Diego grimaced as the bandit tightened the ropes around his wrists, cutting into the soft flesh there.

"Are they hurting you, Diego?"

Isabella's voice made him smile ruefully. "No, Isabella. My pride hurts, that's all."

"It was a good try, Diego. You did your best," Victoria said softly. "Zorro will be here soon, anyway."

Isabella stared at Diego as he stiffened and looked away.

"You doubt he will come, Diego?"

"Zorro always comes, Isabella. Always," Victoria said determinedly. "Diego must just be a little tired from his adventure."

"Diego?" Isabella had seen enough to question him further. "Are you alright?"

Zzz

Diego wondered if he was alright. He wondered if he was still completely sane. He'd had a plan, but it had been a poor one. Isabella was hurt, and it was mainly because he had chosen to come as Diego, not Zorro. Zorro was not coming to the rescue just yet, so escape was a necessity.

He couldn't let Victoria's faith in him come to nothing. She trusted Zorro with her whole heart. He couldn't let her down. He sighed.

"Diego's a man like all the rest, Victoria. He wants to be the rescuer," Isabella said softly. She made Diego smile a little.

"It would have been nice…" He murmured.

Victoria smiled at him and the world lit up. "I thought you were wonderful, Diego. So brave, and without a weapon. Whatever you did to those men was very effective. They're still dazed."

Diego glanced at the groggy men. Their leader was unimpressed with their moaning. Diego thought they probably were concussed and needed some medical attention – they were unlikely to get any.

"Thank you, Victoria," Diego whispered.

Isabella glanced at Diego and then at Victoria, and then back again. She nodded thoughtfully.

"Do you think these men are the bank robbers? The ones that killed…killed…" Isabella said, another thought crossing her mind.

"They might be."

"They have killed before. Will they kill us too?" Isabella said thoughtfully. "My children…"

"If it came to that, senora, I know my father would raise them as fine caballeros," Diego said.

"You think they will probably kill us?"

Diego looked at her. He hadn't wanted to give her that impression, but he considered it a likely outcome, if he couldn't do something.

"Don't be silly, you two. Zorro is coming. He'll make them pay," Victoria insisted. "They won't get away with this."

"Yes. Zorro is coming." Diego wriggled a little further towards the rock wall. He had been working on the ropes since they had left them. They were a little too tight to loosen on his own, but the rock wall was rough and friction did wonders. Just give me time, he thought to himself.

Zzz

Stefano had cautioned Raquel to stay on the blanket. He had crept to the side entrance of the cave. Watching Diego creep there earlier, he had realised the plan immediately. Repeating Diego's moves, he paused in the dark passageway.

Should he have left Raquel? She was impulsive and silly as only an eight year old girl could be, and Diego had trusted him to look after her. Diego's life was in danger and so were the ladies. What was the point of babysitting if he could do something to help?

The pistol was loaded and in his hands.

Zzz

Stefano had heard the voice of Paonessa, and he had recognised it. Paonessa had been the one who had shot his brother in the bank at Monterey. Francisco had stepped up and told them to let the women and children out, and the man had shot him. Francisco had been armed with his rapier, but he had never even drawn it out of its sheath. Stefano imagined Diego doing that also, with the same outcome. Stefano shivered. Losing two men he greatly respected, the same way would be devastating.

He heard the scuffle of the short fight, and wondered a little at it. He couldn't see it, but it brought consequences of its own. He heard the sword fall to the ground, Diego's newly acquired rapier, and he knew that they were all in serious trouble.

Stefano hoped that Felipe had been able to communicate the problem to the garrison, or at least to someone who would understand him. Some soldiers would be a great help right now.

He crept forward a little more, and saw Diego being roughly tied. The wealthy caballero was not happy, and Stefano smiled a little despite himself. He had never seen such a look of thunderous rage in his new friend's face before. Diego had always been either morose or cheerful, only angry out of his viewpoint. Stefano had heard the doors slam, and the shouts, but he had never witnessed first-hand the expression on his face.

He tossed a small pebble at Diego. It took a few tosses to actually get the man's attention, but their eyes met. Diego frowned at him, and Stefano shrugged. Stefano held up the pistol, and pointed his other hand towards the bandits. Diego shook his head quickly.

Zzz

Diego couldn't believe the boy. He had told him to look after Raquel and keep her safe. He should have taken her to the pueblo. What was the foolish boy doing here? Where was the child?

The rope around his wrist broke as he rubbed it a little more. Diego longed to examine the rope burns and rub some more circulation into his arms, but he didn't dare move that way yet.

They were guarded a little more closely than the ladies had been before. Paonessa himself had taken an interest in Diego, and that in itself was annoying.

