Chapter 31 : One surprise after another
Around the jousters, the crowd chanted Bernardo's name who just came to tie the score with the capitán. When the last point began, Diego was again a spectator. Blades crossed, blades clashed, slipping one on the other. The exchange was lively for the greatest pleasure of the capitán who managed finally to win the point. He saluted his opponent before applauding him firmly. Ill at ease, Bernardo wanted to disappear in the crowd. Don Alejandro restrained him and gave him a tap on the back so vigorous to felicitate him that it nearly knocked him over.
"Don Diego?" Don Nacho interrogated.
"Everything is fine." The young don affirmed by putting on the dickey again.
Murmurs rose in the crowd from behind; dressed in black and with his scarf around his head, Diego's silhouette was very familiar. Even Señor Torres frowned.
The young De la Vega went then in the fighting zone and faced Señor Monastario. Both men saluted and exchanged a childish smile making sigh Isabella.
"You don't bet anymore, Señor De la Vega?" A ranchero asked.
"It's depending... Who do you think will win?" Don Alejandro interrogated with humor.
The fight engaged and Diego played again like a clumsy one.
"De la Vega, be a little serious I beg you." Enrique growled.
"As you wish." Diego retorted by smiling.
The change in the play was flagrant and Diego let no respite to his opponent, scoring three consecutive points by disarming him gently each time.
"It's always a pleasure, mi Capitán." He voluntarily said.
"De la Vega..." He lost his temper.
"I meant, Señor Monastario." Diego corrected himself by smiling toward Isabella.
Next to her was Salvator who seemed to show his disapproval. Like a child caught in the act, Diego felt ill at ease.
For the final joust, nobody dared to make any prognosis. Diego proved to be an expert by defeating Salvator and Señor Monastario without great difficulties. In comparison, his first fights seemed now as warm-up sparring where it was useless to get tired.
"I have no more doubt now." The governor affirmed to the viceroy.
"For my part, I have a feeling of déjà-vu about the first meeting which opposed him to Señor Monastario. Diego perfected his play of clumsy swordsmanship." Don Esteban joked while Toledano went to the duel zone.
"Arturo, be careful." Raquel whispered with worry.
"Don't be afraid, my dear. I don't risk anything." He asserted before kissing her hand.
The exchange began quietly, the jousters testing each other.
"You seem to be in good health, this time." Toledano said.
This time? Some people wondered.
"Don't be so sure." Diego admitted by wincing.
He scored a first point, engraving a horizontal line on the wood dickey.
Toledano frowned to the confession and to Diego's wincing.
Then the game started again. The fencers' sparring was lively and the young don badly managed to hide his pain. Observing, Señor Obolle smiled.
"Don't say that your left arm is troubling you."
"Oh no, it's not the left." Diego affirmed as he pushed back the capitán on his defending line and as he managed to score a second point with a diagonal slash on the dickey . "Don't ask anymore questions, Capitán Toledano"
"Very well." Arturo asserted as he gave him back his smile.
The third point began in silence... The pain in his shoulder was becoming lingering, he had to finish the fight as quickly as possible. Dodging one attack from the capitán, Diego changed his weapon from hand to hand under an "oh" of surprise and admiration from the crowd. Surprised by this daring move, Toledano parried in the nick of time and he remarked the pain on the young don's face.
I mustn't make easier the point, it won't be fair. He thought by maintaining his way of jousting.
"That's better, Capitán." Diego said by noticing it but disarming him nonetheless before engraving a third line on the dickey.
Then, he lowered his weapon while Toledano let down his arms. Diego tilted his head to the side, observing the Z he just came to finish on his opponent's dickey. Puzzled, Toledano leaned his head and laughed out loud while a vivacious acclamation could be heard to Diego's victory.
Don Nacho had staring eyes, hypnotized by Capitán Toledano's dickey.
Diego saluted this latter and took off his protection before going closer to Salvator while understanding whispers echoed in the crowd.
"Could we have the honor to see your face, Señora, or do I have to mask myself at my turn?" Diego asked.
"Señora?"
"How's that señora?"
"But what is he talking about?"
Under his mask, Salvator smiled. Diego was right. She took the stick off of her hair which cascaded around her shoulders. Then, she raised her hand to her mask and took it off, creating amazement and surprise.
"Doña Salena." Isabella exclaimed.
"There is no need to mask you, my love." She said before kissing him. "How is your arm?" She asked afterwards .
