Fernando took a seat beside Alejandro as Diego remained standing.
"Father." Diego began, his mind faltering on his next words. "You know that I have never meant to hurt you and that I have always tried to be the son you wanted, the son you would be proud to have." Alejandro began to protest but Diego silenced him, "Please…let me finish. When I returned from Spain at your request, you expected a fighter, a spirited young man who could wield a sword of justice to defend the pueblo and its people. You expected the son that left, except perhaps better. Instead, you found your son a scholar, more interested in the arts and science, then weaponry or fighting.
"I never meant to deceive you, but it was the only plan I could come up with. To openly defy the Commandante and Spanish rule would have gained us nothing. You saw that yourself. On my way here I heard the rumors of a corrupt government more worried about filling its own pockets with gold, than helping the pueblo. In order to fight this injustice, I donned a mask." Diego met the wide eyes of his father, "I became the fox."
Alejandro and Fernando, their eyes large in the dim light, stared at Diego. It was one thing to think you knew who Zorro was and another to hear your suspicions confirmed. Alejandro opened his mouth to reply, to let his son know he didn't blame him for his deceit, but no words emerged.
Diego looked hurt for a brief second, the emotion crossing his face too quickly for the stunned men to notice. He took their silence as a form of disappointment or perhaps anger. "I didn't want to deceive you Father, nor you Fernando. I tried to tell you several times, but I simply couldn't. I lied to you both for some time now. I am sorry. I saw no other way though. And now…now it could all end tomorrow. I have been a fool to think this charade could last, let alone succeed."
Fernando and Alejandro seemed to find their voice at the same time, "Do not say that my son," Alejandro said, his voice muted by Fernando's "You are wrong, Diego."
Alejandro stood and grasped Diego's broad shoulders with shaky hands. "Mi hijo, I have always been proud of you. I never should have tried to change you. I should have seen the strength you had. And I do not blame you for lying to me…to us. You did what you thought was right. That is all I have ever asked of you. I should have seen it Diego. I should have known. If anyone should be sorry, it is me. I was blind and only saw who you were today when you fenced. I think a part of me may have known something was not as it seemed, but I did a good job of ignoring it."
Before Diego could reply Fernando spoke, "When I saw you fence, I could not believe I had missed it for all this time. I know I do not live here, but I have seen Zorro enough to know his movements, his wit and humour. I should have recognized them in you Diego, but you played your part well." Fernando laughed slightly, "Perhaps you should have been an actor Diego. Very few could play the two roles you have created. They are so different it is still hard to connect them."
Diego stood before his father, his mind stunned at the revelation that they knew. A chilling thought sunk into Diego's mind. If they had figured it out, who else had? What about Don Carlos and the others? Surely they had put the pieces together. Yesterday, Bernardo was the only one to share his secret. No, he corrected, Doctor Hernandez knew. But still, to go from two people knowing your deepest secret to suddenly seven people was quite sobering.
Diego was brought back to awareness by his father's quiet voice, "What?"
"I asked Diego, how long Bernardo has known. And how long has he been able to hear?"
Fernando's eyes widen further as he looked at the two de la Vegas. Diego took a step back, the question caught him off guard and he felt unbalanced. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and answered. "Since the beginning. How did you know?"
Alejandro smiled, relieving the tension in the room. "When you were still in bed after the beating, I heard you talking to someone in your room. I returned to my room and saw Bernardo leave. I thought it strange but gave it little consideration. I had other things on my mind. But when I realized you were Zorro, I remembered what I had seen. I always wondered how Zorro knew when things were about to happen. I suspect people pay little attention to Bernardo when they talk. Why worry about a deaf servant?"
Diego smiled in return, "He has been a faithful friend, servant, and confidant since Spain. Without him, I never would have lasted as Zorro. He has guarded my back countless times, made excuses for me, and healed my wounds. He takes care of Tornado and the cave."
Alejandro was relieved to know that Bernardo was indeed there for Diego when he donned his mask and cape. It was a small comfort to know his son did not carry his burden alone since his return home. Alejandro's smile grew. Oh, how he wanted to meet Tornado. "I would like to see the lair of Zorro."