Stefano moved a little agitatedly, and Diego watched him carefully. Stefano was trying to sign something, but he wasn't as polished as Felipe was. The way he was glaring and gesturing towards Paonessa almost got the point across, and when Stefano pointed to Isabella it all fell into place.

Paonessa had been the man who had shot Francisco….who had killed Francisco. Diego felt his blood run ice cold, and he stared at the leader of the bandits with something close to hate. Stefano's rage was red hot, Diego realised, and he was prepared to do something to alleviate it. Diego would have to stop the teenager doing something foolish that he would regret for the rest of his life. Then he would have to deal with the bandits. When was his life going to get easier?

Zzz

Diego shook his head again at Stefano.

"Pablo Paonessa! Come out of there with your hands on your head!"

It took Diego a few moments to realise it was Destara outside the cave giving orders.

"Destara! He has hostages!" Diego shouted, and one of the bandits pointed a pistol in his direction.

"Shut up, caballero!" The bandit said aggressively. The pistol was moved to point at Isabella's head instead. "She will be the first to die, if you can't hold your tongue!"

"Let the hostages free," Destara demanded from outside the cave.

"Don't worry about the prisoners for now, Juan. Shoot the soldiers down, they're amateurs," Paonessa ordered.

Diego glanced towards the opening of the cave. Knowing Destara from University, he was well aware that the man was much more professional than the alcalde. Destara's men were highly trained, and brilliant shots.

The two woozy bandits were joined by three more, and they opened fire, and reloaded in turns so the firing was intense. Diego acted quickly, using the fire fight as a distraction. His hands had been free for a while, and he worked on the ladies ropes. He had to force Isabella's head down, as a ricochet bounced off a nearby rock, and she let out a little shriek.

"Take your sister in law, and get her out through the side passage, Stefano. Do as I say!" Diego said firmly.

"Will they be alright, Diego? Someone might get hit," Victoria said, as he began to work on her ropes. Paonessa had taken his knife as well as the sword, so working with fingers was slow and difficult. She had pulled the knots tight with her struggling.

"Isabella's sensible," Diego murmured. "She'll keep down."

"Well, well, my fine caballero." Diego was startled by Paonessa redirecting his attention to them. "You are quick witted, I will give you that."

The pistol pointed in their direction didn't fill Diego with much fear. "I am your best hostage with the soldiers out there. This lady is the best for Zorro. You can't very well kill either of us."

Paonessa laughed a little. "You do think you are smart, don't you? You are not smarter than Paonessa."

The man flexed a finger against the pistol, and Diego stepped in front of Victoria, shoving her to the side, as the pistol went off. He staggered a little to his knees, as the pistol shot clipped his left shoulder.

"You aren't that great a shot, Paonessa," he said through clenched teeth, as he pulled himself back onto his feet.

Victoria was already staring at him with terror, but he ignored her for now.

Paonessa smiled and laughed a little. "The rooster knows how to fight, eh?"

"Diego, you're hurt," Victoria murmured.

"Shall I pass you a blade, caballero?"

"Let the lady leave," Diego said softly.

Paonessa gazed at her, and then at Diego, and then back again. "I see, caballero. Not so much a rooster, but perhaps a fox?"

"A fox?" Victoria whispered.

"Run, Victoria. You know where the passage is," Diego murmured, without looking in her direction. He was too busy keeping his eyes on Paonessa.

"No, Diego. I'm staying," she murmured, stubbornly.

"Your lady is an obstinate one, Zorro," Paonessa whispered. "You do go by that name?"

Diego ignored his words completely, as Paonessa tossed him the discarded rapier. Paonessa drew his sword, and they began to duel.

Diego worked on defending for the moment, slowly gauging the other man's style and skill.

"I have always wanted to match swords with you, senor Zorro. It's an honour to finally meet you."

"So thrilled to know I have such an admirer, senor," Diego said, as he parried and blocked.

"I must say, you are less than I imagined," Paonessa said.

"Really? I hate to be such a disappointment, senor, but you did shoot me."

Paonessa laughed. "Such a pretty little fox, senor. Pretty words, and pretty clothes."

Diego concentrated on his footwork, and left the talking to the bandit leader. The wound on his left shoulder was painful, but not really impeding his abilities.

Diego slowly felt himself backed against the stone wall. He smiled suddenly, and turned the tables on Paonessa completely. His defence was switched for attack, and Paonessa was driven back the way they had come. Diego's sword circled the other, and with a flick, he sent Paonessa's blade flying to the floor.

Diego laid the sword's tip at Paonessa's throat, and stared hard at the man. "Shall I draw blood, senor? Let's see how much blood I can spill."

Paonessa laughed again softly. "Zorro doesn't spill blood. He's squeamish…"

"I am Diego de la Vega, senor. I'm not Zorro. Ask Capitan Destara if I am squeamish…"