Ignacio De Soto was not a man of valor. Nor was he a man incapable of recognizing his own faults - for the most part, at least (and only to himself).

He was, however, a man who could hold a grudge. He had held his grudge against Diego for years, till finding out of his death. Now, he was starting to hold a grudge against Risendo.

Gilberto had been his commander, despite being several years his younger. True, he was rather brilliant when it came to manipulating people and situations to his advantage and to the advantage of those he considered his allies. He had also entered the Academy of Segovia several years before him, so he had won his rank and seniority.

Still, as of late, De Soto was feeling that the man, who was no longer his commander, disrespected him too often for him to ignore said behavior.

Besides that, the Alcalde knew that the Viscount would make good on his promise to have the king dismiss him from his position, just as he knew Risendo could no longer either protect or help him, in any way, advance his career. This latter information was the direct result of the nobleman's decision to inform Gilberto that he'd no longer be, as he put it in the letter he had left for him, "a willing party in his plots". For, indeed, Ignacio was smart enough to read the letter before handing it to his former commander, and was by no means a stranger to techniques of resealing an envelope in such a way that no one would ever notice it had been opened.

Consequently, De Soto realized that, if his career was at an end, there was still enough time for him to leave Los Angeles a rich man. That is, richer than he had already become at finding Ramone's stashed money.

To do that, he decided he needed to come up with some more taxes.

A tax on selling in the pueblo on market day, was the first one Ignacio imposed on the good people of the pueblo, and it was closely followed by a tax on horses and vehicles entering the plaza, as well as by a tax on the produce the farmers sometimes exchanged amongst each other.

Coincidently, De Soto imposed the new taxes just as another Royal Emissary, sent to investigate how the Spanish officials were implementing the king's decrees in the colonies, had found his way to the territory.

"His name is Quintera. He's now in Santa Paula. I heard he's been collecting information on all the officials in the territory and has been willing to listen to every don and peon who came to him with petitions, requests, or complaints," a traveler told Victoria one morning.

"Then, surely he will also listen to us when he comes here. We could surely use his help with our alcalde." Victoria said with a smile.

"I doubt he will come here, though. Not with his ship set to leave Santa Barbara on the 8th of December." The man replied.

"On the 8th? But that's two days from now!" she said with disappointment clear in her voice.

"Yes… He's due to leave Santa Paula tomorrow." The man uttered, clearly regretful to give the young woman bad news.

"Then someone must go to him!" she declared. "And I know just the man he'll listen to!"

Taking her goodbye from the traveler, and leaving Pilar in charge of the tavern, Victoria soon mounted her horse and headed for the Count's hacienda, where she was hoping to talk to Don Alejandro.

She was welcomed in by one of the servants and led to the library where Don Alejandro was sitting, a book in his hands.

"Victoria, my dear!" the elderly caballero greeted her as she entered, without standing up. "Please, come in!" he continued, signing towards an armchair positioned in front of the one in which he was sitting.

"Hola, Don Alejandro!" she said as she sat down, wondering if anything was the matter with the elderly don.

"What's wrong?" he inquired.

"I found out today that there's a Royal Emissary sent from Spain to investigate the Californian alcaldes."

"That's good news…"

"Unfortunately, he is leaving in a couple days from Santa Barbara, which means he is leaving tomorrow Sant Paula, where he is at present, and won't even come here. But I think he should know about the alcalde's abuses! His new taxes will end up ruining most of the farmers, Don Alejandro! Perhaps the Emissary can do something…"

ZZZ

"Any news from Jacopo?" Diego asked Emmanuel as he returned to the cave that morning, dressed as the abbot.

"Yes," his friend replied as he took off his fake nose, then proceeded to remove his high-soled shoes. "He left a message at the agreed place." Saying that, he took a note from his sash and handed it to Diego before starting to change his clothes. "You were right about the Viscount."

Diego smiled. "He all but forbade Risendo from returning to Spain…" he said after reading the note.

Emanuel matched his grin. "Without a protector and his men to defend him, he's powerless. We've got him right where we want him," he pointed out.

"I wouldn't underestimate Risendo. Even without his men, he still has a small army at his disposal: De Soto's lancers."

