Chapter 18: A bitter tasting victory

Zorro slid along the wall to dodge the assault. Carried away by his spirit, El Lobo couldn't stop and his weapon thrust in a round billet. So stuck in the wall, Don Sebastián didn't manage to free it and momentarily forgot Zorro whose shape had been a bit deteriorated.

By leaning on the wall, he involuntary introduced a little more of the dagger in his shoulder. He was so gripped with pain that he felt nauseous.

Taking advantage of the moment which was offered to him, he moved to his sword and took it back with his left hand. As he stood up, he heard El Lobo exult after having freed his weapon.

"You're mine now, Zorro." He said by looking down, believing to find the Fox still in front of him.

"No, it's impossible." He whispered when he discovered his disappearance.

Zorro would have laughed about the situation but his state didn't permit it. The face El Lobo made when he noticed his foe behind him was comical as well as burlesque.

"Diablo." He growled.

Out of the corner of his eye, Zorro noticed Isabella standing up, helping little Diego to do the same before catching firmly her left side. Then they moved on the sidelines, joining Hernando who took care of her. He sat her on the bottom of the bed in order not to bother Señorita De Castillos who began to stir.

"It's a nasty gash!" The doctor whispered.

"Mama." Whined the child by seeing the wound.

"Mama is alright, Diego. It's nothing, I assure you. It's just a little cut." She explained to him.

Hernando didn't say anything and silently congratulated the señora's bravery.

El Lobo observed his enemy and remarked that outside noises had stopped. Zorro stepped back to the door, an idea in mind.

"You have no loophole, Zorro." El Lobo said by going to him firmly.

"Do you believe it?" He asked as he stopped one step from the exit and pointed his sword to him.

"You are barely standing up, Señor." Don Sebastián sniggered before lunging on him.

Zorro parried the attack without too much difficulty and taking on his reserves, unarmed Señor De Otsoa in a jiffy, leaving him dumbstruck. Without waiting, Zorro put his blade under the bandit's throat.

"Señor, the exit is this way." Zorro underlined by pointing at the door with a brief nod.

"I won't..."

He suddenly stopped when the Fox pressed the blade, cutting him slightly.

"Don't push your luck anymore, Don Sebastián." The outlaw growled.

El Lobo swallowed once the blade was away and nodded his approval. In spite of this, he remained eaten by rancor and anger.

"I will get my revenge." He grumbled by going out.

As soon as he was outside, Zorro closed the door behind El Lobo and locked it to have time recovering somehow.

Outside, Don Sebastián turned back and beat against the door, getting the attention of Toledano, Don Alejandro and Monastario.

"Señor." Toledano called.

Isabella. Monastario thought. Noticing the broken window, he ran to the cabin.

Silently, Don Alejandro went closer to Don Sebastian, in doing so joining Toledano.

Inside, Diego was leaning against the door, his breath shortened. The pain was such that he let go of his weapon again, worrying Hernando, Isabella and little Diego who had stopped crying.

"Zorro?" Isabella interrogated, her voice hiding badly her pain and her worry.

The Fox closed his eyes a short time before getting a hold on himself. Slowly, he bent down, picked up his weapon and put it away. Then he turned and moved forward.

"Señor, I owe you my life. Gracias." Zorro said by slightly bowing.

"Señor, you don't owe me anything." Hernando retorted.

"Buenas tardes, Doña Isabella, there was some time we didn't see each other."

"Señor, don't overdo it." She reprimanded him.

Diego smiled and turned to Salena. With a tender gesture, he stroked her face.

"Will she recover?" He asked.

"To be honest, I can't say... She lost a lot of blood... However, I can assure you that she has more color than when she arrived. What happened?" Hernando asked.

"There was an uprising at Los Angeles... I saw her struggling against Don Sebastian. Then, there was a shot and she fell down." Zorro explained before kissing her forehead gently.

"Who is she?" Isabella asked.

"A friend." The Fox answered by wincing.

"She is more than that, isn't she?"

"I think that my father is right." He answered enigmatical before staggering, leaning on the head of the bed.

Isabella looked at him with confusion, not understanding her friend's words.

"Señor, let me take care of you!" Hernando allowed himself.

"I can't stay here. Lancers are going to come in any time." Zorro said, fighting against dizzy spells that were harassing him. "Tell them that the hostages in the second encampment are all safe and that they are waiting for them, sheltered."

"Gracias." Hernando breathed before catching on. "But... You won't be able to climb up with this wound."

"Unfortunately, I don't see any other way out."

All of sudden, he felt a pulling on his trousers and he lowered his face.

"Buenas tardes." He said.

"Señor Zorro, is this true that you saved Los Angeles from a bad tyrant?" Little Diego asked.

"Yes, that's exact."

"You saved Uncle Rique too?"

"Yes, indeed." Zorro answered.

"And who will save you?" The child asked.

Caught unawares, Zorro didn't know what to answer and thought a short time as someone was knocking on the door.

