The feral underlings reached for the falling orb.

My minions.

It fell from the sky like Newton's apple, like a tossed child's ball, bound by Earth's affinity. It bounced from one set of small human claws to the other, each desperate to gain purchase, each desperate for the favor of its Master. The boys snarled at one another, kicking and scratching. One boy - I believe he was called Francis, but I left such details to the nanny - grasped it and pulled it to his chest. He shrieked in victory just before the light consumed him, pouring from every orifice in his small body. His cry turned to one of agony, and he fell to his side, whimpering, clutching the orb to his body.

I walked to him, and the others stepped back, lowering their heads and dropping to their knees in deference to the Master. I ignored them.

"The orb," I said to the fallen minion, falling to my knees beside him and holding out the bag.

He looked up at me, trembling, tears streaming down his cheeks. I would not have perceived the bare shake of his head, had not the moving streams of light cast shadows all around.

"The orb," I repeated, my frozen arms outstretched, holding open the bag next to him.

At least ten full silent seconds passed. We stared at one another. Then his arms relaxed their grip and stretched toward me, offering the orb. Uncontrolled shaking wracked his entire body, and the object slipped from his grasp, neatly falling into the open bag. I pulled the drawstring and looked back at the boy. The light faded and the shaking ceased. He stared at me a moment, eyes wide, then averted his gaze.

"I forgive you," I told him, smiling. His eyes flicked back to my face, and his face relaxed just before I plunged my sword through his heart. His eyes grew wide once more and stayed that way.

I turned to the others, kneeled before me with eyes cast down.

"Had he failed to ultimately comply, his death would have been considerably less swift and comfortable."

"Yes, Master," they muttered in unison.

It's good to be the boss.