A crude dagger sharpened from stone was being aimed at Zack's neck. He casually shifted his body to the side receiving it to the shoulder while rapidly pinning the culprit. All the observers nearby froze when seeing the guest was attacked and glared at the offender on the ground.
"Now!"
After the goblin on the floor shouted several assailants lept out to strike Zack's companions. They saw it coming, but with so many from each direction, it would be difficult to counter without lethal force. Savannah already had her blade drawn, but Cassandra froze.
'They're just kids.'
Zack saw Cassandra frozen and lifted his hand as the earth beneath them came to life. In a matter of seconds their ankles, and wrists were bound. Watching how easily Zack restrained the culprits they all dropped down to beg for their district's forgiveness and to only punish the responsible.
"What should we do?" Cassandra asked telepathically.
"They aren't thinking clearly. The slavers definitely have a collaborator here, but if we reveal our hand too early we could lose the trail." Zack replied.
"Then we just leave them here?" Savannah asked.
"I'm not turning a blind eye to this. We will send word back home, and make preparations." Zack relayed.
"Punishing the guilty sounds fair, but I require discretion," Zack smirked menacingly while retrieving barrels of food.
They never saw this much food before and wanted to charge the barrels immediately. The only thing stopping them was Zack's display on the assailants. A simple gesture could halt an ambush so they didn't dare act rashly. Zack adjusted the captives' bindings into chains, and they struggled to get free. Examining the group it was mostly teenagers or young adults.
"This should ease the burden of losing so many. I'll handle the bodies just make sure this matter is forgotten." Zack announced.
"Take them somewhere quiet," Zack ordered Savannah in a stern tone.
"Be sure to bring that energy later." Savannah relayed with a smirk.
"Right away your grace." Savannah bowed before pushing the goblins along.
Hearing this they knew Zack was nobility and understood how he could act so boldly in their city. Zack was leading the group to their original destination, and as they drew near their 'captives' began sweating profusely. Their reason for attacking was to protect their siblings or children at all costs.
When the slavers visited the city they would often take the youngest first for they were perfect leverage to get the adults they bought to comply. Even when the slavers were absent the horrors continued from above. They would put the children through school, and take the gifted ones up above.
Realizing it would never end they tried to find a solution to protect the children. They managed to build a hidden area within the slums, and have kept children hidden from the representatives of the city. Only a select group knew of its existence for most would turn them in to gain passage upstairs.
"It's on the other side of that wall. Break it quietly while I set the barrier." Zack told Cassandra.
Cassandra walked forward focusing her senses to hear faint heartbeats on the other side of the wall. Even with a vampire's sharp senses, it was difficult to notice, and she knew to look for it. After a few gestures from her hands, the wall shifted open revealing trembling goblins.
As the bound goblins began struggling and begging for leniency Zack called his spear. While chanting it pierced the earth, and erected a barrier. Leaving his spear in a place he turned towards the goblins to set them free.
While their shackles were released Zack touched his mind's eye, and transferred some memories into their attackers. As they were watching the memories of Eden and their exploits he built the array. Once the memories finished flashing in their heads they saw Zack and his companions standing by the array.
"This will take you to the surface. Once there you can go your own way, or start getting ready." Zack announced.
Most of them were still trying to comprehend what they saw, but the goblin who attacked Zack stepped forward. His name is Marx, and his daughter is one of the people they were attempting to hide.
"Get ready for what?" Marx asked.
"Saving the others, and destroying this corrupt city," Zack declared while retrieving his spear from the ground.
None of them could forget how easily Zack stopped their coordinated attack. Trusting a stranger wasn't easy, but their only other option was to keep hiding. Marx had no desire for his daughter to grow up like that and took her hand to approach the portal. The others followed his lead without hesitation for Marx kept their families safe this long. While motioning the others forward he stepped towards Zack.
"I'll do everything I can to help, but when the times come I'll be the one to kill the Baron," Marx told Zack before joining the others.
"I'm gonna go with them, and share what we've found," Cassandra replied while stepping forward.
Zack grabbed her hand as Cassandra turned to meet his gaze.
"I'll set the array up when we get through the mountain. I want to see the other side together." Zack told Cassandra.
In a burst of speed, Cassandra leaned in and kissed Zack before stepping through the array without a word. Zack smiled as he reassembled the array where they hid the others and made sure it was covered with heavy warding.
"Got any more orders?" Savannah whispered.
"I have a few in mind, but let's get through the mountain first. I'm starting to get claustrophobic." Zack replied.
"Right this way your majesty." Savannah teased.
Zack began chanting while dropping his spear into the air. Going back upstairs without Cassandra would raise suspicion. Creating illusions is something Zack had to perfect long ago, and fooling a few mercenaries wouldn't be difficult. When the chant finished his spear was covered in an illusion, and it appeared as if Cassandra was clutching his arm.
"What if they try to touch her?" Savannah asked.
"Then we're making a new tunnel," Zack replied.
"Sounds fun," Savannah smirked.