"Don't worry about that, Diego... Señora, Señor, thank you to take care of Señorita De Castillos."

Nauseous, Zorro noticed a ladder and used it somehow to go up to the skylight.

"Open the door!" A voice unknown to Isabella suddenly said.

She didn't move, Zorro wasn't yet well hidden.

"Isabella!" Monastario called then.

There, she watched that Zorro wasn't visible and went to the door.

"Señora, be careful." Hernando breathed. "You should avoid moving."

"Don't worry, Don Hernando."

"Isabella?" Enrique repeated with worry.

"I'm coming." She answered.

As soon as the door was opened, Monastario embraced his niece, which hid a grimace.

Little Diego, seeing him, ran toward his arms.

"Uncle Rique." He cried out.

"Well, Diego, did you... What have you got on your face?" Monastario exclaimed by letting go of his niece to bend toward his little nephew.

The child looked down, sheepish.

"Señora." Toledano said by coming in.

"Señor." She answered slightly blanched.

"Capitán Toledano." Hernando saluted by coming forward.

"Señor... Weren't you at the tavern some days ago with Señor De Otsoa?" Arturo asked by getting closer to him. His face seemed familiar.

"Si, Señor... I'm a doctor... My wife, as well as the others hostages, is waiting for you in what remains of the second encampment."

"What remains... What happened?" Toledano asked with confusion.

"El Lobo ordered its destruction... A messenger came and told me that the order was well followed but that the prisoners were sheltered." Hernando lied very easily.

So it was that.

"How many are you?" The capitán asked.

"If you count El Chivo... Forgive me." He said by interrupting himself. "If you count Señor Monastario, Señora De la Cruz and her son, as well as me, we are about fifteen."

"Salena." Cried out Don Alejandro by entering at his turn.

Zorro felt a weight disappearing from his shoulders by seeing his father who seemed in good health.

"Señor Monastario, you were inspired ordering to bring three carts." Toledano said by turning.

By doing so, his look laid momentarily on a fresh stain of blood and he frowned, puzzled. Then, when he lifted his head, he noticed the wan and troubled face of Monastario as his little nephew was whispering to his ear.

"Señores, Señorita De Castillos is not fit to be moved on a horse, nor is Señora De la Cruz." Hernando enunciated, making raise Monastario's head who looked at his niece with worry.

"Isabella?" He questioned by discovering her now bandaged wound.

"It's just a cut... The window broke in shards." She explained with a contrite look.

"We will use a cart to move the señoras. The former hostages will be divided up in the two others carts and our prisoners will go on foot." Toledano underlined before returning to the door.

"Sergeant Garcia." He called.

"Yes, mi Capitán."

"Please make approach a cart!"

"Si!"

Toledano returned then next to Señorita De Castillos.

"Please excuse me, Don Alejandro." He said to be able to get closer to her.

With carefulness, Arturo took Salena in his arms.

"Diego." She whispered, astonishing each one and making them smile.

Ill at ease, Toledano cleared his throat.

From his hideout, Zorro saw everything and found himself torn between jealousy and solace. But his own pain reminded him he had to remain strong not to let escape even a sigh. Then, he notice Monastario turning to the outside. The lancers just came to end to tie the bandits.

"Capitán Toledano." Enrique said.

"What is it?" The latter asked while he arrived next to him, the señorita in his arms.

"We should hurry... A storm is coming." Monastario gave as a pretext while he observed the sky becoming dark to prove his words.

Nonetheless, the real cause for alarm remained in what little Diego had whispered to him about the Fox.

Laying the señorita cautiously in the cart, Toledano nodded.

"Sergeant Garcia, Corporal Reyes, return to the cuartel with the prisoners. Have four lancers escort the carts and follow me."

"At your command, Capitán." Saluted Garcia before making sign to the men to go.

"Señor Monastario, do you know where the second encampment is?"

"Si."

"So, I beg you to take me there. I know you would prefer to stay with your niece, but I should be grateful if you could wait a little more."

"I will lead you... Señor De la Vega, can I ask you a favor?" He interrogated then.

"What can I do for you, Señor Monastario?"

"I presume that you will bring Señorita de Castillos to your hacienda, isn't it so?"

"That's exact. Doña Salena will be at home there. Why that question?"

"In fact, I want to know if you could house Señor De la Cruz and her son by waiting for me."

"Doña De la Cruz will be always welcome to the hacienda, Señor. I will be honored to accommodate her home."

Worried for Zorro, Hernando, the last one to get out, turned to close the cabin door. He noticed him lying on a beam. He seemed to be lifeless, but a gesture from the Fox assured him and he ended his move.

"Why did you close the door?" Don Alejandro asked.

"Out of habit." Hernando retorted. "Capitán Toledano, my wife Doña Lucinda is one of the hostages. Would you be kind enough to lead her by Señor De la Vega if he doesn't see any inconvenience?"

"Don Alejandro?" Interrogated Arturo.

"Of course!"

"In this case, I will. Hurry up, Señores!" He said then as the wind became violent.