There was only one option. He had to take the guard down. Swiftly. Silently.
Leo lowered his center of gravity, ignoring the white-hot flare of pain in his calf. He waited until a heavy merchant cart rattled down a nearby street, the clattering of wooden wheels masking his footsteps.
With a rush of adrenaline, Leo pushed off his good leg and lunged out of the shadows.
He crossed the ten feet of open ground in a fraction of a second. The goblin's large, pointed ears twitched. It started to turn, its yellow eyes widening, its mouth opening to raise an alarm.
Leo didn't hesitate. He slammed his left hand clamped completely over the goblin's mouth, the coarse, leathery skin scraping his palm.
At the exact same moment, his right hand shot out, grabbing the wooden shaft of the spear just below the blade, preventing the guard from bringing the weapon to bear.