"If Ignacio remains loyal to him… Which he might not do under the current circumstances. He's an opportunist at heart."

"True…" Diego agreed pensively. "Whatever the case, by now, the Governor has written testimony from those thugs we sent to him, and very well knows that the Count expects him to take adequate measures against our esteemed Alcalde. He will act sooner or later..."

"Then, let's hope he does so sooner. Today, the abbot was visited by five peasants who asked for help paying –"

"Is that Victoria's voice coming from the library?" Diego interrupted him to ask.

Emmanuel didn't utter another word, just listened for a few moments. "Seems like her…"

"I wonder what brings her here…" the tall caballero uttered, then hurried to put on his fake beard and wig before exiting through the back of the cave.

ZZZ

"I will talk to my friends and prepare written testimonies regarding De Soto's abuses." Don Alejandro suggested.

"That won't be enough!"

"What do you think we should do then?"

"If you could get to Santa Paula today and insist to talk to him… Surely, he will not refuse to see you, Don Alejandro!"

The grey-haired caballero nodded. "Yes, I believe you are right, my dear!" he said as he stiffly started to stand, just as the Count descended the stairs into the library.

"What are you doing?" the nobleman asked as he forced the elderly don to sit back down. "You are in no condition to move around. You should be in bed!"

"In bed? Why? What happened?" Victoria inquired worriedly.

"It's nothing…" Don Alejandro said, slightly irritated with being fussed over.

"Two broken ribs are not nothing," the Count contradicted him, then focused on Victoria. "Forgive me for my impoliteness, Señorita, but he's had us rather worried for the past couple of days. He fell off his horse about a week ago, and said nothing. Had Fariz not accidentally noticed his bruises, we wouldn't have even known to call the doctor."

"¡Por Dios, Don Alejandro!" the young woman chided him, a worried look in her eyes.

"I am quite alright." The elderly don protested. "Besides, someone needs to go to Santa Paula."

"To Santa Paula? Why?" The Count asked.

"Because the Royal Emissary is there." Victoria explained.

"The Royal Emissary?" the nobleman was still confused.

"Yes. He's been sent to the colonies to investigate the alcaldes, but he is soon to leave California."

"Oh, right. I was informed that a Don Armando de Quintera has recently arrived in California on a mission from the king. He's leaving already?"

"He is. But I was hoping Don Alejandro would get the chance to talk to him before he returns to Spain."

"And I will!" the don said, stubbornly.

"Not with broken ribs!" the Count retorted briskly. The elderly don was so startled into silence that he made no further attempt to leave his armchair.

"He's right, Don Alejandro!" the young woman agreed. "You can't go like this."

Standing up as the nobleman called two of his men to help the elderly caballero to his bed, Victoria decided it was time to leave. "I should return to the tavern, Don Alejandro," she uttered as the servants neared. "I will visit in a day or two to make sure you are alright. Get better soon!"

"I will do my best if that means all this fuss over me will finally end…" he retorted, irritated.

ZZZ

It was still lunchtime when the Count, having promised his father to talk to De Soto about the new taxes, headed for the pueblo. Eager to see Victoria again, he first stopped at the tavern.

"¡Buenas tardes! Is Señorita Escalante here?" he asked Alicia when she hurried to greet him.

"No. She decided to leave for Santa Paula after returning from your hacienda," she informed him.

"For Santa Paula? Alone?" he inquired.

The young woman nodded, then, apologizing, headed for another table when some clients called her to them.

"Your Excellency!" Risendo greeted politely.

The Count had noticed him exiting the alcalde's office as soon as he stopped before the tavern. But, considering the news he had just received, he couldn't care less about what new way that horrid man had found to hurt his father. It wasn't as if he'd ever fall for whatever Gilberto would come up with, and it seemed pointless to waste his precious time with him.

Thus, worried as he was for the woman he loved, he barely glanced at Risend before hurrying to leave, set upon following her.

Gilberto stared after him with a frown, then, after glancing around, a displeased look on his face, he headed home.

Informing Felipe he was heading after Victoria, Diego, still disguised as the Count, put some essentials in his saddlebags. A few minutes later, he saddled Esperanza, who was almost as fast as Tornado although much more docile in temperament, and started in pursuit of the innkeeper.

