Max almost smiled at Antiope's response. There was something amusing about how confidently she spoke of keeping him at her feet, as though she had found a wounded dog she could beat into obedience. As far as he was concerned, she had brought a lion into her cage and mistaken its exhaustion for submission.
He kept that amusement from his face, allowing his gaze to remain dull as though her threat had barely reached him. For now, he needed the High Shaman's medicine and enough time to understand why his mana refused to obey. Answering Antiope's insults would accomplish little while he could barely hold himself upright.
She could enjoy the silence and believe whatever she wanted about it.
Once his strength returned, he intended to leave. If they tried to keep him here, he was prepared to flatten the entire place to make his way out. His fingers slowly loosened around the wooden bar as he forced himself to wait, listening for the girl returning with the herbs.
