De Soto dismounted in front of the garrison, leaving his men to take care of the horse, then entered his office to find the Commander of the Devil's Fortress sitting in his chair, feet on his desk.

"Señor," De Soto said, "please be so kind as to remove your feet from my desk and your posterior from my chair!"

"You must be De Soto!" the man said without moving an inch. "Risendo told me you are his man."

Ignacio was surprised by that statement, which caused him to stop in place. "You know Gilberto Risendo?" He asked.

"We had briefly met in Spain, several years ago. But we were reacquainted with each other when he and his men stopped by the Fortress on his way to Los Angeles, a few months ago."

"I didn't know he had stopped there…"

"Yes… He wanted to inquire about one of my prisoners. A deaf and mute teenager, former servant of a certain Don Alejandro de la Vega."

"Oh…Right… I had informed him about finding information in my predecessor's papers about the boy having been sent to the Fortress." De Soto uttered.

"Well… I thought he might be curious to find out that the boy escaped with a masked man, who also freed all the prisoners. About half of them are still missing, including the boy in question."

"Freed by a masked man, you say?"

"It's the reason why I am here."

"You suspect it might have been Zorro!" De Soto concluded in disbelief.

"Yes. I do believe it was this Zorro of yours. I also think he might have brought the boy here after the prison break. Though I think your masked outlaw might also have an accomplice. A man called Salvador Gilarranz. He had come by the fortress just hours before Zorro's attack, demanding the release of this Felipe. He presented me with a document he claimed to have been signed by King Ferdinand, and which gave him the power to demand any sort of cooperation from the appointed officials; a fake, no doubt, about which I have already taken the precaution of writing to Madrid."

"I… I don't know anyone by the name of Salvador Gilarranz... But did he tell you for what reason he demanded that the boy be released?"

"All he said was that the boy was innocent, and had been unjustly sentenced, though he was but a victim. He was even willing to pay for my cooperation. Which, of course, was just another clue that the document he had presented to me was a fake."

"Indeed…" De Soto asked pensively. "Could you, perhaps, tell me what this man looked like? He probably goes by a different name here…"

"Of course. I have a perfect memory when it comes to people. Especially those who are consequential to me." The commander replied. "Let's see… He had reddish-brown hair and beard, no visible scar, blue eyes, and he looked to be at least 40 in age. He was also quite tall. At least a head taller than me."

Ignacio tried to consider everyone he knew who could fit the description, but no name came to mind. "And Zorro appeared after that man failed…" he said pensively.

"Yes. Or, at least, I assume it was him. He hardly looked like he does in that poster you have outside the cuartel. He wore brown, rather than black – vaquero's clothes from what I was able to see. But he did wear a similar mask covering the upper part of his face, and mastered the sword better than anyone I've ever seen."

De Soto nodded. Clothes can be changed. Zorro's one distinctive feature, in truth, is his skill with the sword. And you are certain he took the boy with him?" He asked.

"Very certain."

"You did nothing to stop him?"

"I always took pride in my swordsmanship, Señor, but this man, this Zorro, defeated me without breaking a sweat. By the time I came to my senses after he punched me, neither he, nor the boy were anywhere near the Fortress, and we had some 300 convicts to recapture. Which is why I only came here now, a month and a half after the incident. I expect your full cooperation in capturing the fugitive, Felipe, and this brigand, Zorro, so that they might face justice."

"Of course. Capturing Zorro is also my first priority, I assure you!" De Soto replied.

ZZZ

"There's something about this count…" Risendo told his mother the morning after the party. "I don't know what, but I don't trust him."

"That is your jealousy talking, my son! A man such as the count could serve you well. Much better than the viscount ever could. Besides, I do know of a way for you to have that innkeeper, and gain the man's trust."

"What way, Mother?"

