Ext. Forested HILLY LANDSCAPE -- evening

Daniel sat against the trunk of a tree as the rain came down.    His Henry sat next to him, leaning against the tree as Daniel slid a whetstone against one of his blades.

DaNIEL

Twelve in less then a day. As good as a turkey shoot, though they gonna be tougher now.    Gots to be careful Williamson, Johns always said a careless soldier was one already six feet under.

Daniel heard familiar voices ringing somewhere near.    He smiled like a kid in a candy store, grabbed his rifle and set it    under a hidden lean to he had made.

Daniel (CONT'D)

This ain't your kinda work beauty.    Your turn will come soon enough.

He pulled a gladius and a bandolier throwing blade, grinned like a devil then scampered into the trees, the rain drowning the night.

Ext. ForestED HILLY LANDSCAPE -- night

Jenks and Taylor are trudging through the forest huffing and puffing with two soldiers in their shadow following.    Rain coming down hard.

Jenks

God damn Taylor, my legs feel numb in this pig shit.    How much farther ya think we need to walk in this dog pour?

Taylor huffing and puffing attempts to respond.

Taylor

I don't rightly know Jenks, until the English man says no more I reckon.    But I tell ya with a hand on my ma's grave, if I never need to walk again, I'd go to church every Sunday till the end of my days.

Jenks laughs.

JENKS

You never seen the inside of a church in your entire speckled life Taylor and didn't ya say you were the    one that killed your ma, don't ya be thinkin' it's a little shady of ya to be swearin' on her grave, gives me the spooks just thinkin' about it, ya might stir up her ghost or hungry spirit or some such with such talk.

Taylor stops and shudders, him and Jenks shoulder to shoulder out of breath.

TAYLOR

Ya shouldn't be talking about ghosts in a storm like this Jenks, no creepys and crawlies it's bad luck to be mentioning the dead like that.

Jenks spits tobacco.

JENKS

What are you goin' on about Taylor, you was the one swearin' on your dead ma's grave who you killed yourself, don't be chattering to me about bad luck.

They both hear someone clearing their throat.    They turn around to see Daniel with a bloody gladius in one hand and then pulling a small bandolier blade out of the throat of the other soldier, both soldiers corpses.    Daniel has a big smile on his face.

DaNIEL

You two done bickering and goin' at each other like two school girls?    You all ready to meet embers and ash of what's due?

Jenks and Taylor look at Daniel and big shit eating grins roll across their face.

Jenks

Look Taylor, soldier boy right on cue.

TayLOR

Right as rain Jenks, looks like our prayers are answered, no more walking except the steps that take us back to a warm fire.

Daniel looks confused, his body tense.

DanIEL

What are you two gutter rats scuttlin' about?

Daniel turns quickly as he hears a noise behind him and sees 6 soldiers carrying spencer rifles all aimed at him.    He turns back to Taylor and Jenks and sees they have been joined by some foppish looking gentleman with two pistols on his waist and a large sword on his back.

Lt. SARK

So this is the infamous Blades Williamson.    To be honest I am not very impressed but then you Yankees have much lower expectations then a true child of the isles.

Daniel grips his blades.

DANIEL

You must be the Englishman.    Sara did say ya reminded her of a peacock, now that I see yas and listen to ya squawk I can see she was bein' nice.

Sark's affable nature slips for a moment but regains his smirky smile once more.

LT. SARK

Well we will take care of that bird soon.    (Paces hands behind back)    Killed ten of my men, very impressive that, though a bit unsporting from the shadows and all.    Personally I prefer face to face, mano e mano, etc. etc.

DANIEL

And nine to one.    I reckon there's honor in that somewhere, ya being a child of the isles and all, must be a different definition, courtly ways and such, far too much for a humble soldier to get.    By the way it's 14 dead by my reckonin', and soon to be climben' the ladder on that count.

Sark looks at him with hurtful pride like everything wasn't going the way he planned.

