In 1788, Alejandro's wife Elena gave birth in Madrid to two boys, Diego and one who was taken away by nurse Inez. Years later, royal emissary Don Gilberto Resendo chooses a ruthless way to assert absolute authority beyond the call of collecting a 10,000 pesos special tax for the Spanish war effort against France: the alcalde is sentenced to death merely for 'incompetence' because the emissary's royal guards easily overpower the logically surprised lancers garrison; Diego is arrested for reporting a friend from the front contradicts in a letter the emissary's war optimism. Gilberto is surprised to learn don Alejandro is a de la Vega, a friend of the royal family, and as a courtesy releases Diego. So Zorro can prepare to intervene at de Soto's execution, for terrorizing effect by quartering between horse-carts, which sergeant Mendoza bravely refuses to carry trough -his own death sentence- under expert invisible sniper cover from Felipe's rifle, and ride off after a threat to return unless Risendo leaves quickly after collecting his tax. Gilberto corresponds with his mother in Madrid...
—KGF Vissers