He had to ride fast and without any breaks to catch up to the young woman. Even so, it took him over four hours and 30 miles to do so. During all that time, he inwardly reproached himself for not having offered to go to Santa Paula instead of his father. At the least, he could have assured Victoria that he'd have the alcalde change his mind about the new taxes. Or… there were many things he could have done, really, both as the Count and as Zorro, but he had had other priorities lately, and had neglected the affairs of the pueblo.

ZZZ

"Victoria!" he shouted as he neared her, causing the young woman to bring her mount to a stop. "What were you thinking, leaving alone like that?" he asked as he reached her.

"I was thinking that the Emissary must know of our plight," she answered, rather enraged by his reproachful tone.

"And do what? Even if he decides that the information is worthy of the king's ears, Madrid is 8,000 miles away, and the man might not be heading directly there, anyway." He retorted. "By the time King Ferdinand would intervene, if he'd decide to help, at least 8 months will have passed… God only knows what could happen in all that time… By then, Ignacio might not even be here anymore…"

She looked baffled at that for a few moments. "But… But he is here now, and we need to do something! People are already poor. With these new taxes, many won't be able to feed their families…" she pointed out.

"You are right." He relented. "And I was too caught up in my own affairs, it seems, to realize what was going on in Los Angeles. Please, forgive me for that!"

"Forgive you?"

"I will make sure to fix all this."

"How? Will you convince the alcalde to cancel his taxes?"

"I will do my best. And, if I don't succeed, I will pay the people's taxes myself."

"You would do that?"

"I promise. However, in return, I also want you to promise not to repeat what you did today, leaving on such a long trip unaccompanied. The roads are dangerous."

She saw true worry in his eyes, and recognized it for what it was. He cared about her. That young man she barely knew felt more than friendship for her...

Averting her eyes, she glanced around. "Didn't you also take a big risk following me all by yourself, if the roads are so dangerous?" she inquired as she again fixed him with her glance

"I can defend myself," he said, sure of himself.

"So can I!" she retorted defensively, mainly out of instinct.

"Alright…" he replied with a kind smile. "Well… then, if any bandits decide to attack us on our way back, they will have to deal with us both."

She nodded, grinned, then glanced at the sky. "It might be best that we continue to Santa Paula, though. If we turn back, we will be riding into a storm," Victoria remarked.

"I think that's true whichever way we go," he replied, looking at the grey clouds covering the sky as far as they could see. "We should return home, though. At least, we can count on a hot bath, and a warm bed back at the hacienda."

Victoria hesitated for a moment, then nodded and followed him towards the pueblo. They rode fast while the sky was getting darker and darker and the wind was intensifying. All they could think about was finding shelter, for they were also beginning to feel cold.

"We're not going to make it back before the rain!" Victoria shouted at one point, the wind barely allowing her words to reach the Count's ears.

"No… But I saw an old mill as I was riding by earlier, not very far from here. It will, at least, provide us with a shelter," he shouted back.

They reached their chosen refuge just as rain began falling, and the Count encouraged the young woman to head inside while he took care of the horses and found some wood for a fire. By the time he also joined her, he was dripping wet, but, at least, the wood was still rather dry.

"¡Dios!" Victoria exclaimed at seeing him. "You are soaked!"

"Yes," he agreed. "But I'm sure I will get dry as soon as it gets a bit warmer inside here," he replied as he sneezed twice.

"That's nonsense, and you know it! You need to take off those wet clothes!" Victoria said as he had already started working on making a fire.

"With you here? I don't believe that would be proper, Señorita!" he replied "Ah! There it is!" he exclaimed as a small flame started burning the dry wood.

"You needn't be shy! I've seen undressed men before." Victoria informed him.

"You have?" he asked, an appalled look on his face as he turned to look at her.

"Of course, I did! I grew up with two brothers, one of who used to run around naked till he was six or seven. Not to mention all the Indians passing through the pueblo, and the half-dressed men I see working the fields all the time!"

He smiled, obviously relieved. "Well… I am not part of any of the categories you describe. I am not your brother, nor am I working the fields… nor am I an Indian," he said just before another sneeze.

