Destara woke up with a massive headache, and a blurry recollection of the night before. He remembered going to the tavern to drink with De Soto, and a blurry image of a masked man floated in his memory vaguely.

Glancing at himself in the mirror, he examined his new black eye, pausing until the building nausea threatened to undo him. Damn that wine had been good…too good. Something tugged at his memory, and he grinned sheepishly at himself in the mirror. He should know something important, but the hangover was driving nails through his brain. Something momentous had occurred, surely?

Zzz

Diego slept in to mid-morning. He had satisfied his promise to the degree that he returned him immediately after the duel with Destara and then went out again to patrol the borders of Los Angeles. He had begun to obsess again over the bank robbers. This time it was not strictly personal, at least not for the intention of avenging Francisco. This time it was to get that man out of his pueblo, before he either killed Destara or Destara worked out his identity.

Alejandro paused in the hallway outside his son's door, and watched his son sleep. Diego had forgotten to lock the door or even shut it behind him. He had slept on top of the covers again, still fully clothed in the white ruffled shirt and trousers. All he had managed to remove were the shoes, carelessly kicked at the side of the bed.

He would have woken him a little earlier, but Diego looked exhausted. Alejandro was going to have to have words to the boy. The rumours flying around the pueblo were amusing, but who knew? Perhaps some of the tamer ones were true.

Alejandro sighed, and walked to the patio, where a servant handed him fresh coffee and a bread roll. Felipe was sweeping the patio, and Alejandro smiled at the teenager. Felipe obviously wanted some companionship, the patio was the last of his responsibilities. He should in fact be studying as Diego was expecting.

Felipe met his inquiring eyes, and signed a basic point, and resting on hands. Alejandro nodded, and left him to do what he wished. Diego was asleep…study could come later.

He sipped his coffee, and Felipe left the patio. Possibly the boy had forgotten something. Presently the boy returned with visitors.

"Buenos Diaz," Alejandro said brightly, standing to welcome Don Patricio and his daughter. The girl was lovely, but very shy. Don Patricio was in his wheeled chair as usual, and Patrice wheeled him into the mild sunlight.

"I suppose you are here to visit Diego."

"I am so sorry, Father. I slept in again," Diego said with a yawn. He looked well presented for someone so deeply asleep only a few moments before. He had flicked his hair into his normal style, and shrugged a jacket over his shirt.

"Don Patricio, Senorita…" Diego said, clasping hands with the old man, and raising Patrice's hand to his lips. "It's an honour, as always."

"We should have come back later, Diego."

"Not at all… I was already awake. I am lazy, that's all."

Alejandro flinched a little. How many times had he called his son that?

Patrice laughed. "You're not lazy Senor. We have our lovely newspaper to prove that."

"We have indeed…" Don Patricio said, nodding vaguely. "And of course the man is Zorro, after all."

Diego startled, and Alejandro stared at the old man. Patrice smiled nervously, and patted her father's hand.

"Father, we have discussed this before…Diego is Diego, the son of our very good friend Alejandro de la Vega. Diego is a scholar, and a newspaper man, not an outlaw."

Don Patricio glanced at Diego with a little confusion, and shook his head. Diego thought his eyes were a little too bright this morning, and he forced a smile to his face.

"Imagine that, Father," Diego whispered, so as not to upset the old Don any further. "Imagine me, being Zorro…It's really quite funny…"

"Yes…Funny…" Alejandro said slowly. "Was Zorro particularly busy last night, Don Patricio?"

"We were staying at the tavern last night, Don Alejandro," Patrice said. "There was a disturbance, and my father was taken with it. He was at the window in his chair, you see. The doctor does ask him not to be overstimulated…Well, we can't ask the world to stop, can we, senors?"

"No, that's a hard thing to ask."

"What was the problem?" Diego asked with curiosity.

"Zorro confronted the alcalde and the new Capitan. Something arising out of the man kissing Victoria the other day. Obviously the man has only just heard of it."

"It's the first time I've heard of it," Alejandro said with irritation. "The nerve of the Capitan. I thought he was a good man."

Diego was silent, and nodded.

"He was lucky to be alive. Zorro is a master swordsman."

"Zorro has never killed anyone before, Father," Diego said softly.

"Always a first time. Everyone knows what Victoria means to Zorro. Surely the gossip has got around to the man," Alejandro said crossly. "He's no gentleman."

"I did tell you the other day. No one listens to me, as usual." Alejandro cast a quick look at Diego, startled by the serious undertone in his son's voice.

"Well, Zorro bested him…" Patrice continued.

"Of course," Don Patricio said, glancing at Diego with appreciation. "Upper cut like that, magnificent."

"Father…" Patrice said, glancing at Diego. "Forgive him, Diego. He's excitable this morning."

"It was a brawl?" Diego said softly.

"No, there were swords involved, I heard them."

"So the upper cut move was like cheating?" Diego said.

"It stopped the fight, young man, and a good thing too. You took on a dangerous opponent last night. You were equally matched, but you were not equal to the task. You really should keep a lid on those emotions of yours."

Diego grinned, and nodded. "I'll try to keep it in mind, Don Patricio."

"Diego, it's not nice to encourage his madness…" Patrice said crossly.

"I'm sorry, senorita."

"Zorro shouldn't really be meeting the man over emotional matters. Those sort of things could lead to problems. I wish we really did know who he was," Alejandro said thoughtfully. "He probably needs some guidance in this."

"He possibly feels that Destara could seduce Victoria. She might run off with the man."

"If he thinks that the lady is not worthy of him," Don Patricio said crossly. "A lady worthy of Zorro would resist all others, she would love him with all her being…"

"Yes, Father, yes."

"You remember, Patrice. Your mother…she loved with her whole being. Right up until the day she died."

"Listen, young man. I know you. Full of mischief and naughtiness. I will tell your father about those apples you stole from me yesterday, Diego de la Vega," Don Patricio said, slowly dissolving into true madness again.

"I will repay you what they are worth," Alejandro said softly.

"That's not the point, Alejandro. The boy needs to know what he can get away with and what he can't…"

"I'll take him home. See what excitement does to him? It's only made it worse coming here," Patrice said with a little agitation.

"I am truly sorry if I made it worse for you," Diego said softly. "Allow me to help you out to the buggy."

"I can manage," Patrice said. "Henri will help me with my father."

Diego stepped back and glanced at his father. After the pair had left, the two men looked at each other. Alejandro was concerned about a few points.