A burly, scarred man with a voice like gravel pushed his way to the front, his fists clenched, his eyes blazing with the arrogance of a man who believed he was destined to lead. He spat on the ground, his lip curling in disdain as he shouted over the roaring crowd:
"Listen to me, all of you!" His voice was a snarl, dripping with false authority.
"We are NOT animals to be herded and cast out! This fortress was built with OUR sweat, OUR blood! Sir Walter brought us here—we paid for this land, we fought for it! And now some outsider—some monster—thinks he can just take it from us?!" He laughed, a mocking, bitter sound, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Do you really think they can kill us all? Look at them!" He gestured wildly toward the fortress walls, where Max and his team stood guard. "They're outnumbered! They're bluffing! They need us more than we need them!"
The crowd roared in agreement, their fists pumping the air, their faces twisted in rage.
