"How did it go?" Emmanuel inquired when his friend returned home.

"Just as I had hoped it would." Diego replied.

"He gave you the pardons?"

"Yes. We are both free men, my friend. As are Sir Kendall and your Catalan friends."

"That's good to hear, Diego!" Emmanuel said with a big smile on his lips. "And the… other papers?"

"All signed."

"Just like that? No question asked?"

"Few. But I managed to convince him. Well… Not I as much as the money we offered him…"

"You never cease to surprise me! Too bad such sum ended up with a man like Ferdinand."

"He is our king, Emmanuel. And, who knows? Perhaps he's learned from his past mistakes." his friend said with a smile "Are you sure you want to do this with me, Emmanuel? You have the right to half our remaining fortune. You can just take it and live your life as you please."

"I could… But I have the strange feeling my life would be better lived if I followed you. You see, you might have been the one who spent all those years at Chateau D'If, but we are in this together, Diego. Those men wronged us both, and we both deserve vengeance."

Diego nodded, then glanced a little suspiciously at Emmanuel. "Is there… Is there something you are not telling me? Because, if there is, now would be a good time to speak," he uttered.

His companion stared at him for a moment, then adverted his eyes, dismissing his concerns. "You know me. I am no good at keeping secrets from you."

Unwilling to insist until his friend was ready to share with him whatever was on his mind, Diego turned to leave. "You should send the pigeons with the instructions I have prepared for Señor De Amo. He should arrive in Cadiz in a day or two," he said before leaving the room, making his way to the room they had offered Sir Edmund.

The elderly fencing master had been declared a traitor of the Crown, even though his only mistake had been to train a group of students who turned out to be traitors. He was accused and condemned by association, and he was just fleeing Spain when Emmanuel found him. The young man had been searching for him at Diego's wish, and offered him refuge in exchange for his lessons. Diego went even further than that, and added Sir Kendall's name to the list of people for whom he had asked for official pardons, a list that included, besides the professor, himself, Emmanuel and the members of the young man's guerilla group in Barcelona, also persecuted unjustly only for the crime of defending their homeland.

"Diego! You succeeded?" the elderly man asked at seeing him.

His young friend just smiled as a reply, and offered him the official pardon the king had signed for him.

"You saved my life, young man!" the professor uttered gratefully as soon as he read it.

"And your teachings may soon save mine," Diego replied.

Taking a moment to think, the elderly swords master asked: "Are you certain of what you plan on doing?"

"Yes. There's no turning back now. Gilberto Risendo is already heading towards California.. De Soto has been there since last Autumn; and I doubt they have any good intentions in mind. I sent a few of my men ahead, but Emmanuel and I will also be departing in a few days," he informed. "And, seeing that I will not be needing it anymore, this house I leave to you, Sir Kendall, together with the kind request that you might keep my grandfather's former servants in your service."

"Of course, but why leave it to me? Diego, I can't accept it! You've done enough for me as is…"

"I'll have no use for it in California, nor do I plan to return to Madrid in this lifetime."

"I can understand that…" the man said, fully aware of all Diego had gone through.

"I also want to ask something of you. As my grandfather's only living descendant, I am also entitled to his former house and I wish for it to become an orphanage. One of my lawyers will handle the procedures. All I ask is for you to make sure my wish is fulfilled."

"Of course, Diego! I will make sure of it," the older man smiled at him. "However, if we are never to see each other again, there is also something I've been meaning to give you, and I believe this is the right time to do so." Heading to his closet, he pulled out a long box from which he retrieved a beautiful Toledo-steel sword with a tilted hilt. "I want you to have it, Diego."

"But that is your championship sword, Sir Kendall," the young man tried to refuse as he admired it.

"And you are the best student I have ever had. You deserve it."

"It's heavy…" the young man said as he lifted it in his hand.

"And sharp, too! Its Toledo blade has never been defeated in competition. My only prayer is that is does as well in the heat of battle. Use it in your fight, and make sure justice prevails, Diego!"

The young man nodded gratefully as he accepted his master's gift, holding the sword up to admire it in the light.