"It's a graze." He retorted. "You caught me unawares, my dear."
"We were defeated by a señora." Monastario exclaimed before adding: "What a shame!"
"Come now, Señor, you only lost your joust by one point... Señores, if you please excuse me, these clothes put me ill at ease." She excused herself before flying away under the look full of love and pride of her husband.
"Don Diego, why do you want to imitate Zorro?" A skeptical don asked as he observed the dickey that Toledano just came to pull off.
"Oh! Do you believe it's an imitation?" Diego asked by smiling. "Maybe another joust is necessary. Capitán Toledano, Señor Monastario ?" He interrogated with a childish smile.
"With pleasure." They said as they took their weapons.
"Señores." Don Nacho exclaimed with worried.
"Don't be afraid, my friend, Diego knows what he is doing." Don Alejandro explained as he noted nonetheless that his son was still holding his weapon with his left hand.
"Don Diego, are you sure you want to remain left handed?" Monastario asked, recalling his recent injury.
"I thank you for your concern, Señor, but believe me it will be better like this. En garde, Señores."
"En garde." Both capitáns said as one.
"Don Diego became crazy." A spectator whispered.
"Except if he is Zorro." A second asserted.
The fight began in a great silence. Although tested by his previous fights, Diego confirmed his ease to handle a sword; dodging the assaults of the two men, having fun pretending to be in difficulty before pushing them back easily.
In no time, he disarmed them gently. Then, leaning on his weapon, he took off the scarf around his head, creating at his turn amazement before being carried in triumph.
It was like that that Salena discovered him when she came back dressed more pleasantly.
"Por favor, amigos, put me down." Diego said by noticing her.
Once it was done, and still under the crowd cheering, he went closer to her and kissed her tenderly.
Señor Obolle was fuming; he had to find a way to gain some height without catching their attention and without being too far from his prey. He went close to horses but these ones felt his nervousness and didn't let him get closer. Grumbling in a low voice, he changed his strategy and opted for another solution.
"People of Los Angeles, we have to learn to fight more side by side. Sometime ago, you stood to face Don Sebastián and his men..."
"Señor Zorro!" The man with the werewolf mask suddenly exclaimed.
There was a sudden silence and each was looking for the man who just called.
Diego, as for him, noticed him straight away. The man climbed on a cart.
"Do you want to joust, Don Sebastián?" Diego asked calmly.
"Him?" Toledano whispered. How does Diego know it? He wondered, puzzled.
"To joust? Who do you think I am?" The man cried out by taking off his mask before pointing a pistol toward Diego.
There was a general astonishment in the crowd which discovered Don Sebastián's face. In the same time, the lancers went in position at the capitán's sign.
"Señor De Otsoa, put down your weapon." Toledano ordered without believing it too much.
"Not before I am done, once for all, with Zorro. A priori, not a stab nor a shot are enough to send him in hell."
Murmurs echoed in the crowd to the mention of a stab.
"Do you believe you can do better?" Diego asked by observing the crowd moving and remaining in front of Salena.
His sight was suddenly impaired by Monastario who just came to install himself in front of him.
"Señor." The young don whispered.
"You won't make Señora De la Vega a widow on her wedding day, even so." He whispered with humor.
"What about Señorita De Santa Anna?"
"Don't worry, Don Diego, I'm not counting on dying today... Moreover, what would Zorro be without Monastario?" He joked by raising his voice.
The crowd had also reacted and soon there was a human wall between the wolf and his prey. Don Sebastián raged even more. He hadn't Don Diego on his line of sight anymore.
"Don Sebastián, you should listen Capitán Toledano." Diego told him.
"Never." He answered while he focused on another person.
Monastario followed his movement with his eyes and, discovering his new target, his heart missed a beat.
No!
Diego saw him leaving right away and pushing his way through the crowd. He turned his head and realized then El Lobo's intention.
"Señorita De Santa Anna has nothing to do here." He vociferated, creating again amazement and surprise to the simple mention of this name.
Shots could be heard while Monastario managed to hug Angela, making a wall with his body. She felt him tense and hushing his pain.
"Enrique." She stammered on the verge of tears.
"I'm fine." He said firmly, tightening his embrace.
Nonetheless, he knew he was hurt and felt it wasn't a simple graze.
"No." Don Sebastián growled before falling heavily on the ground.
