My thanks to PamZ. Her transcripts contribute significantly to the creation of this story.
Every word you recognize from the series isn't mine.
Chapter 31
4 years later.
Victoria urged Pandora to hurry even faster. She had to tell the news to Diego and his father. The hacienda came into view, and Victoria dismounted before the horse came to a complete stop. Manuel hurriedly approached. "Doña Victoria, what's wrong?" The woman who always had a kind word for everyone completely ignored him. She ran to the door, pushing the handle. "Diego, Diego!" He was probably in the cave. Despite their hope that Zorro would no longer be needed, that moment had not yet arrived.
"Diego!" She walked to the fireplace and was about to reach out her hand to pull the lever when she heard footsteps behind her. She quickly turned around to see who it was.
"Victoria, my dear, what's the matter?"
Victoria handed the letter to her father-in-law.
"Read it. It's from someone who knows my father. He claims that my father is still alive and held captive in Devil's Fort."
The old don remained motionless. A deep, concerned furrow appeared on his forehead. He had heard of the reputation of the most feared place in Alta California. "My friend Alfonso is still alive?"
Diego, followed closely by Felipe, also entered. They weren't in the cave, as Victoria had assumed, but in the garden.
"I heard shouting. Victoria, what's wrong?"
Victoria ran to the man, who could calm her with a simple gesture. She wasn't disappointed when he opened his arms, and she leaned against his broad chest. Immediately, she was enveloped in a loving embrace.
"My father."
"Your father?"
"Diego looked at Alejandro, who had now read the letter enough to give his son a brief account of its contents.
"Victoria received this letter. The writer claims he was locked up in Devil's Fortress with Alfonso and promised to inform his children that he is still alive. The man also writes that Alfonso is very ill and has only a short time to live."
Victoria looked at him pleadingly. "Diego, please, you have to get him out. I can't let my father die there."
"No, of course not. We'll leave as soon as possible. Victoria, pack enough supplies for at least a week. Felipe, grab my bag."
Don Alejandro had doubts about the wisdom of his son going. "Son, Victoria, perhaps it would be better if I go. The name de la Vega still carries weight in California. And I have more experience than you in negotiating on a military level. Compared to the commander of that fort, Ramon is a sweet, gentle kitten."
Since don Alejandro was still unaware of his son's alter ego, he couldn't know that three people would be travelling south.
"Father, thank you for your offer. The journey to the fort is arduous. I'm certain Diego will do everything possible to free my father. Please stay here and take care of the children."
Don Alejandro hesitated. Physically, Diego was more capable of making the journey south. Don Alejandro knew that his old bones were not as agile as they had been thirty years ago. And despite his son's lack of character, he was not foolish.
"Diego, what in the world are you going to say when you get there?" he wanted to know.
Diego acted naive.
"Well, I'll speak to the commandant of the prison. If Señor Escalante's illness is as serious as that letter indicates, perhaps he'll be merciful."
His father had little faith in the plan. "And what if that's not the case?"
"Then I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
Don Alejandro saw Victoria looking at her husband imploringly. He nodded. "Very well, if you're both sure that's what you want. Be careful. The Devil's Fortress is a dangerous place. Many go in, and only few come out."
.
Victoria and Diego uttered a lengthy farewell to the children, Felipe and don Alejandro, and two hours later, they were on their way south.
Diego rode Toronado disguised to avoid recognition. Victoria rode Pandora, a gentle mare with enough spirit to endure such a long journey.
Devil's Fortress was over a four-day journey south of Los Angeles. They spent the first two nights at a tavern.
On the third night, they slept under the open starry sky. Diego had carefully chosen a spot. It was a good distance from the main road between large rocks. "Here, we're reasonably sheltered."
Victoria made the campsite as comfortable as possible while Diego collected firewood. He had thought about what and how to say what he was about to during the ride.
"Victoria, you know I'll do everything in my power to try to free your father."
"Yes, if anyone has any chance of success, it's you. That's why I didn't want your father to go," she replied.
"That's why I need you to make me a promise. I want you to swear to listen to everything I say."
Victoria wanted to interrupt him.
"No, I mean it. I brought you along because I know otherwise, you won't have any rest or peace. But for this to have any chance of success, I need to be able to trust that you'll do exactly as I say at all times. All the time, Victoria."
Knowing that protesting would be futile and that she would only further endanger his life, Victoria agreed.
.
