Description:
As Diego's and Ania's relationship grows stronger, he remains determined not to increase her danger by allowing her to share in the knowledge of his double life. However, this is taken out of his hands when Capitan Rodriguez almost gets his wish to rid himself of Zorro. Bernardo and Ania find themselves between Rodriguez and Zorro in a nerve racking game of deception with their own, as well as Diego's life as the stakes.
Disclaimer:
The characters of Diego/Zorro, Bernardo, Don Alejandro, Tornado, Padre Felipe, Sergeant García, and Corporal Reyes are not my own creations. These characters are gratefully borrowed from the WD series. The characters of Ania Valdéz, Capitan Rodríguez, Manolito Mería, Brisa Mería, Pepe Mería, Rosita, Felipe Valdez y Córdoba , Privates Leon, Romez, and Sanchez, Ventura, and any other non-WD character found in this story are my creations. As before, if you wish to use one of these characters, talk to me about it first.
A Note from the Author:
This story is the second part of the Forge Trilogy and, as such, shares the slight time shift I used in "Forge of Shadows". The year would be approximately 1818, in the spring of the year. I estimate that probably three months, or a bit less, have passed since the end of "Forge". Zorro has been riding for about three years at the beginning of the story.
Some references were made to herbs used in dealing with day-to-day injuries or illnesses during that time period. I made an attempt to be as accurate as possible in this. My main sources for this information will be listed at the end of the story.
Thanks:
I want to say a special thanks to Sianny Schira, my main beta reader, for not only her technical help, but also for all the fun and craziness we've had while bouncing around ideas between midnight and three in the morning. I also appreciate the help and encouragement of two other special people who also did beta reading as I wrote, Lisa Pierce (Lt. Zorro, now!) and el Zora. As I branched off into a bit more romance in "Anvil", I sometimes needed the comments and guidance of all three of you. Jill Panvini, also, has been priceless for her help and guidance related to the Catholic religion as it would have been practiced in Zorro's time. Jill has patiently answered any question I sent her way. Any mistakes or misunderstanding about this area are strictly my own. Jill has tried her best to educate this Southern Baptist writer and I do appreciate it. Thanks Jill! Thanks, also, go to Amy Rodk, who was always there when I had a question pertaining to Tornado or other horses. Thank you all so much!
--Keliana Baker
17 August 1999
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Epilogue
References
Table of Contents
