Mediation at the de la Vegas

Ignacio sat across from Diego at the dining table, and the men watched each other carefully. Ignacio was getting sick of the other man's dominance over his life. It had been going on for far too long, and it had to stop eventually. Diego was three years younger than him, for goodness sake. He had completed college, and Diego had not. Surely that meant something.

Natural talent had taken the young man far, he supposed. With a father like Don Alejandro, people would expect his military skills to be very advanced, but on the outside, many were disappointed in the boy. He seemingly had the brilliance of his mother, who was a notable woman in her own right. Brilliance wasn't always accepted by the majority, and Ignacio had felt a little sorry for Don Diego in the past. Now, he just felt dominated and insecure around the man.

Victoria and Gushing Stream entered the room. It was all very unconventional, but Ignacio accepted it. The men rose and Ignacio helped his wife into the chair next to Diego, before returning to his own seat.

"Ignacio, what do you want to say?"

Ignacio glared at Diego. He was glad that Alejandro wasn't there to laugh at the situation. Diego shrugged and interlaced his fingers, resting his elbows on the table.

Ignacio took his eyes off Diego. It wasn't Diego's business, none of it was.

"Gushing Stream, I am so sorry for creating a violent environment for you and it will stop."

"Will it?" She whispered, her face so pale it was almost white again. He cursed himself silently for bringing her back to the level he had found her in on the streets of Monterey. It had been his fault then, and it was his fault now. She shouldn't have to deal with the fear that obviously drove her to run.

"It will end, because I have resigned from my post as Alcalde. We don't have to interact in that social environment any more. We can choose who we socialise with. We will only socialise with people who respect both of us." Ignacio saw a light come on in her eyes. It was a pity that the only people who seemed or pretended to respect both of them were the de la Vegas. He would just have to put up with it, until it got easier, he supposed.

"You resigned?" She murmured. Her hands fluttered nervously, and he longed to hold them and calm her. She seemed so far away.

"Armand de Cipriana has given us a gift of land for our wedding present, my princess."

"I am not your princess, Ignacio. We don't live in a child's fairy tale. You are not going to seduce me again," she murmured, and he could see hurt anger flicker into her eyes.

He stared down at the table top, and swallowed with difficulty. Had he lost her?

"I want something more than promises, and apologies, Ignacio. I want you to truly protect me, and not just talk about it. Broken promises and false apologies will not save us." her voice continued. It was firm and insistent. "I love you, but I can't live with violence surrounding me. I can't live with a man who ignores my fears and manipulates me. I have lived with a man who treated me like an animal, and he did things like that."

Ignacio glanced up at her pale face, and was trapped in her deep brown eyes. She gave him a tentative smile, and sighed. She could not look away from him, he realised. He wondered if she was trapped in his blue eyes for a moment. He needed her to want him back in her life. He wasn't sure if he could survive without her.

"On our property, we could raise cattle, just like the de la Vegas. If we work hard enough, maybe we will be wealthy people," Ignacio said softly. "The property is right next to the de la Vega ranch, and we could see them every day. We don't ever need to see another person ever again," he added.

"That's irrational, Ignacio," Diego said softly. "You will need to buy supplies, and interact with buyers for the cattle. They may insult your wife at some stage."

She was looking at him, questions in her eyes. Questions of his own bounced in his mind, making him pause to think.

"That stranger in town, Diego. I had the lancers deal with him. Surely that shows I controlled myself, and that I could do so again."

"You had to deal with more hateful words?"

"They are just words, Gushing Stream, as you said before. Just words," Ignacio said softly. "I could have done something more than just ejected him from my office and town." A thought at the back of his mind prompted him to consider if he should have. "Words may hurt me, but I am strong. I can endure some pain in my life." He knew he had to endure the pain of being constantly defeated by a better opponent, namely Zorro. He had learnt to put up with some of it.

She relaxed a little, and Diego glanced at her and shrugged. "I want to talk to you, Ignacio."

Ignacio glanced up at the man as he rose to his feet. He wasn't sure what he meant, until he gestured to the door. Ignacio rose and bowed to the ladies, and followed him.

Ignacio followed him all the way out into the yard.

"What do you want to talk about, Diego?"

Diego was silent as he struggled to think. He frowned and glanced down at the dirt.

"Ignacio. I don't think you are truly worthy of the lady. I don't think you can keep your temper. Not for a moment. You are a weak and cowardly man," Diego said.

Ignacio reacted to him instantly, his hand was on his sword hilt, and he realised the truth of the man's words as the sword left its scabbard. It was at Diego's throat before he managed to catch himself.

Diego stood perfectly still, as Ignacio took a deep breath to steady himself. Ignacio lowered his sword and laughed to himself, turning away from the man.

"If you want to take it out on me, go ahead. Reveal to the world the man you really are," Diego said, his eyes flashing as if he was in costume already. "I am completely unarmed, as was the man you flogged the other day."

"Stop it, Diego." Ignacio took a few steps back. "I won't fall for that test."

"You already did," Diego said.

Ignacio threw his rapier onto the ground and frowned at it as if it had turned into a snake.

"Help me, Diego. Don't just lecture me to do better. Don't skulk around being the town's guardian angel and avenger. I need help, and all you can offer me is further punishment."

Diego stared at him in confusion for a moment, and Ignacio's sense of pride completely left him.

"I am lost – completely and utterly lost. My life is in turmoil and I can do nothing at all to stop it crashing around me and crushing the life out of me. We are allies, sure. We are allies, so treat me as one. I am not your younger brother. I am not a child. Together we could become stronger, and defend this pueblo as it should be defended. If I can't do it as an Alcalde anymore there must be something I can do. This place has taken years of my life, and it has grown on me. I could have requested a transfer away from here, but I can't leave."

Diego was silent. Ignacio sighed. "I am going to go to my new hacienda. You know where it is," he said. "Let me know if my wife needs anything. I can set up something to provide her with money. If I enquire with Armand maybe I can get my old job back or a transfer, if she can't live with me. I will never forget her, but somehow I have to get my life back in order."

"Ignacio." He turned at the sound of his name. "I am coming with you. Give me a moment to get my things together." Gushing Stream was standing near the doorway. He glanced from Diego to his wife's departing figure, and wondered for a moment.

"Do you think I'd really say those things?" Diego said. Ignacio was a little startled at the level of humour in his voice.

"You think those things."

"Do I?" Diego said softly. "It was a test, Ignacio. Maybe you passed."

"Well, you took a chance. You are unarmed, and I could have cut your throat…"

"Since when have you ever landed a blow on me?"

Ignacio hesitated at the confident gleam in Diego's eyes. "I would have used that rake over there, that flower pot, and probably pushed you against the wall, over there. You wouldn't have gotten very far."

"The throat?"

"Hardly a sensible move, but it is your style. Sorry, it's true. You are completely predictable, Ignacio," Diego murmured. "I would have ducked out of your way if you were serious in your intent."

Ignacio was amazed by the man for a moment. "I'd like some lessons one day," he said. He couldn't think of anything else to say. "Thank you, I think." Diego bowed, and smiled a little.