Gasps rose from the women gathered around the cage. Muffled remarks quickly spread through the crowd, each one feeding the resentment Max's answer had stirred. The brief amusement disappeared from their faces, and several women moved closer, watching him as though his refusal to submit had confirmed everything they feared about his presence.
"See? That is exactly what I told you! Men cannot be trusted! They are animals who will eat away at our souls and bite the very hand that feeds them!"
Antiope pushed through the women before anyone could answer, forcing those closest to the cage to step aside. Max turned his head just enough to meet her eyes, refusing to look away as she stopped at the entrance. With the High Shaman already kneeling beside him, there was little room for a woman of Antiope's height and breadth to enter.
