The evening hours were just beginning to fade into night when Don Carlos had finished his tasks and sat with a cool glass of wine on a small wooden bench, watching the sun creep below his orchard. He let his mind wander for a moment to images of his son and daughter, now grown with children of their own, and his sweet wife, Anita, dark hair framing her brown eyes as she moved gracefully through the hacienda. Carlos sipped his wine as the air grew chill with the setting of the sun, and found it simple not think of what he had come to know and what he must decide.
It was the sound of distant coyotes that brought him from his sweet thoughts and to the burden he now carried. Don Carlos considered himself an honorable and wise man, and it was these two qualities that now warred within him. To tell the others would break an unspoken code of secrecy, for Diego had long kept his secret hidden, and Don Carlos knew the young Don would not want anyone else to know. Yet, his wisdom urged him to take action, to plan in Diego's absence and to tell the others what he knew.
The sky had grown dark before Carlos stood and stretched his muscles, his back creaking slightly. The wine glass was empty and the Don peered into the goblet, drops of red liquid clung to the surface and Carlos shivered. Perhaps, he mused as he entered the hacienda, white wine would have set better with his nerves. Casting one last look at the black sky, Carlos closed the wooden door and headed to his room. Tomorrow would come early, and the Don knew he must rise at dawn. He would make his choice then, he decided. Honor or wisdom? He silently prayed that the morning would bring him an answer as he slipped beneath the covers, his eyes closing against the weariness he felt.
ZZZ
Don Rafael had left the pueblo de Los Angeles several hours after the other Dons. He had spoken with the vaqueros in the tavern and the pueblo, as well as the priest at the monastery, gathering information on Ignacio and Monastario's latest scheme. What he discovered did not bode well for Zorro. Monastario was indeed setting a trap fort he Fox, just as the large sergeant had said. What disturbed Rafael was the fact that Ignacio had all ready spoken to Monastario. Were they in the plan together? Was Ignacio going to confront Zorro when he entered the pueblo? Don Rafael knew Zorro could not turn down a direct challenge. It was not in the man's nature…it wasn't in Diego'snature, he thought with a sudden pang of surprise.
He had not seen Ignacio fight, but he knew Don Miguel was an excellent swordsman and a devoted believer in Zorro. If he thought that Zorro could lose against Ignacio, then there was a good chance he could. A few days ago, Rafael would have dismissed Miguel's warning. Zorro was after all, a legend. The Fox had never been defeated and Rafael would have been secure in that fact, assuming Zorro would win easily against Ignacio. But now, the Don felt uncertainty and doubt creep into his thoughts. If Zorro lost, it would be Diego, the son of a prominent Caballero and a friend of Rafael's, who would suffer the defeat.
Shaking his head as he continued home in the growing dark, Rafael knew that he must tell his friends more than just the news he had discovered in the pueblo. In order to keep Zorro's secret safe, he must share it. Tomorrow, he would tell the other two Dons everything he knew. A slight feeling of guilt washed over Rafael but he ignored it, knowing in his heart that he was making the right decision. The sun had set before Rafael returned home. He tossed his reigns to a nearby vaquero and strode into the house, shutting out his lagging doubts and the chill of the night air.
ZZZ
Don Armando had ridden slowly with Miguel, their horses walking the distance home. At first no one spoke, the only sound was the rustling of trees and the methodical thudding of their mounts' hooves. It was Miguel who broke the heavy silence. "What is Diego going to do?"
Armando turned his head to look at the young man, "I do not know. But whatever comes, we will be there for him. He will not fight Ignacio alone."
Miguel nodded, "No he will not fight alone." Miguel grew silent for a moment, his dark brown eyes large, from pain or worry Armando did not know. "But can he win?"
