Chapter 6

The following morning, the citizens were arriving at the pueblo in numbers not seen since the water shortage several years ago. Word had passed rapidly to the outlaying districts that not only Zorro had been captured and was to hang but that the masked man, who had helped so many people over the years, was in fact a wealthy caballero, the son of the well respected de la Vega family. They were coming to give their support to their hero and his family.

de Soto watched the growing crowd through narrowed eyes. He quietly issued orders that all the lancers were to be on duty and to be armed not only with their muskets and swords but also with pistols. He wanted to make their presence felt. He had them standing at attention around the cuartel and at regular intervals around the plaza. He was taking no chance of a possible rescue of de la Vega.

Don Alejandro and Felipe slowly rode into the pueblo with their heads held high and were amazed at the crowd of people milling around. They noticed that the tavern was closed and likely to remain so for some time. The crowd parted for the de la Vegas, they eyes full of compassion and respect.

As they dismounted, Don Ricardo, a close friend of Don Alejandro crossed the plaza and held out his hand. "Please accept my sincere condolences Don Alejandro, Don Felipe."

Don Alejandro shook his hand. "Gracias amigo."

Now that Felipe was adopted, he took on the honorific title of Don. He shook Don Ricardo's hand firmly and nodded. All the citizens solemnly came up to them and one by one, they shook both Don Alejandro and Don Felipe hands, offering their support in this terrible time.

Victoria was watching from an upstairs window, very moved by the sight of the townspeople showing their respect to the De la Vaga men. Hot tears welled in her eyes and she let them fall down her face as she twisted her engagement ring around her finger. She felt ill; she was trembling and she was burning up as though she had a high fever. She wanted to stay inside her tavern and never come out. But she couldn't do that to Diego or his family. She would hide her feelings from everyone; she would remain strong, at least in public.

She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, straightened her clothes, went down the stairs, and opened the tavern door. All eyes flew to the beautiful tavern owner and it unsettled her. She felt a great wave of compassion sweep over her from the gathered crowd and she almost broke down again.

Don Alejandro saw her obvious discomfort, quickly walked to her and gently placed his arm around her waist. "Victoria my dear, how are you?" he asked softly, kindly.

She let out her breath. "I'm okay Don Alejandro and you and Felipe?"

"We are okay for now."

Victoria nodded as Felipe moved to her other side and placed his hand on her arm, offering her his support.

Don Alejandro turned to the crowd, his arm still around her waist. "We wish to thank everyone here today for your support of my family in this difficult time, it is very much appreciated."

The crowd saw the caring manner that Don Alejandro was showing to Victoria and realised that he was bringing her into his family and therefore under his protection. Many nodded their approval, after all, everyone knew of the love between her and the masked man and that the lovely tavern owner would have become his daughter by marriage.

Behind them, the large wooden doors of the cuartel opened, the crowd turned as one and let out a collective gasp. Walking behind two lancers was Diego de la Vega, still dressed in black, with his hands bound behind him. He wore his usual Zorro smirk as he walked with his head held high towards the gallows but inside, he was afraid, not for himself but for his family. He had made his peace with his lord and did not fear death.

Victoria uttered a small groan and gripped Don Alejandro's hand tight as she saw her lover being led up the stairs of the gallows. If it wasn't for his supporting arm around her, she would have dropped to the ground. She felt such pain in her very soul that she wished that the ground would open up and swallow her whole. How could she live her life without him? How could she bear not seeing him almost every day in her tavern? She didn't want him to die. Oh why couldn't they had a more compassion leader, none of this would have happened.

Don Alejandro felt sicken at the sight of his beloved son going to his death. He wished he had spent more with him, to get to know the real Diego, to tell him just how much he loved him and that he was proud of him. No father could be more proud of his son, than he was. He wanted to see his son marry Victoria, to bounce his grandchildren on his knee but now that would never happed. How had it ended like this? He should have done more to fight the injustices of de Soto, they all should have and not let one man fight on his own. He felt Victoria's violent shudders and held her tight.

Don Felipe felt all the blood rush from his face and swayed on his feet. If it wasn't for Victoria's sudden hold on him, he didn't know what would have happened. He was so angry that he wanted to rush out, fight all the lancers, and free the only father he had known. He had to clinch his fist to hold back his pain; he loved Diego as a father and would do anything for him, even die for him. But he knew that his father would not want that, his father wanted him to get on with his life.

Diego walked up the stairs and turned to face the gathered crowd, he saw their respect, their compassion and he even saw their hostility towards the lancers and prayed that they wouldn't do anything stupid. He scanned the faces and found his loved ones. He held his gaze with each of them, first his father, then his son and finally the woman he loved, his wife in all ways that mattered. He saw them give each other support and felt he could go to his death with the knowledge that they would be there for each other.

He turned to de Soto, saw his barely controlled glee and it made him angry. "Ignacio, you may feel that you have won." he said in the unmistakable voice of Zorro. "But nothing can be further from the truth."

"Oh what truth is that de la Vaga?" he was feeling generous and allowed him to talk.

"The truth is that you cannot kill an idea, the idea of justice, of treating everyone with respect and kindness. That cannot die. The people will no longer tolerate injustice by corrupt officials."

"So you are inciting violence now, de la Vaga. You are showing your true rebellious nature at long last."

Strangely that made Diego laugh aloud. "Surely Ignacio, if that had been my intent, I would have killed you the moment you set foot in the pueblo."

The crowd gasped at this bold statement.

de Soto didn't like the way this conversation was going and needed to take back control of the situation. The crowd was becoming clearly agitated.

"Mendoza, put the noose over the bandit's head."

"But...but Alcalde..." Mendoza stammered.

"DO YOUR DUTY SERGEANT!" De Soto yelled.

Diego turned slightly to the Sergeant. "Its okay Jaime" he said kindly.

Mendoza looked sadly at his friend. "Madre de Dios, please forgive me Diego."

"There's nothing to forgive."

Mendoza nodded and with shaking hands placed the noose over Diego's head.

"No." Victoria moaned low as she clung tightly to Don Alejandro. "Dios, no..." her body was shuddering with her grief, but she wouldn't let her tears flow, she had to stay strong for him. She wouldn't let his last moment on this earth be filled with her pain.

Don Alejandro was also fighting back his grief, but he was also worried about the shuddering young woman in his arms. He wished there was some way he could ease her obvious pain. He glanced at his grandson and saw that he was crying unashamedly. He reached out and held onto his shoulder.

Felipe gazed at his grandfather, saw his helplessness, and wanted to help the older man. He gripped his grandfather's hand.

Diego felt the scrapping harshness of the rope around his neck as he looked in the direction of his loved ones. He saw their grief, their helplessness and he wished that he had one more moment to embrace them. He felt his own tears begin to burn his eyes but he would not give de Soto the satisfaction. So instead he gave the crowd one last Zorro-like grin, he had a legend to uphold after all.

"Mendoza." De Soto called out.

Mendoza felt sicken by what he was about to do. He didn't want to end the life of a man he respected but he had no choice. He placed his hand on the lever, which would open the trapdoors, and began to pull it towards him.