Claudas laughed -- a youthful, boyish laugh, that betrayed how delighted he was to be challenging an "evil general." He was, after all, convinced he was going to win! He was the good guy, after all!
"Then you leave me no choice!" he declared boldly (as all heroes did before charging into battle.)
Being untrained in the arts of swordmanship, his swings were wild things -- though mostly, at least, in the right direction!