Chapter 46: Soto’s Revelation

Rosario had ordered his clan to go back through the village and find the remaining goblins along with their spontaneous followers from earlier. He and Tormund stayed back at the Great Hall to speak and go over what their next steps would be. As he and Tormund were speaking an older human staggered in through the front doors of the Hall.

The man was disheveled and looked like he had sprinted over here, his eyes were locked onto Cooper who was hogtied and lain extremely uncomfortably on his golden throne. Well, he had been on the throne the idiot had wiggled too much and fallen face first off the throne. Neither Tormund nor Rosario had seen fit to do anything about it and had left him on the floor. Rosario even had gone so far as to place a foot on the man's shoulder like Cooper was a step stool.

As Tormund and Rosario paused their conversation to stare at the newcomer, the man in question didn't even look at them he just stared at the bodies of the goblins and the squirming and sobbing Cooper.

"You killed them all."

Rosario and Tormund were not sure if this was a question or a statement, but Tormund answered the man anyways.

"Almost all of them we suppose."

Making eye contact with Tormund the man pointed at Cooper who was looking at him with pleading eyes.

"What will you do with him?"

A toothy grin spread across Tormund's face. "It's funny you ask; My Lord and I were just discussing what we wanted to do with this man. Are you here to plead his case?"

The man placing his hands in front of himself with his palms out, replied. "No, no, no. On the contrary this man is extremely evil and twisted I would insist you do not let him go."

"Oh, is there anything you would like to tell us about this man, of course when our clansmen finish cleansing this settlement of goblins everyone will be called to the square to judge this man for his crimes. Any accomplices he had will be brought to justice also."

Sighing the man made his way around the bodies of the goblins to converse with Tormund without having the entirety of the great hall between them.

"My name is Soto; I had the misfortune of being this monsters first summon."

Soto went on to tell both Rosario and Tormund his story, from watching Julie escape to the horrors he witnessed Cooper commit daily. He explained how he was forced to summon humans for Cooper as so many would be killed by the goblins. How he would do what he could for the humans of the settlement behind Coopers back hoping that the maniac would not notice. Rosario and Tormund listened to everything without interjecting, allowing the man to speak freely.

When Soto was done with his story, he fell to his knees in front of the two imposing figures clad in metal.

"I am sorry I failed these people; I could have done better; I could have saved even one more. I was scared to speak out against him to put an end to it early because we were weak. Maybe it would have been better had I died on that night with the other originals."

Glancing at each other Rosario nodded at Tormund who spoke on Rosarios behalf.

"Today you will confess everything to the humans left in this settlement they will decide your fate." Pointing at a spot against the wall Tormund instructed. "Wait over there, when it is time you will go out in front of everyone with us."

Once Soto was out of earshot of Tormund asked Rosario. "What do you think, do you believe what he said."

"Its easy enough to corroborate what he said. Take him and follow his directions. Gag him so he cannot yell if he leads you to an ambush. Be ready to run back here immediately if you see anything funny. Ill expect you back by tomorrow."

Nodding Tormund donned his helmet and walked back over to Soto. "Come with me, you and I are going to the place you mentioned, if I find any funny business from you or even feel that you are bringing me into a trap ill slit your throat before getting away."

Tossing a balled-up piece of cotton at the man he instructed. "Place this in your mouth, ill be using a leather strap to hold it in place. This is a precaution as frankly, neither of us believe you, but in the off chance your not lying it would be worth it."

With trembling hands Soto shoved the cloth into his mouth and allowed Tormund to tighten the leather strap around his mouth. With that done Tormund helped him stand and then brought him out the back entry of the Great Hall, leaving Rosario alone with Cooper.

Rosario being bored as he waited for his clansmen to return decided to head out the front doors of the hall, he picked up Cooper by his hands tied behind his back. As the man screamed into his gag as his shoulders felt like they were going to pop out of their sockets Rosario strolled out the front doors onto the steps. Dropping Copper at the top of the steps he opted to sit on the man's back as he didn't feel like getting dust from the stairs on his butt.

---- 

As Rosario was busy sitting on the front steps of the Great Hall waiting for the rest to clear the village and return Tormund was bust going through the jungle with Soto in the lead. They walked through the wood for a few hours before finally reaching a cliff face. Once there Soto pointed at a massive rock that leaned against the cliff. As Tormund stepped forward to inspect the rock Soto caught his arm and gestured at his mouth making sounds.

"You want me to take the gag out."

Soto Nodded.

"Why"

Using his hands Soto pointed at the rock and mimed moving it, then he did a walking motion as if it was someone coming out from somewhere. After that he pointed at Tormund and making an angry face acted like he was stabbing him while growling. Pointing at himself he acted half and waved making more friendly noises.

Tormund watched Soto miming with a scrunched brow trying to peace together what he was saying.

"Are you saying someone will come out when I move the boulder."

A nod yes.

"And if they see me, someone they don't know they will become hostile, but if they see you they will be welcoming."

Another nod.

"What if they see you gaged?"

Soto mimed the stabbing motion with an angry face again while growling.

"They will attack me."

A nod.

Sighing Tormund contemplated his options. He didn't know the power level of the people hidden away, Soto was still an Evo0, level 0, leaving Tormund to speculate that all the resources went to the "king" and his goblin minions.

Deciding to go with his gut, Tormund unsheathed his sword and walked over to Soto. The man panicked and began sobbing while falling to his knees seemingly begging for his life. The pain he expected to feel didn't come as he heard Tormund voice.

"Stop crying, I am just cutting the leather cord, if you move too much though I might catch your ear."

With that statement hanging in the air Soto was as still as a frozen statue, his body trembled slightly, but he didn't even blink. The cold of the metal as it pushed against his cheek had him holding his breath afraid of making even the slightest movements. As the sword moved slightly he felt the tight leather cord give way and fall around his neck. The cold metal of the sword left his face moments later.

Reaching up and pulling the cloth from his mouth Soto thanked Tormund.

"Thank you, I promise you wont regret seeing this, this is not an ambush what I said at the Great Hall was all true."

"We will see, call out your friends or whatever you do."

Nodding, the man got up and after wiping his face walked over to the large boulder. He explained as he went.

"This boulder weighs a lot, those at the peak of Evo 0 would struggle moving it, however a genius in both inventions and construction was able to place hidden hinges at the correct locations that allow even someone as weak as me to move the boulder." Grabbing the boulder and shoving it to the side with a grunt, the large rock gently and silently rolled about three feet to the right. Under it was a hidden staircase half in the ground and half in the wall.

Gesturing at the staircase Soto said. "Welcome to sanctuary."