Chapter 2 - The Royal Soldiers
'We're here for Ballos.' The taller of the two demanded.
'I-I don't know where u-uncle is…'
The guard behind the first pushed her over with a flick.
'So your his niece then? Maybe he'll come if we take you prisoner? Maybe even torture you a bit…'
A wide grin appeared on his rough face, but Misery could do nothing. As hard as she tried, she could't concentrate enough to use any of her magic, all she could try were weak physical attacks.
'Don't get cocky you little brat! No point resisting us, we are two of the kings best soldiers!'
Then suddenly the door slammed open letting moonlight shine into the dark house.
'I'll come nicely, but only if you leave the child alone!' declared a powerful voice from the shadows of the night.
'U-uncle B-Ballos? I-Is it really you?' Tears streamed down Misery's pale face.
The guards immediately diverted their attention from Misery to the cloaked figure outside. Misery just sat there, paralysed with fear. She tried to stop them, say something in her uncles defence, but words would not escape her mouth. They took his hands and tied them behind his back. Her uncle was being imprisoned by the king for no apparent reason. Why? Why did all this happen? Then she remembered her dream. It finally dawned on her that it wasn't just a dream, it was a glimpse of future.
'Hey! Before you leave tell me one thing!' said Misery, summoning up all the courage she could.
'What do ya want now kid?' the soldier barely turning around to look the young girl in the eyes.
'Tell me why! Why the king wants my uncle!'
'Well we're not meant to leak information but not like you can do anything about it so I'll tell ya. You're uncle has great power, more than any human, even our king. He also has the trust of all our people and what he could do with that power is limitless. He could betray us, kill everyone, even destroy the world as we know it! We have to keep him and his power under restraint.'
'Your precious king has power and the trust of the people! How do you know he won't betray you too? And you're not telling me the whole story either!'
'Shut up you stupid brat! We don't have to tell you anything!' For the first time ever Misery felt powerless. The soldiers' words echoed in her yea again and again. All the magic in the world couldn't have helped her. She was scared. Too scared even to help her uncle from the clutches of the king. The king she thought was good and just. A flood of anger flowed through her small body and she was about to call back the guards, stand up and fight them but her uncle just turned around, shook his head and smiled. A smile that could only mean something to her, only she saw Ballos as a kind, loving, funny uncle. Some people saw him as a kind person helping humans in need with his amazing power, some saw him as a role model both in his strength and actions but now Misery realised some people think differently. Some people think people with power and trust are dangerous. That when a person has those things they will misuse them. That is not true, if only so when a third party is involved thus provoking them, or tempting them with bribes. By the time she realised this the guards were gone. Her beloved uncle was gone. She didn't know what to do or what to think. She just sat there, motionless and thinking. Thinking about Ballos. About all they'd been through together, she didn't realise that thinking about him could cause so much pain. She couldn't even cry anymore.