Diego noticed then another shooter whose clothes were greatly too big and at the side of whom was Padre Felipe. The man lowered his weapon and thanked Felipe. The young De la Vega went then closer to Monastario and noticed the stranger doing the same.
"Gracias, De la Vega." Monastario said, held up by Diego while he flinched.
"Don't mention it, Señor."
Angela looked at him with worry and discovered his wound, and then she noticed a man stopping at their sides.
"Antonio." She let out.
Diego and Enrique turned their head to him while Angela threw herself in his arms.
"Señor, I thank you to have protected my sister." He asserted by shortening his embrace.
"I will risk my life... for her... anytime." Monastario asserted by wincing.
The look of Antonio went from his sister to this man and he smiled in front of the love he discovered in their looks when Angela grabbed Enrique's right hand.
"My very best wishes for your happiness, Señor, Angela." He asserted.
"Gracias." Monastario winced again.
"Enrique?" Angela said with worry.
"Come with me." Diego said as he helped him to step forward.
"Permit me, young man." Antonio asserted by holding Monastario on his other side. "I saw your joust. You're quite gifted; however, I don't think you really are a left-handed."
"You're perspicacious, Señor."
"Do you have a trouble with your right arm?"
"Nothing very serious." Diego explained.
"I can walk alone, Señores." Monastario grumbled.
"It sounds like me." Diego joked.
On the plaza, citizens were remaining silent, still under the shock of all successive revelations. Arriving near the tavern, they made sit down Monastario on a bench and were quickly met up with Doctor Avila, Capitán Toledano and Salena.
The doctor frowned by seeing the bandage of Diego tinted in red. Putting a hand on it, he made him react. Diego stepped backwards, wincing.
"Señor Monastario needs medical care as a matter of urgency." Diego argued, anticipating the doctor's words. With this entire bustle I didn't think anymore to my arm. He thought as the pain was coming back. "Capitán Toledano, I think you will be interested to make acquaintance with Doña Angela's brother."
"The..."
"Buenas tardes, Capitán. Are you the alone responsible of the pueblo?"
"Of course I'm not. We have the luck to currently accommodate the governor and the viceroy. I think they will be honored to meet you like our alcalde."
"Could we discuss in a place more... quiet?"
"Si... Please follow me, Señor." He said by inviting him to his retinue.
General De Santa Anna made a step and stopped.
"Señor?" He called by turning towards Diego.
This latter raised his head to him.
"What's the matter?"
"You aren't coming?"
"No, Señor. I'm just a humble citizen of the pueblo of Los Angeles." Diego explained before bowing.
"Don't worry, General, rancheros and citizens will quickly be aware of the content of our meeting... I will explain you the reason. You have to also know that they learnt to mobilize to face adversity." Toledano underlined.
The general nodded to salute Diego and then followed Toledano.
On their way to the cuartel, Toledano ordered the lancers to take care of Señor De Otsoa's corpse and then he made sign to the governor, the alcalde and the viceroy to come along. The recent mood made them understand the importance of his request and they met up with him.
...
"Don Diego, you should revive the festivities." Monastario underlined, dripping with sweat and hushing his pain.
"Only if you promise me to come back after Doctor Avila's care."
"Don't worry for that, Don Diego. He will come to look for you as for I'll be able to take care of your arm." The doctor argued after having observed Monastario's wound. This one was badly placed, but it wasn't vital.
"In this case... Señora De la Vega, would you accept this dance?" Diego asked by turning to his wife he knew to be at his side.
Although there was no music, Salena caught the hand gallantly offered by her husband and this one led her in the middle of the plaza by making sign to musicians to play.
The festival was then revived and quickly the appearance of Don Sebastián and the one of the stranger was forgotten. Diego was felicitated for his wedding, his performance during the tournament and thanked for his very discreet kindliness toward the people. Doubts were subsiding in the minds of some in spite of damning evidences, but what did it matter.
After some dances, Diego saw arriving Monastario arm in arm with Angela. He knew then that he had to go and see the doctor. Enrique sat on the bench to his side and sighed with solace.
"The doctor is waiting for you, De la Vega." Monastario said with a tired voice.
"You should go home to rest, Señor."
"I will go home only after having talked longer to Angela's brother."
"In this case, go rest in one of the tavern's bedrooms and send a message to the general."
"No, Don Diego. I thank you, but I prefer to wait here."
"As you wish." The young don said as he stood up before heading to Doctor Avila's office.
