Considering the speed at which they showed up, I'd say that they ran into a village that had a war flock in it. It took them exactly no time to arm up and attack after Brand got back. That's military discipline. It took just one word from the village elder to mobilize.
So. Brand asked the leader of what effectively amounted to a MILITARY BASE to commit high treason against their commander, and did so in a way that was about as convincing as a mime. How long before Laputa shows up now that they have the two of them pinned?
"Brand is helping" is gonna be on his tombstone at that rate. They ain't outrunning crossbow bolts.