The thief just continued to stammer. “I-It was just something I picked up f-f-from a body! Like the bow too I... I ain’t got the stomach to be a bandit, b-b-but I figured you know... Not like the dead needs em, right?” The thief confessed a little, but you could tell there was more to the story than he was willing to admit.

“I mean... I get it. I got caught.” The young man’s said defeatedly. “I won’t resist. I knew I could’ve... Could've tried to work honestly. I just thought maybe, if I could take enough coin, I could leave sooner than later. I was real close too. I know it ain’t right to ask you to forgive me, so I’ll... Ill take whatever punishment you got.” With this, the Chief, Ricks, and a few of the other adults gathered around to discuss what to do. Yerro waved you over to join them.

“Chief, I honestly don’t think the lad is a bad man. Obviously just someone who’s down on their luck and needs a good person to lead them right. My own son used to be a trouble maker like him, but now he runs his own inn at the city. Why don’t you let me take him as an apprentice?” Said Ricks, who seemed the most sympathetic.

“Ricks you’re a good man, but honestly that boy has caused us quite a bit of trouble already. We know that the tax collectors are coming in a few days, we should just hand him off to them and let them sort it out at the capital. The last thing we need is for him to take advantage of your kindness.” Yerro said in a hushed tone. He seemed to just want to do things normally.

“Won’t do us any good. Those cityfolk won’t give us a rat’s ass as long as we keep paying their taxes! Besides he’s already stolen quite a bit of goods and coin for us, so you expect us to keep taking care of him in the hopes those yellow-bellied taxmen take me away? I say we give em a good flogging, and then kick em out of town! If he shows up here again we’ll... We’ll make chum outta him “ Iola was the most blood-thirsty, however her hesitation near the end betrayed her aggressive image. She seemed more interested in looking tough than filing out punishment.

The Chief took these words into consideration but didn’t make a call. He looked towards you with a nod. “It’s only thanks to you that we’ve managed to even catch this thief. I think you should have some say. What do you think we should do, Sylvia?”