As soon as dawn broke in the east, they set off again. Diego hoped to get close enough to their destination today to be near the fort tomorrow. Along the way, they speculated on the best way to free her father.
"I want to try diplomacy first. Zorro can always take action if necessary. The fort is heavily guarded by well-trained soldiers. Even gaining entry unnoticed will be nearly impossible."
Victoria agreed with Diego that it was definitely worth attempting diplomacy first.
Early in the afternoon, they arrived at the next overnight spot. It was a cave, and Diego was delighted with it. "This is also a good place to use as a hideout if necessary. It's completely invisible from the road but offers a good view of the surroundings. You stay here, rest a bit. I'll explore the area and inspect the fort. I don't know the building and want to see what it looks like and check for potential escape routes."
Victoria argued that she wasn't tired and wanted to come along.
"Querida, I want to gather as much information as possible in case Zorro is needed. Zorro can't roam around indefinitely, and if Diego's attempt fails, neither can he. That's why I need to explore the area first. I'll visit places where women... uh..." He hesitated for a moment.
Victoria didn't hold back. "You want to go to brothels and eavesdrop on drunk soldiers?"
"Among other things. At least, places I would normally avoid, especially with you around. And not just because you would attract too much attention." Diego put on brown pants, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed the tip of her nose.
"I promise to be so prudish I'll not even look at those women."
Victoria burst into laughter. Nowadays, she enjoyed using that word. It had become a joke and predicted a far-from-prudish night. "I'm not worried about that. It is when you're not with me, I worry."
Diego stared at her intensely. Ice-blue sparks shot from his eyes. "You know the fox always returns to the place where beauty and love await him. I love you."
After kissing her forehead, lips, temples, cheek, and finally, her mouth, Diego mounted Pandora and disappeared.
The brown mare was less conspicuous than the impressive stallion. And Diego wanted to attract as little attention as possible.
.
Victoria searched for water, tended to Toronado, and unpacked the saddlebags. Ideally, she would ride to the fort and demand to see her father. Her common sense told her to trust Diego and his resourcefulness. Five years of marriage to Diego had taught her to be less impulsive. Outwardly, she still appeared impulsive, as she had always been. And Diego encouraged her to continue expressing her dissatisfaction with Zorro. In the meantime, she had learned to better control her true emotions, realizing that it was often better to think before blindly rushing into something. Diego knew what he was doing. If there was one man in the whole world who could succeed in freeing her father and bringing it to a successful conclusion, it was him. Diego had proven his cunningness as a fox more times than she cared for. He also possessed the bravery of a lion, the agility of a snake, and the intelligence of an owl. And, Victoria mischievously added, in bed, he had the endurance and unrestrained passion of a stallion.
Waiting always feels long. Especially when you're worried about your loved one and have no idea how long it could take. Victoria played with a twig in the sand. Diego had been gone for almost seven hours. She knew he had the ability to escape from the most precarious situations. Yet, she would never get used to not being able to do much besides waiting and praying.
Victoria heard rustling. She reached for the rifle beside her and pointed it where the sound came from.
She had also received four years of training from Diego on how to handle a variety of weapons and was perfectly capable of defending herself. "Who's there? Show yourself, hands up," she snapped in a commanding tone.
Victoria heard a familiar whistle, placed the gun on the ground, and flew into his reassuring embrace. "Did you succeed? What did you find out?" Victoria fired a barrage of questions immediately.
"Enough to know that the commander is a terrible man. He doesn't hesitate to torture prisoners and severely punish his men when he thinks it is necessary. Many obey out of fear for their lives. Victoria, the chances of your father still being alive are almost non-existent. Of what I've heard, you might be better off hoping he's no longer alive."
"No, no," Victoria protested.
Diego comforted her. "I promise you, I will do my utmost, but the likelihood we are too late is very high."
.
Diego slept restlessly. Victoria had so much confidence in him that it sometimes frightened him to think he might not live up to it. He fervently prayed that this time wouldn't be the case.
He wanted so much for her to see her father again. He would attempt to use diplomacy, but Diego assumed that Zorro would have to make his entrance. Travelling to the fort tomorrow to inquire about Alfonso Escalante was more to find out if her father was still alive.
.
The following morning, as the horses were saddled and Victoria and Diego were about to depart, she caught sight of something in the distance that caught her attention. "Diego, look over there," she pointed at a carriage that was getting attacked by bandits emerging from the valley. Diego watched, his eyes filled with determination. "It seems that Zorro is needed everywhere," whispered Diego.
