The Welsh Outlaws III

Alan entered the main hall. And after the obligatory exchange of greetings you updated him about the situation. He informed you that the guards did not notice him about this attack but it is impossible to patrol the whole vast area with the manpower currently under his control. Finally you asked him how he would resolve the problem with the outlaws.

Alan opted for a military solution, "Sir, I think we should send our house guards and ask your father, the sheriff for additional help. Fifteen outlaws should be no match for our troops. Not only would we be able to return this merchants his goods but we would be able to get rid of these brigands once and for all."

"Sir, they still have my wife and my son." the merchant cried.

"Be Quiet! I've heard enough." Sophie suddenly ordered. "Mr. Kieran, please explain to me why our guards did not register the entry of your wife and your son. They should have send you some additional guards. Why didn't they report back to us, did they all neglect their job?"

Kieran opened his mouth just to be interruped by Sophie again, "Mister should chose his words carefully, I can detect a lie when I hear one."

"I think they were not passing the official checkpoints. We had our own escorts, twenty fine men but the outlaws were luring them into a trap." Kieran admitted.

"In other words you've tried to evade the toll. You are a criminal Kieran and you even have the gall to come to our castle and demand compensation?" Sophie snorted scornfully.

"That... that... the checkpoints were not manned since the start of the war. Many merchants are avoiding the official roads because they were in a bad state. You can see yourself that security is very bad with all these outlaws, forcing us to travel with out own escorts." Kieran tried to defend himself.

"We have invested a lot in additional guards. The checkpoints have been manned for two weeks now and workers were clearing and repairing the roads daily. You want better security and you use my roads but you refuse to pay your share?" you attacked the opening Sophie had created.

"We won't compensate you a pence for your loss Kieran. Actually you need to be punished to pay a fine for breaking the law. As for your wife and your son, I think you should pay the ransom if you want to guarantee their safety. How much do the outlaws demand for them?" Sophie added.

Kieran was pale from shock but finally he found his words, "They want twenty pounds for both... ten pounds for my wife and another ten pounds for my son. I will pay the ten pounds to get my son back."