LT. SARK

My oh my you are a cheeky bastard, though I think the game has come to an end for the infamous Blades.    I knew you wouldn't be able to resist these two hallmarks of humanity staked out in the open and that it would make you careless.    I heard they spent long hours sticking their unsavory manhood in that woman of yours, and according to them she actually enjoyed it, though I find that hard to understand in even the uppermost straining of my imagination.

Daniel eyes Jenks and Taylor like they were dinner.    They both took a step back.    He then stares right into the eyes of Sark and even he loses a little of his cockiness.    The beast has lit it's fire.

Jenks

Did he just insult again Taylor?

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Taylor

I think he did Jenks though hard to figure with all the words he uses.

Daniel takes a step forward Jenks and Taylor scuttle back.

DANIEL

Oh those two I'll save for later as I most likely reckon there gonna run here very shortly and I will be a little too busy to give them what's comin'.

Sark motions to the 6 soldiers they take a step closer and all lock their weapons on Daniel.

LT. SARK

Interesting, and what do you suppose you are going to do my upstart soldier with as you mentioned nine to one odds.    I think you should just lay down upon the ground and let us send you to sweet oblivion.

Daniel smiles the smile of a beast.

DANIEL

Are you ready?

Sarks seems perplexed.

Lt. SaRK

And pray tell, what is it you think I should be read...

Before he finishes Daniel's left hand is a blur his throwing blade in one's throat spinning his gladius almost decapitating another, shoulder blocking another to the ground slicing another's arm as he fires his rifle now into the sky.    Jenks and Taylor start back pedaling.    Sarks pulls his pistols and fires as Daniel spins the same soldier into the bullets, his hand another blur as a soldier takes another blade in his hand as he fires causing him to move his rifle shooting his own companion, Daniel then spinning, keeping that same soldier between him and Sark's pistols as he finishes the spin behind the soldier and sticking his back with the gladius three times at same time as pulling his dragoon and killing the one that had fallen then aiming at Sark as Sark aims at him.    Jenks and Taylor run.

Jenks

Run Taylor he's a demon from hell!

Taylor

Right there with ya Jenks!    I think he has my ma's spirit in him.    I'm sorry ma!!!!!

Sarks rolls his eyes and him and Daniel stand there both aiming weapons.

lt. SARK

Those are the two most worthless creatures I have ever had the misfortune to run across.

Daniel

Well there's one thing I reckon we can agree on and I do believe my count is up to 20 if ya be keeping track of such things.    I dare say you runnin' out of men.

lt. SARK

You have put me in somewhat of a predicament with the Good Captain I would agree, not the most forgiving gent I have ever been acquainted with but I believe between my charm and your head I can sashe myself within his good graces once more.

Daniel non chalantly shakes his gun.

DANIEL

I think ya gettin' ahead of yourself don't ya think?

Sark's smirk comes back alive.

Lt. SARK

Well I must say I was impressed with the knife work there with the lads but alas still only a bump in the road.    What say we handle this like the gentleman I know I am and hope somewhere in there one resides within you.    We at the same time put down our firearms and settle this on the field of battle like unto olden times, blade to blade.      Not to mention the rain is getting mighty tiresome and I would like to return fairly soon for a spot of tea to warm the bones.    Well and to kill those two mentally challenged fellows that run out of here with such a lack of grace and aplomb.

Daniel looks at him eyeing the sword.

DANIEL

I'll take ya up on that generous offer.    Count of 3 with the pistols?

LT. SARK

Very courageous of you dear chap.    3 it is. 1-2-3.

As Sark counts they both slowly lower their pistols into their holsters then unbuckle them together.    They each other with their holsters in their hands then drop.    Daniel takes out his two gladius as Sark takes out his katana. Sark twirls his katana with a smirk.

Lt. SARK (CONT'D)

I insist in warning you my good fellow.    I have been trained since I was a child in the use of the sword in the orient.    You might have had more of a chance seeing which one of us could fire our pistols.

Daniel crouched low with his gladius.