"No, but you'll get sick if you remain in those clothes!"

Sighing, he nodded and took off his jacket, keeping his shirt and pants on.

"That won't suffice!" Victoria said.

The young man glanced around, spotting a blanket. "Alright…" he said, taking a look at it as if assessing whether it was big enough. "If you'll just turn around, I'll change into this blanket…"

The young woman nodded her agreement, and faced the nearest wall. With the fire behind the young man, though, the shape of his body was projected onto the wall she was looking at, and she watched in fascination as he unbuttoned and started taking off his shirt.

Unable to help herself, Victoria slightly turned her head to peek at him. His back was wide and muscular, unlike what she had imagined he'd look like.

She was about to turn her head back to face the wall, fearing he'd spot her spying on him, when her eyes remained fixed on what clearly looked like whip marks, causing her to half-turn around to see better.

He was just about to take off his pants when he noticed her, and they both remained staring at each other for a few seconds, until they both turned around.

"I hope you will not object to me keeping my undergarments on," he said with some amusement.

She could hardly hear his remark, though. "You were whipped?" she asked instead. Seeing him like that had disturbed her in ways she couldn't have had imagined, as if she could share in his pain.

He didn't answer right away. "It was a long time ago," he, eventually, said. "Before I was a count."

"You were not born one, then?"

"No, I wasn't… And you might not believe this," he said as she noticed in the shadows that he had taken off his pants and was now mostly covered in the blanket, "but there was also a time in my life when I suffered from hunger and cold; as there was a time when I had to resort to catching and gathering food, for I had no money to buy myself any. I know you've only ever seen me as a privileged grandee. But I was not always the man I am now."

"I… I didn't know…" she said, sounding apologetic.

"That's alright," he said, turning around to near the young woman,

Victoria also turned around at the same time, which caused her to bump into him. After a few seconds of embarrassment, she raised her eyes, first stopping to stare at his mostly-naked chest. Then, following the contours of his shoulders and neck, her sight rested upon his handsome face smiling back at her.

The rain outside continued falling, a strange music for the moment they shared. For a while, neither one moved an inch, as if prey to some enchantment or a magic spell that compelled them to freeze in place and just stare into each other's eyes.

Thunder abruptly broke it, and the young man reacted as if having just awakened from a strange dream.

"Let's sit by the fire! It will be warmer," the Count said. Victoria had no idea that he was just trying to calm his racing heart as he took a few steps towards the center of the room and avoided looking at her.

She, in turn, felt embarrassed, and glanced away before also nearing the fire. They ended up sitting down at the two ends of a bench that had been left there since the time the mill had been in use.

"I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Please forgive me, Señorita!" the nobleman said after a few minutes spent in silence.

"You didn't," she hurriedly replied. "I… I just didn't know how to react to your current outfit. You look quite funny in it."

"Well, that's exactly how I feel. Though, I assume my current outfit very much resembles those once in fashion during the time of Ancient Rome…"

"Ancient Rome must have been full of funny-looking people, then…" Victoria ascertained.

"That is quite possible. Soldiers did wear some kind of knee-length dresses, after all…" he answered, and they smiled as they furtively glanced at each other.

The image of Sergeant Mendoza in a knee-length dress somehow made its way into Victoria's mind, and she started chuckling, her amusement dispersing the tension between them.

"How did that happen?" the young woman dared asking some minutes later, when she calmed down and became serious again. "Who whipped you? And why?"

The Count was taken by surprise by her question, so he took a few moments before he replied. "An evil man who had long since forgotten to feel empathy for those over who he held power." He said. "As for the why… the answer to that question is far more complicated. Though boredom on his side must have figured into the equation."

"Boredom?" she asked, shaking her head.

"I do believe so…"

"Did your father do that to you?" Victoria asked next.

"My father?" he wondered, seeming puzzled for a few seconds. "No. My father… My father never even slapped me in his entire life. Neither one of my parents believed in physical punishment. Whenever I did something wrong, they'd explain to me the error of my ways and how I had caused them worry or pain, then they'd ask me to promise to consider their feelings the next time I'd come up with a similar idea. Not that there were many instances in which I had given them cause to do that…"

"Sounds like you had good parents."

