Chapter 1

The stagecoach came to a stop in front of the tavern. Sir Edmund Kendall scanned the streets of Los Angeles in search of his star pupil, Diego de la Vega. The British knight had come a long way and a familiar face would be a welcome sight.

"Welcome to the pueblo de Los Angeles, Señor," Mendoza stated.

"Thank you, Sergeant." The fight master looked at the portly sergeant. He seems a pleasant enough fellow.

"There is a slight traveler's tax, for all tourists."

"I've never heard of such a thing." A traveler's tax. How ridiculous. The sergeant must be out of his mind or the alcalde of this pueblo is a real tyrant. Sir Edmund chose to believe the latter.

"All tourists must pay this traveler's tax."

"Over my dead body." Kendall pushed his way past Mendoza. The lancer standing on the tavern porch drew out his sword and aimed it at the English visitor.

"The traveler's tax is nothing compared to the death tax."

Sir Edmund parried aside the blade pointed at him. Diego appeared just in time to see the stand-off between Sir Edmund and his combatants. "Sir Edmund? What are you doing here?"

"Defending myself, Diego against some traveler's tax."

"Sergeant, there must be some mistake. This is Sir Edmund Kendall, my professor from the university."

"Even a professor must pay the traveler's tax, Don Diego."

"That's preposterous! I'm a British knight…"

"My men are highly trained lancers."

"Well then, let's have some fun." The knight threw his hat at the lancers stationed on the porch, knocking them backward in the process. Sir Edmund kicked the lancer's fallen sword to Diego, who caught it easily. Diego executed a few parries but remembered that no one except Sir Kendall knew about his prowess with a sword. I hate to disappoint him, the tall caballero thought. Diego's fight master was surprised to see his star pupil throw down his weapon and surrender to his two inferior opponents.

"Have you forgotten everything? You were the best student I ever had."

And when my job is done, I shall send to Los Angeles a man. A man who can fight!

Sir Edmund pulled a dagger hidden in his waistband and lunged at his pupil. The younger man skillfully parried each blade thrust the fencing master attempted. A swift grab of Kendall's wrist and a hit against his lifted knee, caused the knife to clatter to the tiled floor. Sir Edmund looked up at Diego with a huge smile on his face.

"Ah, the puppy can bite."

The battle intensified once more. After only a few minutes, however, Diego caught Sir Edmund off guard by putting his blade against the older man's throat. Sir Edmund's grin broadened as Diego lowered his saber.

"You've been holding back on me, haven't you"

Diego saluted the older man with a mischievous look on his face.

"Sir Edmund, I'll be happy to pay your traveler's tax."

"You cannot be serious, Diego. What has become of you..." This is not the same boy I taught to fight in Madrid. What happened to the Diego I used to know?

"Excellent thought, Don Diego. There is no sense in anyone getting hurt. I would have hated to arrest this man. Gracias."

Diego glanced at the expression on his mentor's face. He is wondering what happened to my sword fighting skills. One more complication that I have to deal with.

The de la Vega carriage came to a stop in front of the hacienda. The short ride to the hacienda had been quiet. Diego knew that his mentor was wondering about his lack of swordsmanship. The sword he wore as Zorro was a testimony to the expertise he developed with the sword under Sir Edmund's tutelage. The British knight would not believe that Diego could no longer handle a sword. Diego would wait until later to explain everything to the man he respected so much...I hope Sir Edmund will not be too disappointed in me.. Don Alejandro happily walked toward the carriage to greet his old friend.

"Edmund, it is good to see you. Please come in. Your arrival went well, I trust."

"A brigade sergeant tried to extort money from me."

"What? One of the alcalde's latest tax scheme, no doubt. Ramon will stop at nothing to get what he wants."

"Sergeant Mendoza informed Sir Edmund of the traveler's tax, Father. I simply paid it."

"It was unnecessary, I assure you. Diego and I could have easily defeated those soldiers."

""You, yes. But Diego. . ." Don Alejandro laughed. Everyone knew that his son had no skills with a sword.

"Do we have anything cool to drink? Sir Edmund must be parched after his journey."

"I'll get us some juice, Edmund. I will return shortly while you two get reacquainted," the old don said as he went to get refreshments.

"Diego, you were my best student. Surely your fencing skills did not disappear overnight? You could handle those lancers with ease."

"If word were to get out that I even studied under you, do you know how many young hotheads would try to challenge me? When would I find time for my scientific studies? May we keep tales of my fencing lessons a secret between us? It is very complicated, Sir Edmund. Please trust me…"

"I'll say no more about the subject. I am not disappointed just confused, Diego," Sir Edmund responded.

Maria had once again outdone herself with a wonderful meal that the threesome had enjoyed. The older men had renewed their acquaintance after so many years and Diego enjoyed being with the mentor who had provided guidance and counsel while he was in Spain. There was no one Diego loved and respected than Sir Edmund save his own father.

"Edmund, it is good to have you here," Alejandro stated honestly.

"You have a beautiful hacienda. Life has treated you well."

"Life has been good. I have a wonderful son. Life would be perfect if only…"

"Don't say it, Father," Diego grimaced waiting for his father's reply. He knew exactly what his father was about to say...

"If I only had grandchildren. I don't understand why my son has not married. He would be an ideal husband for any young woman."

Indeed. Evidently, his father doesn't know about Zafira or Diego's skill with a sword. The knight had not approved of the young woman or her politics but he tolerated her for Diego's sake. Fencing in the courtyard with Sir Edmund had been an effective diversion for the young caballero. I wonder what else he has kept hidden from his father. What changed him so much?

"Here we are, gentlemen," Don Alejandro held out glasses of wine. Diego normally didn't drink wine but this was a special occasion. "Now then, Señor, you must tell me about life at the university and about your chess."

"Gentlemen, to re-acquaintance," Diego stated as the three men touched their glasses together.