Without exchanging a word about it, Victoria began helping him transform into the figure of Zorro.
"I'll stay here and wait for you. Please be careful," Victoria said later, filled with concern.
Zorro smiled mischievously and brought her hand to his lips. "Always, mi querida." This gesture had taken her breath away for over five years. Ever since that first time, he kissed her hand in the tavern upon his return from Spain and every time after.
.
The coachman continued to whip the horses as the bandits relentlessly approached. Suddenly, one of the bandits drew a gleaming knife and hurled it with force toward the coachman. The knife lodged in his back, causing him to cry out in pain and fall from the carriage. The carriage thundered forward, undeterred by the tragedy. Under the tree, the bandit slowed his horse and cast a vindictive glance at the coachman's lifeless body. Zorro swooped down from the tree like a whirlwind onto the bandit's horse. With a quick motion, the bandit turned around and was brought down to the ground with a powerful blow from Zorro's sword. The bandit tumbled from his horse, powerless against Zorro's unmatched skill.
Zorro gave chase, seated on the other horse, while the carriage continued its mad dash. The second bandit pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Zorro, but with a fluid motion, Zorro drew his sabre and knocked the gun from the bandit's hand. With a sharp turn of his horse, the bandit veered to the left in a desperate attempt to escape Zorro. Zorro, committed and agile, rode side by side with the carriage and the four runaway horses. With a powerful grip on the reins of one of the lead horses, he brought them to a halt, leaving the bandits behind in their helplessness.
After securely tying the bandits' hands, Zorro returned to the carriage and opened the door. A young woman, elegantly dressed, gloves extending up to her elbows, stood up and reached out her hand to him.
"My name is Rosalinda de la Fuente," she said, her voice trembling with relief. She stepped out of the carriage and continued, "To whom do I owe my liberation?"
Zorro bowed elegantly and replied, "A thousand apologies, señorita. Zorro, at your service."
Rosalinda raised her eyebrows in surprise. "The famous fox? I have heard of such a man, but you can't possibly be that Zorro."
Zorro smiled mysteriously. "And why not, señorita?"
Rosalinda hesitated and continued, "They say he's a notorious outlaw with a bounty on his head."
Zorro's smile widened. "That must be another Zorro."
Rosalinda nodded in agreement. "Exactly. What would he be doing here, so far in the south?"
Zorro answered in a charming tone, "Evil and injustice are not limited to Los Angeles." He let his eyes glide over her. "Besides, this Zorro you've heard of is not such a bad guy."
Rosalinda blinked seductively and placed her hand on Zorro's chest. "That's evident if he's willing to risk his life to save a stranger."
With a husky voice, Zorro spoke as he brought her hand to his lips, "And may I say, a charming stranger."
Rosalinda turned around and retrieved a handkerchief from her left glove. "Take this as a reward for your chivalry."
Zorro accepted the handkerchief and brought her hand to his lips. "You are too kind, señorita." He gazed at her for a moment before releasing her hand. "I must go."
"Are you leaving me all alone here?" Rosalinda asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Forgive me, but we will soon encounter patrols from Devil's Fortress. My appearance tends to stir up men in uniform," Zorro explained.
"Then remove your mask. Your secret will be safe with me."
"For your own safety," Zorro replied, tapping the brim of his hat. Then he leapt onto one of the bandits' horses and disappeared from sight, heading eastward.
.
Diego had told Victoria what had happened, and of course, he wanted to ensure that Zorro would bring it to a successful conclusion. And that meant escorting the woman to the nearest pueblo. "Come on, we need to hurry. We've lost a lot of time due to that ambush, and that woman needs help."
"You're too gallant. We're barely ten miles from the nearest pueblo and eight from the fortress. There's nothing wrong with a morning walk." Victoria didn't like the idea of having their travel prolonged because Diego wanted to escort a stranger.
"She might be afraid. Are you jealous?" Diego teasingly looked at Victoria. "She was indeed quite attractive."
"I am always jealous, you know that. No, nonsense. But not all women are like your distant cousin. She was travelling alone, with only a coachman. Sounds to me like a woman perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Besides, you said so yourself, we are close to the fortress. A patrol could have found her before we get to her." Victoria argued, trying to persuade Diego to be less noble.
Diego helped Victoria onto her horse. "I'll keep that in mind for the next time."
.
.
