The news spread like wildfire the next day; Victoria Escalante was forsaking Zorro to marry Ramon Palos. No one was more pleased than Ramon himself, and no one was more grieved than Don Diego. He said nothing to anyone, and only Felipe had any understanding of how utterly empty and hurt the young caballero felt. Alejandro brought the news home from town, and Diego did such a good job of masking his feelings that his father did not have the slightest idea of Diego's heartbreak.

As soon as he could excuse himself, though, Diego retreated to Zorro's cave and did not come out for so long that Felipe finally went after him to make sure he was all right. He found Diego sitting at his desk, staring at an open book, his thoughts obviously far away. The caballero did not acknowledge his presence until Felipe touched his shoulder; finally he looked up with a wan smile.

"I hadn't realized the time," he said when the youth motioned that it was nearly midnight. With a tired sigh he stood and let Felipe lead him back into the hacienda.

The young man saw him to his quarters, bidding his friend a good night, but Diego hardly heard him. Felipe hurt badly for him; even though he did not understand the extent of Diego's grief, he was old enough to appreciate that it could exist. He even wondered how his loss would affect Zorro- he knew Diego well enough to know that at times the only reason he had kept going was because of Victoria and the hope of one day marrying her.

Though the don never spoke much of his feelings toward her, and often changed the subject when it got remotely close to matters of the heart, Felipe could see how deeply he loved the señorita. He was around them often enough to notice the change in the don when he saw her. Sometimes, when Diego was particularly tired or pensive, just seeing Victoria seemed to revive him and give him the strength to continue. So Felipe knew more about the effects of Diego's loss than the caballero thought anyone did, and so he was more concerned about Zorro and the pueblo than anyone else knew to be.

More grief and pain was heaped on Diego the next day, too, when Alejandro returned from yet another errand in town to happily report that Victoria had asked him to be her escort at her wedding in two days. That was bad enough, but then came the bitter blow, unwittingly caused by Victoria herself. She had asked the elder don if the younger could play the piano for her wedding.

Felipe flinched visibly when he heard Don Alejandro tell Diego that he had already agreed for him, but the young don was totally expressionless.

"Couldn't you have asked me first?" Diego said, his tone inscrutable.

"Why? Is there a problem? You are like a brother to her..." Felipe winced at those words, but Diego's face was stony. "... so I knew you would want to do it. Am I not correct?"

For a few long seconds Diego said nothing, but then with a glance toward Felipe that was barren of any emotion, he bowed his head slightly and said, "As you wish."

Confused by his son's strange reaction, Alejandro shrugged it off as one of Diego's inconsistencies. The elder caballero was very pleased to have been asked to escort the young bride, so with a smile to the two younger men, he went outside, humming happily to himself. Felipe wanted to say something- anything- to Diego that would help, but there was nothing. The younger don only smiled mirthlessly at him.

"The day after tomorrow..." he muttered quietly, hiding his grief even in his voice. "Would you saddle Esperanza, Felipe? I am going to have a talk with Ramon Palos. I want to make sure he is everything Victoria thinks he is."

The timing of Diego's ride into town was deliberate; he expected Señor Palos to be at the tavern for siesta, and although he steeled himself for the ordeal, he still was not prepared for the scene that presented itself when he arrived at the inn. Victoria and Ramon were sitting in the shade on the porch, and he was kissing her. They broke it off and separated marginally as he drew near, but Ramon kept her hand in his. Diego forced himself not to react, and as he dismounted, he even managed a smile.

"Buenas tardes, Diego," Victoria said cheerfully. "I haven't seen you in weeks!"

"Si," he said in the best casual tone he could muster. "I was in Monterey."

"Did you have a good trip?"

"Quite profitable... at least for the hacienda." He nodded slightly to Ramon. "May I congratulate you on your good fortune, señor... Victoria, best wishes."

"Gracias, Diego!" Victoria smiled. She looked happy, and that was the one consolation Diego had. Then she sighed and stood. "I need to get back to work," she said. "I will bring you both something to drink."

The don sat down opposite Ramon, and after a few innocuous comments exchanged about the hot, dry weather, Diego asked, "Where are you originally from?"

"Oh, I was born in San Diego, but I have lived around San Luis Obispo most of my life."

Diego nodded casually. "Is that where you and Victoria will live?"

"Si," Palos said with a grin. "I have a nice home there. It is my inheritance from my father."

Diego nodded again. "Victoria is a very good friend of mine. Her parents are dead, and her brothers live far away. My father and I are like family to her. Pardon my asking, but... can you provide properly for her?"

For a moment the man was silent, then he said in an icy tone, "I do not think it is any of your business, señor, but I have nothing to hide. I sell horses. I have been quite fortunate lately. The market is good." He abruptly stood. "I do not have to justify myself to you."

Victoria came out at that moment with two glasses of lemonade, and she was just in time to hear Ramon say, "Now if you will excuse me..."

Before she could say anything, though, Ramon looked over Diego's shoulder at three men who rode up to the tavern just then.

"Ramon!" one of them exclaimed as he swung himself down from his horse, leaving it to another of his friends to tie up. "It has been a long time!"

Diego turned and looked at the newcomers, all strangers to him. None of the three were particularly notable, dressed as ranch hands, dusty from the trail and rather lean looking. He did notice that all three wore swords and each had a pistol and rifle within reach on their saddles. More importantly, he noticed Ramon's sudden uneasiness.

"Hola, Juan," Ramon said in a cool tone. "What brings you this way?"

"We heard you were getting married, amigo! We wouldn't miss it for the world!" The man laughed, and Diego immediately knew he did not like him. "You were going to invite us, weren't you?"

Ramon's hesitation was evident even to Victoria, but finally he said, "Of course."

"Who are these men, Ramon?" the señorita asked, looking expectant.

"Friends of mine..." Palos answered in a flat voice. "We used to... work together."

"And this?" Juan said, motioning Victoria and approaching. "Is this your bride?" He laughed again, irritating Diego more than he could reasonably explain. "You have good taste, amigo!"

Victoria smiled amiably, then said, "Well, Juan, since you and your friends are friends of Ramon, I invite you to stay at the tavern until the wedding."

"Gracias, señorita," the stranger replied, making an exaggerated bow, "but we have other arrangements. Your kindness is most appreciated, though."

Diego rose to excuse himself, and he found all three newcomers watching him warily. With a nod in their direction, Diego turned to Ramon and said, "Forgive my questions, señor. I am sure you understand..." Then he bowed slightly toward Victoria and left.