Salena stayed to wait for him, sitting on the bench next to Angela, however, she quickly felt herself being in the way and left discreetly. She headed toward Don Alejandro and realized that she was the centre of interest of some vaqueros and rancheros. Blushing, she continued her way and when she arrived to his side, he hugged her for felicitating her.
"Diego isn't with you?" He astonished.
"He... He went to see Doctor Avila." She said embarrassed.
"Don't worry for him, Salena. He went through worse." Alejandro said suddenly dull.
"I know it too well." Salena underlined. "But I feel so terribly bad about it."
"My dear, Diego knew the risks of such tournament... However, I have to admit that he seemed to be disconcerted during your joust... No doubt he would have recognized your technical proficiency and he would have been unsettled by it. Besides, he kept on jousting after that and this by using this same wounded left arm; which says that you mustn't have hurt him so badly. Don't feel guilty." He smiled trying to comfort her. "That said, you father taught you well."
"Don Alejandro... My father has nothing to do in my learning; at least he isn't the principal responsible." She confessed.
"Oh! So who was your teacher?"
"Diego." She blushed. "When we were still children and before I left for Spain."
"Diego?" He repeated with surprise.
"Yes, Padre?" He questioned by arriving, having heard his father's exclamation.
"Here you are, Diego." He said by turning to him and noticing his right arm in a sling . "I believed you were hurt to your left arm?" He astonished.
"That's well the case, Father. I only rest my other arm which suffered from my latest fights."
"That's why you act as a left-handed during your fight against Capitán Toledano and Señor Monastario?"
"Yes." He admitted. "But there were numerous intensive fights this afternoon, above all against a certain Salvator." He smiled before tenderly kissing his wife.
"Precisely, we were talking about her fencing ability." Alejandro said.
"Salena is a studious student and gifted." Diego explained with pride. "Didn't you see her performance during the scuffle , eight months ago?"
"Son, eight months ago I was also fighting myself, how could I have seen her?" Alejandro explained as he nonetheless recalled having briefly seen Salena fighting with a cane.
Diego smiled and looked around him, and then he took his wife's arm.
"Father, if you please excuse us, we're going to go back home." Diego said.
"Do so." Don Alejandro smiled. "After all, you are newlyweds." He joked by making them blush before moving away.
Diego and Salena exchanged a loving look before kissing. Then Diego whistled lively. A distant neigh answered him. Those who still doubted could only admit the truth as they saw the black stallion arriving in a gallop and stopping next to its master. Diego helped Salena to mount on Tornado's back before sitting behind her.
"Have a good evening, my friends." He saluted before flying away.
...
The meeting finished, General De Santa Anna, dressed more appropriately, went to find his sister before leaving. Again, he felicitated her, and then he made Monastario understand that his sister's happiness was very important for him. Delighted, Enrique thanked him by squeezing his hand vigorously.
...
Some days later, there was a new meeting of information. General De Santa Anna had decided to let in peace California. In compensation, when his battle would be over, he would send emissaries in the biggest towns to announce their attachments to Mexico City. No one would lose his rights, but a new legislation would be put in place. This one would be studied jointly with the alcalde and the militaries responsible as for not bringing changes too radical.
During each visit to the pueblo, Diego was enjoying felicitations, thanks, and questions which he was taking time to answer. The use of his right arm in an intensive way was better as time goes by.
A month and half passed and in September 1821, California was finally brought under Mexico City's jurisdiction. A new government was put in place, bringing its lot of discords and difficulties. But the citizens of Los Angeles had learned to mobilize and put forward their rights without using force. Among the rancheros, the De la Vegas remained influential diplomats in negotiations; father and son were persuasive and indomitable.
Monastario and Angela finally moved in Isabella's home. It was Señorita De Santa Anna, in connivance with her future niece, who managed to make her fiancé give in. Their wedding was scheduled to autumn equinox.
As for Zorro, when strangers asked to the citizens of Los Angeles where they could find him, those ones answered that Zorro disappeared during his last ride, which led him to El Lobo's lair.
The end.
Author's note: I would like to thank you all for your kindness and your support. I especially thank IcyWaters for her work as beta reader, for her patience and for her advice.
A very big thank to IcyWaters, Inuvik, MiXiZ, MurdocsAngel for theirs reviews.
And for my guests, don't be afraid to leave a comment ;o)
I enjoyed writing this story and hope you felt the same by reading it.
I don't know yet when, but I'll be back with another adventure, you can be sure.
So see you soon and thank again.