"I was very fortunate that way…"

"Then… If it was not your father… Was it a land owner? Or a military commander, perhaps? The one who whipped you…"

Standing up, he began pacing the room. Had Victoria been able to read his mind, she would have realized that he was wondering how much of his past he could reveal to her at that point, without either lying to her or clueing her in about his plans. "His identity doesn't matter." He told her, stopping in place and turning towards her. "For he was not the truly guilty one. The one I blame for these marks on my back is an enemy I didn't even know I had until after I had fallen into his trap. An enemy who pretended to be a friend."

"And you never even suspected his true intentions?"

"No. I used to be so idealistic back then, Victoria! So full of dreams and wrong ideas about what the world is truly like… But I am no longer that man. I am no longer prey to such illusions. Now, I know how to deal with those who seek to harm others; and I have every intention to get my vengeance!"

"Vengeance?" she asked, studying him carefully as she remembered what he had told her the night they had first met. "Is that why you're here, then?"

He nodded. "If you had been forced, through no fault of your own, to spend years away from everyone and everything you loved; to endure hunger, the freezing cold, and utter despair; not knowing or understanding why that was happening to you… given the chance to prevail over those responsible for everything you were robbed of, for the stolen years, the pain and the misery you had been through, would you chose to forgive them or to make them pay in kind?"

Only at turning to look at her, awaiting an answer, he realized the young woman was close to tears.

"You have suffered that much?" she asked as some of those tears started to fall.

He hurriedly closed the distance between them and, kneeling before her, he reached to erase them. "More then you will ever know," he answered. "But I did not mean to upset you with my words."

"You didn't… I… I don't even know why I am crying… I…"

"I'm sorry…"

"You needn't be. It's not you… It's… It's just that… I'm not sure, actually…" she said, embarrassed, unable to explain even to herself what about his words had caused that reaction in her.

Nodding, he stood up, and Victoria feared he'd again try to distance himself from her. She didn't feel like letting him do that.

So, as he was about to turn away from her, she reached for his arm. It was just a small gesture; a reassurance that she felt for him; than his pain was her pain, even if she could not understand why.

A few more seconds passed as they again stared at each other and Victoria slowly stood up and took a step towards him. Another thunder resounded, but they hardly heard it.

She had no idea how it had happened but, at one point, she realized that she was pressed against a wall, her hands caressing the Count's naked chest, her lips devouring his.

During those moments of clarity, while still kissing him, she wondered how far she was willing to go, and was surprised to realize that the answer was not one a decent, well-bread young woman would give. For Victoria was willing to fully offer herself to him; to a man she wasn't married to, and whom she barely knew.

Her mind became blurry again as his lips descended her neck, and his left hand cupped her breast over her shirt. A strange need to somehow merge with him overwhelmed her as she started exploring his back, her fingers tracing every one of those awful whip marks. And, with each inch of his skin she explored, an allpowerful desire to possess him, and, in turn, to be possessed by him grew inside of her, causing her to fear that she might burst unless he'd do something to prevent it.

Then, as sudden as it had all started, it was over.

The young woman was left there, her mind still a blur, her body missing the feeling of his skin, and her heart pounding in her chest.

When she gathered the strength to open her eyes and look around, she saw that he had turned towards the fire, and was once again covered by the blanket that had fallen off of him just a few minutes earlier.

"I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" he said, regret clear in his voice.

Victoria just stared at his back, confused and unable to decide how to feel about his actions and words.

"I think it would be best if we tried to get some sleep," he suggested, reaching for the remaining horse blanket, and laying it down for her.

"Why have you stopped?" she asked. "I would have –"

"That should have never happened. I was raised a better man than I have just proven myself to be…" he interrupted her as he finished her makeshift bad and placed the bench between it and himself. "I… I don't know what came over me… But I promise you are safe with me… as is your virtue."

Saying that, he offered her a reassuring glance before laying on his side and cocooning himself in his blanket.

"Won't you be cold?" she inquired, seeing how his bare feet were emerging from under his cover and he was sleeping mostly on the cold ground.

"I have endured far worst," he answered. "Besides, the fire will surely help make this place more comfortable."