"Let's say that, one evening, you decide to stay at the tavern. One thing leads to another, and the following morning you wake up in the young woman's bed. Of course, you marry her, as the man of honor you are. But what is to stop you from sharing her with the count afterward, if he wants her? He would be indebted to you for allowing him to bed your wife, and you could take advantage of the situation."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you don't love the woman, Gilberto. She's just part of your revenge on your brother, Diego, and on your father. So why not go further than just take her for yourself, and prostitute her if it is to your advantage? Considering how she was looking at the count last evening, I doubt she'd refuse…"

"She is not that kind of a woman, Mother. Besides, there are other flaws in your plan, as well… The main one being the fact that I have been courting her for most of the time we've been back here, and I am no closer to a wedding than I was the day I started…"

"All you truly need to do is convince her to have a drink with you. Tell her whatever it takes to convince her to do that. Then pour my sleeping potion into her glass, and she will fall asleep in no time. It will be easy from there, and she won't feel a thing."

"How can you be sure? If she wakes up while I am in the act, she might accuse me of rape."

"Trust me, Son! A woman drugged with my potion could even give birth without ever knowing it," Inez said with an evil chuckle.

The young man stared at her for a few seconds, finding that particular statement rather strange, then considered his mother's words, and concluded that her plan could work. True, the result would not be the one he had hoped it would be; but, if he could not make Victoria fall in love with him, forcing her hand would be just as satisfying in the end; certainly something he could think about.

ZZZ

It was midmorning when De Soto and the Commander of the Devil's Fortress, together with some 10 soldiers, dismounted before the count's hacienda.

Knocking on the door, a servant answered to inform them that his master was not home at the time, having gone to survey his lands and meet his tenants.

"It's not the count but Don Alejandro we are here to see." De Soto informed him.

"In that case, please, come in! I will call him," the servant answered. After leaving the two high-ranking officials at the entrance, he headed for the back of the hacienda, where the elderly caballero was overseeing the training of a foal.

"The alcalde and another man are here to see you, Don Alejandro," the servant said.

The don glanced back, and, nodding at the servant, headed inside.

"Alcalde, Comandante, what can I do for you?" He asked in a defiant tone, doing his best to mask his surprise at seeing the commander of the Devil's Fortress there.

"We are here about an escaped convict, Señor. One I understand used to work for you." The commander answered.

Don Alejandro was confused. "An escaped convict? The only man locked in the Fortress I knew of was Señorita Escalante's father, Alfonso; but he died while in your jail!" Those last few words he stressed, clearly resentful of the man.

"That is hardly true Señor! You had in your employment a deaf-mute called Felipe, did you not?" the Commander inquired.

"He was my ward… But… I don't understand. What does this have to do with him?" Don Alejandro asked, confused.

"The boy is the escaped convict we are looking for, Don Alejandro." De Soto said.

At hearing that, the don searched for the closest chair and just fell in it. "Felipe? He was in the Devil's Fortress? Why?" he asked, almost shouting.

"Bank robbery." The commander answered. "His accomplices were hanged. But don't try to fool us with your act, Señor! You must know of the escape."

"Or," De Soto intervened, "as I suspect, you are somehow behind it, Don Alejandro. But, should you give him up this instant, him and Zorro, who was the one to help him escape, I promise to show you leniency…"

"I… I haven't seen Felipe in two years!" Don Alejandro said, glancing between the two men. "And I know next to nothing about Zorro. However, should I find anything about Felipe, be sure that no force on earth would make me betray the boy! Same goes for Zorro."

De Soto smiled as he headed for the door, opening it. "Lancers! Arrest Don Alejandro!" he ordered, and his men rushed in to comply with the command. "Perhaps a few days in my cells will help change your mind," Ignacio said as the don was escorted past him.

ZZZ

Not long after the older man had been taken to prison, Rafael, the count's servant also came to the pueblo, accompanied by one of the De la Vega vaqueros. Dismounting in front of the alcalde's office, he demanded to be announced, and followed the lancer on duty inside.

"Señor Montoya," De Soto greeted politely, standing up, "what may I do for you?"

"Good morning, Don Ignacio! I am here because my master would like to invite you to visit him at the hacienda." The newcomer answered.

"Really?"

