Chapter 146: Guard the well. No one is to approach it until I say so
Before Isabella agreed to follow Cyrus, her eyes did a quick sweep across the crowd.
The villagers were still gathered near the well, sweat-soaked and quiet—but the longer she looked, the less she liked what she saw. Their eyes weren’t just curious.
There was a wild glint there. A hunger. Something primitive lurking beneath the surface.
She didn’t trust it.
No, something in her gut told her that the second she left this place unattended, these people—especially the ones who hadn’t lifted a single finger—would swarm the well like flies.
She had just created the most important resource in this damn village, and it would not be wasted on fools who didn’t know patience or order.
Her gaze sharpened and she shifted her weight subtly, pulling Glimora closer against her side.
She turned slightly, eyes locking onto the remaining nine men who had helped her earlier. The ones who had built with their hands, sweat, and tools. Their figures stood tall—broad shoulders, dirt-caked clothes, and sun-scorched skin. They looked tired, but capable. And above all, they had earned her trust. For now.
That was enough.
Without raising her voice too high, Isabella called out, clear and crisp, "You nine. Guard the well. No one is to approach it until I say so."
Her tone wasn’t aggressive. But it carried something heavier. A quiet edge. The kind of command that made people stand straighter and pay attention.