Victoria nodded, then lay on her back and spent most of the night wondering about the mysterious man sleeping next to her.

The following morning, when she woke up, she found him standing by the opened door, completely dressed, looking outside.

"Good morning!" he said as he noticed her waking up. "The sun is shining. It will be a beautiful day. Though, I fear there must still be a lot of mud on the roads."

She stood up slowly, wincing a little.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Just a little stiff. But I'm good to go if that's what worries you."

"Worries me?"

She nodded.

Were he not looking at her back, he would have noticed the anger in her eyes as she picked up her blanket.

"Well, you do seem awfully keen on parting with me." Victoria eventually pointed out, turning to stare at him.

"Keen on parting with you?" he repeated, looking dumbfounded.

"How else should I take it? It seems like you suddenly can't stand being in my presence."

"No… That's… You misunderstand me…" he said.

"Do I?"

"You made it clear that you are not ready to begin a relationship with another man. I am trying to respect your boundaries, Victoria, despite my moment of weakness."

"Moment of weakness? I know men who have proposed for far less than what happened between us last evening," she said harshly.

"I didn't think you'd want me to propose…"

Victoria stared at him for a few moments. "Of course, I don't!" She retorted, thought her words didn't ring quite true. Even to her it seemed more like she was trying to convince herself that she didn't feel anything for the Count. "We should leave!" she said, passing by him and heading outside to where her mount was already waiting to be saddled.

She didn't see the young man opening his mouth twice to say something, and failing, each time, to utter a single word.

Gathering the saddle blanket he had used the previous night, he just followed her and saddled his mare, while Victoria saddled hers.

"Promise me just one thing!" she uttered as they neared the pueblo, having ridden mostly in silence. "Promise me you will not hurt anyone I love!"

"I can certainly promise you that," he said assuredly.

Victoria nodded, relieved.

"May I also ask you to promise to keep all I have told you a secret between us?" he hesitantly inquired then.

She nodded twice, then, saying goodbye, she guided her mare towards the pueblo at the next crossroads, unwilling to have people gossiping about her and the mysterious nobleman.

ZZZ

Around midday, as the Alcalde was crossing the plaza, an explosion was heard from his office. The white-haired man turned and hurried inside to see what it was.

"My safe! I was robbed!" he shouted as he hurried outside to call for his men.

"Indeed, you were, Alcalde!" Zorro said from the cuartel's roof, a large sack in his hands. "I robbed you. And, since this money now belongs to me, allow me to pay your new taxes for the entire pueblo."

"Thief!" De Soto cried out, while the people there laughed and joyfully clapped their hands. "I will double… no, triple the reward on your head for this, Zorro!" the white-haired man threatened.

"Go ahead! No one is ever going to claim it!" the masked man said as he threw the sack at the Alcalde's feet. Moments later he whistled for Tornado, and the horse came running, just in time for his master to jump into the saddle. "Try to impose such illegal taxes on these people again, De Soto, and I'll make sure you return to Madrid in chains!" He threatened before leaving, for once not addressing Victoria with a single word.

Defeated and left without appetite, Ignacio returned to the garrison to lick his wounds.

ZZZ

About an hour later, the Count's carriage entered the town, stopping before the cuartel.

Descending, the young man entered De Soto's office after being announced by Mendoza.

When he exited, some five minutes later, he slowly made his way towards the tavern.

"Señorita," he greeted Victoria as he entered.

"Don Sebastian! I didn't expect to see you here today," she replied coldly.

"I wanted to keep my promise and try to convince the Alcalde to cancel his new taxes but, as it turns out, I didn't need to. It seems like he had already been convinced…"

Victoria smiled at that. "We have Zorro to thank for persuading him," she answered.

"Zorro?"

Victoria smiled wider, and nodded.

"I see… And may I ask how did he manage to do that?"

"By stealing the Alcalde's money, then using it to pay for the new taxes. De Soto cancelled them ten minutes later."

"I missed quite some excitement, it seems…"

"You did… Perhaps you should come to the pueblo more often…"

"Is that something you'd like me to do?" he wondered.

Victoria stared at him for a moment, then smiled as she turned around. He smiled, too, then followed her to a table.