The man nodded, handing De Soto a note signed by the count. The alcalde read it, then, leaving Mendoza in chargce of the prison, changed into his official uniform and accompanied Rafael to the hacienda. There, as soon as he dismounted, the mayordomo announced him, and he was instructed to join the count in the library.

"Thank you for coming, Alcalde," the nobleman said, inviting De Soto to sit down.

"Of course, Your Excellency."

Moments later, a servant came and placed a plate of cookies, as well as a cup of coffee, a glass of water, and a glass of orange juice on a small table in front of the alcalde. De Soto smiled and took the juice.

"I wanted to see you because I was informed that you have arrested Don Alejandro and, seeing how the man is in my employment, I wish to know what he has done to warrant an arrest." The count started.

"Well…" the official started, "It's a rather complicated situation, to be fair. You see, Your Excellency, there was a prison break at Devil's Fortress –"

"A little over a month ago. Yes, I was informed of that on my way here."

"So… You've known about it for over a week now?"

"I've known about it for several weeks, actually, since the day before my ship left Acapulco." At the baffled face De Soto made, he added, "Do not be surprised, Alcalde! I spend a great deal of money trying to keep myself informed about everything that's going on in and around this territory. I do, however, fail to see what that prison break has to do with Don Alejandro."

"Yes…" Ignacio uttered, more than a little impressed with the man before him. "Well…" he slightly hesitated, trying to find just the right words, "one of the escaped convicts is someone who used to be De la Vega's ward. A deaf-mute boy called Felipe."

"I do remember him mentioning the boy. He was planning to adopt him, I believe. He would have, had it not been for a woman who came here claiming to be his mother. And you say this boy was in the Devil's Fortress? But I hear he should be just a teenager."

"Yes, but a teenager who, aged twelve, aided two criminals in robbing a bank. In fact, according to the former alcalde's journal, which I inherited together with his office, the boy was only spared from hanging because he was so young."

"Then you've known about the boy's fate since you took over the office?" the count asked unable to completely hide the rage he was feeling, though it passed unnoticed by De Soto.

"Of course," The official boasted in an attempt to impress his interlocutor. "I make it my business to read all papers I find whenever I take over a new office."

"Yet, you never told Don Alejandro about this discovery…"

"I…" it was only then that De Soto realized the man before him was becoming angry rather than impressed. "I thought it for the best not to tell him. He's old, you see. I was just trying to spare him," he said.

"Spare him?"

"There's nothing he could have done about it anyway…" the alcalde felt the need to justify himself.

The count just stared intently at Ignacio for a few moments, and the man felt some cold sweat drops forming on his forehead. For some reason, probably having to do with his wealth and influence, the man before him seemed quite intimidating to De Soto.

"So…" the count said, standing up, "for about a year now, you've known that Don Alejandro's ward was in the Devil's Fortress and, just like the alcalde before you, you did not see it fit to share that information with him. Yet you arrest him as soon as you find out that the boy escaped? I'm sorry, Alcalde, perhaps I'm missing something here, but I fail to see the logic of your actions."

De Soto opened his mouth twice, and twice he closed it before finally deciding on what to say. "The man who helped the boy escape was dressed like Zorro and… Well… Surely the boy must have come this way. There was nowhere else for him to go…"

"You are accusing me of harboring an escaped convict, then, Alcalde?" the nobleman asked.

"I would not dare, Your Excellency," De Soto said, standing up, as well, and already starting to check his avenues of escape. "If Don Alejandro is hiding the boy –"

"You, then, believe I do not know what happens under my own roof?"

"That is not what I was suggesting…"

"Then what are suggesting, Alcalde?"

"Ah… Nothing…" he hesitated, and Diego smiled inwardly to see the effect his tone and words had on Ignacio. "Forgive me, Your Excellency… Perhaps I should have started by mentioning that Don Alejandro is not under arrest; he's merely detained for interrogation. I will have him freed by dinner –"

"Make it lunchtime!" there was nothing friendly in the man's tone as he said that, nor did he leave any room for doubt. That was an order, and De Soto was expected to abide by it.

"Of course… Of course, Your Excellency," he said as he stood up and, excusing himself, hurried to leave.