DaNIEL

Thanks for sharing, I'll remember to carve it on your grave stone, here lies an Englishmen that talked to much and played with a sword since he was little.

Sark lost it and like lightning attacked swinging his blade down Daniel using his left gladius to swing it out wide jabbing with his right but Sark was already spinning out of the way swiping with his sword at Daniel's back but Daniel leaped in a tumble roll forward still getting nicked on his back.    He rolled back to his feet and turned only to find Sark already on him swinging again downward.    Daniel used his gladius in a cross block but got a front kick for his troubles flying backwards to land on his rump from which he quickly scrambled to his feet.    Sark smiled and the rain fell.

LT. SARK

I forgot to mention I also studied the arts martial as well as the sword.    How invigorating this is, I am almost perspiring.

Daniel gritted his teeth and felt the blood trickling down his back.   

DANIEL

You talk too much.

LT. SARK

Alas you are not the first to say so but I find my own conversation the only stimulating one to be found.

Sark motioned for him that it was his turn to come forward as he non chalantly held his blade down towards his feet.    Daniel growled and charged a whirling dervish of blades and Sark parried all of them then swung his blade handle hitting Daniel across the head followed by his elbow then as Daniel started to go down hit him with a knee swinging up cracking against Daniel's chin and as Daniel stumbled back came in with a flying kick that tossed Daniel against a tree one of his gladius falling from his hand.    Sark wasted no time and charged forward thrusting his blade through Daniel's shoulder pinning him to the tree, his hand releasing his other blade.    Sark let go of his blade and stood back admiring his work as if it was a piece of art.    Daniel bled from his lip and a cut across his temple and he grimaced from the blade through his shoulder.

Lt. SARK (CONT'D)

Ah short and sweet, to say I am not disappointed would be a deceptive proposition to say the least.    I thought I would of experienced much more of a challenge.

Daniel looks at him his anger rising into his gorge.

Daniel

Are you done working your mouth?

Lt. Sark smiles as if he is dealing with a small toddler.

LT. SARK

Ahh, eager for Death's embrace after such a meager showing.    I quite understand.

Daniel spits glob of blood out of his mouth onto the Englishmen's foot and the rain falls.

DANIEL

Are you ready?

Sark laughs.

Lt. SARK

Ready?! (Laughter) and what would I be..

Daniel's hand comes up with a clump of mud right into Sark's face.    He screams as he wrenches the sword out of his shoulder throwing it ten feet in front of him as Sark is still peeling mud out of his eyes.    Daniel kicks him in the nuts then as Sark bends over grabbing them Daniel grabs the top of his head and brings it to his knee and as Sark starts reeling back Daniel grabs his hair and punches him three times in the face then kicks him in the chest sending him flying near his sword to land in the mud.    Daniel walks over and in a lot of pain picks up his two gladius.    He then turns to find Sark attempting to crawl to his feet.

Daniel

Round 2 I reckon is what I meant with "are you ready?"    I guess not by what I be seeing.    Oh I forgot to mention.    I was taught by Iron Johns for say 3 or 4 years in the art of dirty fightin'.    Just to let you know and all seein' as your big on sharin'.

Sark looks up and sees Daniel standing there blades in hand and sees his sword near him.    He stumbles to his feet and grabs his sword still looking woozy and his nose broke.

LT. SARK

You broke my nose you Yankee back woods mongrel.    I will eviscerate you for this indignity.    I will take you apart piece by piece.

Lt.Sark slips a little in the mud and rain and Daniel eyes the englishman's feet. Daniel looks bored.

DANIEL

Enough talken' Englishman.    Show me!

Sark charges but this time Daniel charges back and as Sark swings he slides under twisting on his knees slicing the back of the Englishman's knee and keeps sliding a few feet more.    He leaps to his feet and as Sark starts hobbling his way to his feet Daniel rolls onto the back of his legs ending with his left hand planting his gladius through the back of the Englishman's skull.

DaNIEL (CONT'D)

As I said you talk too much.

Daniel collapses, his whole shirt drenched in blood.