english journal 8 (1/08) the gunnery washington, connecticut

many magical traps that he had placed in the cave. Isaac jumped up to the perch and lookeddown at the pitiful bandit, as an explosion went off in the distance. Isaac raised his sword andfinished the job. A single tear rolled off the seasoned sorcerer’s eyes.Isaac searched the room looking for a passage, or door where they would hold the woman whohe was looking for. At the base of the stalagmite pillar he found his door. It was looked butIsaac made quick work of it using an unlock spell. With the door unlocked he slowly opened thedoor as to not startle the woman inside, whom he figured was quite dramatized. With the doorhalf open, he peeked his head inside to locate the woman but instead found himself hit in theface with a large rock. He fell to the ground in much pain and out the door came the woman,who pinned Isaac to the ground with her foot.“Ok you damn bandit, I’m going to ask you once, and only once, set me free and I won’t hurtyou,” said the fiery woman.“I’m not a bandit,” moaned Isaac, barely audible and in much pain. The force behind the rockwas immense. The woman had thrown the rock harder than most grown men could ever byIsaac’s estimation.“What was your answer? I could not hear you,” said the woman who was speaking withauthority.“I said that I’m not a damn bandit. Now could you bloody get the hell off of me!” yelled Isaacwho was fed up with small rocks jabbing him in his back.The woman reluctantly took her foot off of Isaac figuring that he did not look quite like a banditand that it would explain all of the commotion before. When Isaac finally got back on his featthe woman spoke again saying, “So if you’re not a bandit who are you and how did you know tofind me here?”“Your husband hired me to recue you from these bandits. That is how I was able to find you.”“So you are a mercenary,” the woman said bitterly. “How much did it cost my husband to buyyour services, 1,000, 2,000, some livestock, the whole farm? I hate your type. You sell oursouls to the highest bidder, not caring what you are being hired to do. Then when someonehires you personally you charge ridiculous amounts of money. All you people are moneyhogging bastards! So tell me, how much did your service cost.”“I’m sorry that you feel that way, but I can’t tell you the cost of my services. That is betweenme and your husband, and if he wishes to tell you, that is his own business, but I am under noobligation to tell you.”“Humph, typical mercenary. Well, the least you could do is tell me your name, or are you notobligated to tell me that as well.”English Journal 8 (January 2008) 62