>>6064443“Let’s follow up on those thieves. It is especially important in times like these that order is maintained and that justice is meted out and if we happen to recover the stolen money, all the better.”
“Quite true your majesty.” Sir Bormin agrees, then begins gathering the retinue.
Master Minter Cozo, gives Hilma the names and likely locations of the thieves, all of them in relatively close villages. With that last service rendered Hilma orders the minter to go home, see his family, and rest for a few days while everything gets sorted out. A solider is assigned to him to make sure the drunk and very tired man makes it home.
“Oh, thank you your grace.” The minter says, the relief bringing up another batch of tears.
“You are most welcome master minter. We much appreciate your loyalty and devotion in these dire times.” Hilma says before remounting her horse. “We will call upon you to return to your post once we have sorted out these supply issues. Until then please rest.”
“Yes, your majesty,” Cozo says with a bow that nearly tips the exhausted man over.
Since most of the thieves lived in the village of Siferton, that is where the Queen-Dowager’s party heads next. The village itself is of moderate size with a few dozen houses, a blacksmith, and by the looks of it, a small market square. While Cozo had furnished Hilma with a general description of the perpetrators. Finding them in a village this size might prove difficult.
“If I may your majesty?” Sir Bormin says, seeing Hilma deep in thought. “An official door to door search of the town, might scare our traitors into fleeing before we can catch them. If you would allow me, I could go down to the village alone and see if I can’t find out where our thieves are hiding then with a few discreet men, we could catch them all before they know we’re there.”
Bormin’s plan does have merit, the last thing needed is for the targets to figure out they’re being hunted and flee. There are alternatives though, to sending alone old man, knight may he be, to track down a bunch of possibly violent criminals.
>Go with Bormin’s plan, you trust the knight enough to see this through.>Find the village’s elder, or chief. Maybe he could be persuaded into assisting you. He likely knows where the men are and could help you track them down easily. If he’s willing to help you that is.>March in and perform a door-to-door search. You have the authority to do so it’s time to exercise it and a show of force like that would be good in deterring any other future criminals. Remind everyone that the Royal Family is still alive and still in charge.>[Write In] 