Diego nodded and motioned for the men to follow. He led them into the library and stopped, enjoying the puzzled looks on the older Dons' faces. Diego pressed the lever and watched as the bookshelf swung open, revealing a cool tunnel. Alejandro and Fernando gasped as the wall shifted. Alejandro looked at Diego, his brown eyes almost black, and Diego nodded, his long arm sweeping forward as an invitation for the men to enter. Alejandro and Fernando stepped quickly into the cave and moved swiftly down the corridor. A desk was the first thing they saw and then a peg with a black cape swinging gently from it. Alejandro gently touched a book that sat on the desk corner. The dark wood of the desk flickered with the light of a low burning lamp.
Diego stood beside his cloak, his hand reaching out to touch the silken material. His mask sat haphazardly on the edge of the desk and Alejandro picked it up, his fingers running along the material. He held the cloth up and toward Diego, picturing his son, now so easily, as Zorro. Fernando had found one of Diego's experiments and studied the herb mixture with open curiosity. "What is it?"
"A sleeping tea. An Indian I helped told me that it would put anyone to sleep for a few hours. I never finished mixing the ingredients. I suppose I became sidetracked."
A whinny echoed through the stone chamber and Alejandro looked up. Without saying anything all three men moved further into the cave. Fernando and Alejandro stopped when they rounded a small bend and the tunnel opened into a large cavern. Bernardo was still in the cave and he looked up as the men entered. Tornado didn't seem to care who entered, he was happily munching a bucket of oats.
"Zorro has been under my nose and still I never guessed. I suppose that is how you appeared and disappeared so suddenly." Alejandro said as he crossed the chamber to stand beside Tornado's stall. "May I?" When Diego nodded, Alejandro reached a tentative hand to Tornado's forehead and when the horse made no move against him he gently stroked the horses face.
"Now that we know you are Zorro, we can help you. There must be something we can do to stop Ignacio and Monastario." Fernando spoke, his voice unnaturally loud in the cave.
Diego sighed, "I do not know what we can do. I can not guess Ignacio's next move. He is an unpredictable and ruthless man."
Alejandro turned from Tornado. "We will think of something. Ignacio will not do anything tonight. Tomorrow, we can figure out what to do. Now, I am hungry and I think I would like to talk to Diego alone for a moment. Perhaps you and Bernardo could see if supper is almost ready. I am sure you would like to wash up first. We will join you shortly."
Without another word, Fernando turned and re-entered the tunnel. Bernardo caught up with the Don and stepped in front of him. When they reached the door, Bernardo pressed his ear to the wood and exaggerated the motion of listening. Fernando nodded in understanding. The last thing he wanted to do was open the secret passageway when a servant was in the library. Fernando and Bernardo entered the library quietly. Fernando headed to his room to wash before dinner. He took his time, knowing that his friend would not be quick.
Alejandro glanced around the cave before sitting on a low bench. "What are you going to do Diego?"
"I do not know Father. If I make the wrong move, I will fall into Ignacio's trap. Monastario is planning on capturing Zorro with his latest outrage against the peons. I am certain Ignacio will take advantage of Monastario's plan, I just don't know how. I have to go tomorrow. I can not let the Commandante tax the farmers. They can not afford to lose any money."
"There must be another way, Diego. He will be waiting for you. There must be something we can do, some way to find out what Ignacio and Monastario are truly planning. I can not lose you Diego. I think I know why you never told me. Every time Zorro is needed, I will fear for your safety. While I never truly believed it, a part of me always felt Zorro was immortal and could not be hurt. But you are not a legend Diego. And men die. Please, be careful. I have just found you, Diego, and I am looking forward to seeing who you really are."
"I know Father. I will be careful. Come, let us eat. Tonight or tomorrow we will discuss what to do. I will send Bernardo into town tomorrow. He can find out what is going on and we can plan from there."
Alejandro nodded and the two men entered the library silently. Neither man knew what to do. For the first time, Alejandro wished his son was truly a scholar and not a fighter. He had always loved Diego, and right now, he would settle for a poet rather than a warrior. However, Alejandro could no longer picture Diego as a simple scholar, a pacifist who avoided conflict. He was truly a de la Vega, yet Alejandro was almost saddened at the revelation. The men entered the dining hall silently. Fernando was waiting for them, but he said nothing. Instead the men ate in silence, each trying to come up with a way to defeat both Ignacio and Monastario and to keep the identity of Zorro safe.
TBC