Goldy had to stay hidden until she knew that she could safely slip out to help Eric, from their snide comments she knew her friends had been captured. A soft hiss by her feet drew her attention and she saw the small friendly snake had returned. It had found her somehow even through her magic, she offered up a arm and it slivered up to her ear.
Finally the solders had all left the area and she would have to go now in case they came looking upon entering the now empty cave. Goldy swiftly flew down the tunnel towards the main cavern towards the soon to be executed remaining members. Goldy's snake friend meanwhile had some interesting news for her as well. She finally gave a faint smile as she raced onward.
Eric and the rest were able to see the entrance was still being defended while noticing that none of the guards were from the prince's group. What they couldn't see was where the mages that would activate the array stood. They would need a diversion and a good one too, in order to allow them to get to them before they could activate that array. If was getting close to an hour since the prince had left so time was encroaching.
Goldy finally reached the entrance to the main cavern and took note of the people standing guard there. Over ten solders and six mages stood ready to do their duty to the king not even allowing themselves to think that they could live instead. The snake hissed in her ear and she say oh yes a perfect distraction, then cast a shield on her small friend before slipping back into the shadows once again.
The elected head mage for this small unit was thinking about the glory and wealth he would leave to his family. His old body had lately been failing him and this was his last chance to prove that he was a true and loyal hero to the crown. His name would be inscribed onto the stone tablet for all times for he's descendants to see in the capital. All these thought flew from his mind as soon as he saw the snake.
His screaming voice brought the rest running towards him to see who was attacking, but the instantly froze upon seeing him. A small snake was curling about the mages feet as if it wanted to be his friend, however it's vibrant fiery red and blue striped body indicated its breed. All knew that it was the most toxic animal alive and refused to approach the trembling mage.
When the blast hit them, they fell like dominos while her small pet with its shield was totally fine behind its shielding. She felt a little sad that a few non combatants were caught in the blast as well but they would live through it. Being a sonic blast it would just knock them out for about 15 minute or so.
At that moment she saw Eric, Melissa and Rock charge out looking to fight with only four other guard standing they were quickly and easily subdued. Some of the other who didn't knew what was happening grabbed their weapons to guard themselves. However Eric voice calmed them down and explained what was happening.
Slowly they started to understand and the news spread quickly to the others while Eric and Rock started to organize a party to take back their only exit. Goldy was engrossed in a conversation with the snake and Melissa was checking on the injured in the med area. Meanwhile the first group followed by the prince were making a exit from the water cavern and fleeing for the cave exit.
Soon Melissa returned telling Goldy about half of the twenty or so wounded could make it through on their own. The remaining ones were too badly wounded and would probably die if moved. Rock and Melissa started to get volunteers to assist them to the cave once it was cleared for them to escape. The slightly wounded came in as the first to volunteer and go to the med area to pick their charges.
The prince's men were tied up and bond and the ones on entrance duty now having hope fought more fiercely. Goldy was now surrounded by a group of those snakes and seemed to be doing something with a jar. Sometimes even Eric was confused by her actions but his group was almost ready to clear the way to the exit.
With that they sent some of the scouts in to see how things were inside and who would be blocking their way. The group follow silently in their footsteps after giving a ten minute start with Eric, Rock and Melissa leading the way.
Goldy went to the wounded and accelerated their healing so they would definitely make it, then she headed for the med area to see if anymore could be rescued.
Eric group encountered only about ten guards within the cave entrance to the water escape and they were quickly subdued. Then he tested the rope it was still attached and ready to use with no insuring tugs from people using it. He sent Rock through first, followed by Melissa for mage backup their positions would be the most vulnerable but they were his strongest choices.
They couldn't wait so he sent them through as fast as he could and sent a few to grab the next group to go through. They needed to hurry before the beasts broke through and butchered them all. Still it was strange that they seemed so concentrated on destroying them. Even to the point of starvation they stayed, even cooperating with different species.
Goldy had managed to bring two more people back enough to travel the tunnel to safety but the rest were beyond her strength and two slipped away before she had even entered. Only a single mage that was dying with a lost of a arm and leg offered to try to set the array off after the beast entered if she placed him by the array..
When she came out holding the mage she saw that over half of the group was gone with only the ones resting or fighting remaining. She placed the dying mage by the array and sent a healing spell into his broken body one more time hoping and willing her prayer to ease his pain.
Eric came to send the next group on their way only those fighting at the entrance remained they needed at least an hour to clear out most of the member that remained. About ten minutes later They had to figure who would stay and who they could save out of the remaining group.
By now the ones, left were their strongest warriors and a ragtag bunch of nearly depleted mages. Once their magic failed the beasts would be able to attack with out suffering as much and their chances of getting in would triple at that time. Each of the remaining men felt death walked amongst them and this would become their final grave.