Armando did not know. Could Diego defeat Ignacio? The man was a ruthless individual who cared nothing about who he injured or killed. He would not be fighting Diego simply for the honor of winning. He was going to try to kill Diego. Diego had killed once, but could he do it again? Armando did not think so, and it was this thought that brought doubt to his mind. Men fight differently when they intend to kill the other duelist. They are vicious and quick with the blade. Would Diego's hesitation in trying not to kill Ignacio, give the man an opening to strike? Reluctantly, Armando answered the young Don's question, "I don't know."
Miguel's face fell at the answer. "I do not know either." The rest of the trip was quiet. Armando helped Miguel dismount and when a young servant had taken the man inside Armando turned his horse toward home, his dark thoughts still with him even as he reached the comfort of his hacienda. Tomorrow, he would talk to Rafael and Carlos. Tomorrow, he would reveal Zorro's secret. As he sat behind a strong oak desk, a ledger open in front of him, he prayed that he had come to the right decision and that he would not live to regret his choice.
ZZZ
Ignacio Fuentes sat on his cot, his sword perched on his lap and his head tilted back to lean on the wall. Ignacio's eyes were closed as his long fingers stroked the blade of his sword. A strange half-grin made his face look dark and dangerous in the dim light of the shack. I will not fail, he thought as his mind conjured images of Diego defeated and humiliated in front of those who adored and loved him. Ignacio did not care what Monastario did after he killed Diego.
Ignacio smiled, his lips curled over his teeth as he thought of Miguel. The young fool thought he could defeat him. Ignacio was indeed surprised at the young man's skill, but Miguel was not in his or Diego's league. For a moment, Ignacio wondered what had inspired the man to challenge him. From the beginning he must have known he was defeated, yet he stepped unhesitatingly in front of Ignacio and demanded he leave the pueblo. A fool, Ignacio thought. There was no strength in loyalty. It only made you weak. That would be Diego's downfall…loyalty to his friends. Tomorrow, Zorro would be tested. And Ignacio was sure he would fail. He continued to stroke the steel of his rapier, memories of his brother's death fueling his hatred once more. Yes, he thought, tomorrow Diego would die by his hand. And the next day, he would start his journey to his beloved home in Spain.
ZZZ
Alejandro paced the sala floor, his boot heels clicking on the hardwood. Fernando sat on a wooden chair, his hands resting on his knees, his eyes following the path of Alejandro's boots. Diego stood by the window, gazing out across the plaza. Bernardo sat in the corner, his mind to preoccupied with his own doubts and worries to notice Alejandro's pacing. The sun had set hours earlier and the candles flickered unevenly across the floor and walls. "I must ride tomorrow," Diego's voice startled the three other men in the room and Alejandro stopped his pacing to look at his son.
"It is a trap Diego. You know that." Alejandro said his voice tight with worry.
Diego turned from the window, his eyes dark in the shadows of the room, "I know Father. But I must take the chance. Sooner or later I must face Ignacio and Monastario. There is no way around that now."
"Yes, Diego. But don't walk into a trap. Choose your own time to fight them." Alejandro stepped toward Diego and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't play Ignacio's game."
"If I don't go tomorrow, Monastario will have won. I can not let him tax the peons unjustly, Father. I can not and will not. This is why I created Zorro. I will not let Ignacio stop me from doing the right thing or else he will have won."
"I know Diego. I know." Alejandro shook his head and sighed, his shoulders slumping with the motion. "But let Bernardo go in the morning. Let him be your eyes and ears. Perhaps he can uncover Monastario and Ignacio's plan."
Bernardo stood at his name and crossed the space between him and Diego quickly. Bernardo nodded vigorously, agreeing with Alejandro's decision. Diego closed his eyes for a moment, "Okay. Bernardo, tomorrow morning you can ride to the pueblo and find out what you can. But be careful. When you return we will form a plan and then Zorro will ride."
The group of men grew silent once more. Doubts and fears flickered across their minds. Tomorrow could be the last time Zorro rode. All the men knew that Ignacio and Monastario were cunning men and now it seemed they had joined forces against Zorro. Slowly, with only their dreadful thoughts as companions, the men headed to their rooms. Sleep was a long time coming for each, and when they had finally found peace enough to sleep, their dreams were haunted with their doubts.
