The apprentices' jaws fell open, stunned into silence as Damon's outrageous words rang through the vast hall. For a moment, no one even breathed.
"You heard me," Damon said. "Every one of you who has been called worthless, every one of you shoved aside, mocked, or discarded by this fraud…" he tilted his chin toward the master smith without sparing him more than a glance, "I am giving you a choice. Stand as you are, crawling in the dirt he's buried you in… or stand with me, and rise."
Murmurs broke out immediately, louder this time, filled with disbelief, longing, and fear. "He can't mean it…" one apprentice whispered, clutching his apron.
"But… if it's true…" another muttered, eyes wide, "then even we… even failures… could…"
