WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY

By Julie
julie@centurybooks.com

Disclaimers: Fireworks owns 'em. I'm just taking them out for some exercise.
Rating: PG for mild violence
Feedback/Beta: Yes, please
Trio & Quote challenge: Cheese, skull, clock.
"Anyone can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error."
"When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."

~~~~~

Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go;

Colonel Luis Montoya strolled through the pueblo in all his sartorial glory, his boots gleaming, his uniform spotless and the gold trim on his jacket practically shining. He made a striking picture silhouetted against the pale adobe structures.

Pity there was no one out to see him.

The vendors had packed their wares, their silks and saws, their cheeses and fruits, and they would not return until Monday. The dons were at home with their families and would only return for mass tomorrow morning. The Alvarado wagon was parked near the stables, but there was no sign of the Senorita or her servant. One or the other of them was probably badgering the doctor.

The only sound came from behind the guard's quarters, a steady clanking and clanging punctuated by grunts and groans. El Capitan was working the soldiers long today. Montoya walked round the building to watch.

Grisham was sparring with Corporal Sanchez, normally a cocksure fellow and not a half-bad swordsman, but today he appeared beaten down and frustrated. He was not doing well. The Captain pressed on relentlessly and then executed a move Montoya not seen him use before. The hapless Corporal's sword went flying from his hands.

"Again!"

The Corporal gave Grisham a look that intimated he would rather bash in the Captain's skull than continue with the swords. But he obeyed, and the battle was engaged. The Captain used the same move, and the Corporal's sword took flight again.

So the old dog has learned a new trick. Montoya approached the circle of men. "You seem to be having trouble this evening, Corporal."

The man flushed with embarrassment as he reached for the sword. "Si, Coronel. El Capitan has been teaching us some new attacks."

"Against which you have been using the old defenses, which do not seem to be working. Anyone can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error." Colonel Montoya softened his words with a smile and an encouraging pat on the shoulder. Then he began to unbutton his jacket. "Let us see what we can learn about these new attacks, shall we?"

Grisham approached, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "Really Colonel, there's no need. I have the lesson well in hand here."

"Excellent. Then you shall not objection to instructing me." Montoya smiled pleasantly as he exchanged his jacket for a sword.

The two men circled one another and then Grisham grew bold and began to slash aggressively. Montoya parried each stroke with ease and allowed himself a sly smirk. "Grisham, you are so predictable. You move just like a clock. Tick. Tock." He punctuated the last three words with thrusts that pushed Grisham toward the edge of their makeshift arena.

Grisham responded with another burst of strength and tried the move that had been so effective on the men earlier. Montoya deflected the blow with ease.

"You see, gentlemen," Montoya said, addressing the soldiers. "Every move has a counter move. You must train yourself to see these options."

The Captain became ever more frustrated as Montoya continued to addressed the soldiers, who obviously enjoyed the display. "Another thing you must remember is that every opponent, no matter how strong, has a weakness. El Capitan's is a lack of patience."

The sparring went on for another minute and then Grisham's sword clattered to the ground. Montoya held the point of his sword over the Captain's heart.

"You see, gentlemen, with patience, I have bested my opponent. Now, I should give a short bow and run him through."

"Why the bow, Colonel?" a man called from the sidelines.

"Why not? When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."

The men laughed until a glare from Grisham reduced them to coughs and ill-suppressed smirks. The Colonel bowed to Grisham and returned the sword to Corporal Sanchez.

END