ZZZ
Don Alejandro stirred in his bed and opened his eyes. Something had awakened him, but he did not know what. He laid in bed listening to the sounds of the night and the low creaking of the house. Alejandro had just closed his eyes when he heard the muffled groans. He quickly pulled on his robe and tied it closed. The dark maroon material caught the light and the shadows danced in the folds of the material. Alejandro stepped into the hall and listened once again for the noise. The sound was faint, but Alejandro knew they were coming from his son's room. He quickly walked to his son's door and knocked. After hearing no reply, Alejandro pushed Diego's door open.
The room was dark. Except for the small amount of light from the sliver of moon, the room went unlit. Still, Alejandro could see his son's tall frame jerking under the covers. He made his way to the side of Diego's bed and felt his son's forehead. He was relieved to see that there was no fever. Diego continued to toss and turn, his head rolled to the side and Alejandro could see that Diego was muttering something.
Alejandro leaned close, putting his face mere inches from his son's. At first, Alejandro could not make out what his son was saying. His words were too soft, but as Alejandro listened he realized Diego was repeating one phrase over and over. Alejandro felt his heart lurch at the distress in his son's words. Alejandro's thoughts were disrupted by a sudden yell from Diego, "NO! Stop, it was my fault. Don't hurt my father. Take me…."
Alejandro jumped back a step at the unexpected noise. He waited to see if Diego was going to say anything else. When he didn't Alejandro felt himself relax. However, at the look of his son's tortured expression, Alejandro's concern returned tenfold. "Diego, my son, wake up. You are having a nightmare. Please, you must wake up Diego," Alejandro half pleaded as he shook his son's tense body.
Diego slowly started to relax when he heard his father's voice. He cautiously opened his eyes to see the worried face of Don Alejandro. "Father?" Diego questioned, wondering why his father would be waking him at such an hour. Diego never considered the nightmare, though fresh in his mind, as the cause of his father's late night visit.
"You were having a nightmare, mi hijo." Alejandro reached over and placed a hand on Diego's arm, "What were you dreaming Diego?"
Diego shook his head to clear it of the last fading images of his dream. He couldn't tell his father that he dreamt Capitán Monastario and Ignacio were using Alejandro to get to him. He couldn't put that burden on his father's all ready heavy shoulders. Instead he simply told his father he couldn't remember. "I don't know what the dream was about," Diego whispered.
Alejandro smiled at his son and gently squeezed his arm. "It was only a dream, mí hijo. Just rest." Despite recent events, Alejandro smiled. For a moment he was lost in a different time, as a young Diego, his eyes wide with fear, plunged through the oak doors of Alejandro's study. Alejandro had smoothed Diego's hair and had told him everything would be okay, that it was a nightmare and the morning would bring much happier times. And Diego had believed him. He had nodded his dark hair, took a deep breath, and returned to his room with Alejandro following him. Alejandro had tucked his son in and kept watch until Diego had fallen asleep.
Alejandro's smile faded as he returned to the present. It was not so easy anymore. Diego had turned to him for everything after Elena had died and now…now Diego seemed to turn away from him. Yet, Alejandro felt that things would change. Now he knew Diego's secret and Diego would have no reason to hide and lie to him. Alejandro's smile returned, although a shadow of its former self. As he did when Diego was young, Alejandro decided he would stay until his son fell back to sleep. "I am going to sleep in here the rest of the night."
Diego shook his head, "No, Father. You need to rest. I will be fine. Please, go to your own room and sleep."
Alejandro knew he should stay with Diego, but he agreed to go to his own room. Before leaving he felt Diego's forehead again and pushed aside a strand of dark hair. "I will see you in the morning." Alejandro left his son's room and sat on his bed. He took off his robe and lay on his bed listening to any sound that Diego was again dreaming. Alejandro tried not to concentrate on recent events, but it was still a long time before he fell back to sleep.
TBC