Audrey was once again feeding the pigs and was given the standard bit-gag before going out to the visitor area. That was how she had a perfect view for what happened when the visitors were on their way out. The churls checked the bags, to make sure none of them had taken anything from the burh. One of the men, when he saw that, quickly started rummaging in his bag searching for something. When he found it, he put it in his pocket instead. Audrey looked around, but none of the churls seemed to have noticed what the man did. She waved over one of the other theows, a more senior one without the bit, and pointed to her small pouch, then at the man. It seemed she managed to get the message across. This theow was able to alert the men at the gates to search the pockets as well.
The man was held back until last. The Lady was standing in the gate, wishing everyone farewell with her normal business smile. The warm smile that was so unlike her real one. Then the churl found what the man had tried to hide in his pocket. It was a S-hook he had probably created the night before. Was that really worth breaking the rules for? Two of the churls at once took a hold of his arms. The man started to protest, and the Lady turned around to see what the problem was.
"He tried to take this," the churl who had been searching said.
"You risk your life for such a small thing?" the Lady asked. "The punishment for theft is the payment of a wergild. If you are unwilling or unable to do that, you will be treated as a penal slave for the remainder of your time here."
"I've already paid a hefty sum to be allowed to get here, I'm not paying more just for a trinket like that!" the man shouted. "Just take it, if you make such a big deal about it!"
"If that is your choice, let the others leave without you. You will stay here until the debt is paid."
"You can't do that!"
Audrey sighed as the man put up quite the fight. It took four churls just to get him down on the ground. Another one who thought fighting would make a difference.
"Did he come with someone?" the Lady asked the churl in charge of transport.
"No, my Lady. His partner cancelled when she heard how long the ride would be."
"Take his phone then and explain how he has been caught stealing and been taken by the police. I doubt it is his first offense."
"Yes, my Lady."
The man was restrained by several churls now. One by one his limbs were secured with metal chains, the strongest material they had. Then they placed a special extra restrictive collar on his neck with an attached gag. The man fought tooth and nail. It was definitely the fiercest fight Audrey had seen anyone do so far. But with the sheer number of churls on him, he was restricted and tied up before long. The Lady smiled her cruel smile again. The sight of the man hogtied and helpless seemed to give her more pleasure than placing people in stretch-necks did.
"See, I was originally planning on just keeping you for a day, to teach you not to steal. But it seems you want the full treatment after all. You will get to see what we do to rebellious theows in my castle. To start, why don't we move over to the crew area. I think you will understand better once you see what regular guests don't get to see."
4 guards lifted the man and moved them over to the staff area. No one had been placed in the special pillory today, so they stood unused to one side. The eyes of the theow in the sack widened at the sight of the tied-up man. Did they know one another, or was she just shocked at how heavily restrained he was?
"He can go straight to the jougs now," the Lady said to the men holding him. "But don't remove the restraints on his hands or feet just yet."
After more struggles and protests, the man ended up chained to the wall by his collar, with a very short chain, and with his hands and feet also attached to the wall by chains. Any time he tried to move forward, the gag attached to his collar would press further into his mouth, causing him great pain. The sounds he managed to make sounded like that from a wild animal. He came to his senses and stood still eventually, but he bled quite heavily from his mouth by then. He never stopped trying to fight the chains though.
This was the most extreme case Audrey had seen so far. And two at once! It sounded like it was only the journalist that had been planned, the thief just got himself in trouble. Or rather, Audrey had gotten him in trouble. No one else had seen him take the S-ring. Was it her fault, what they did to him? She had worried he had taken something of value, but she didn't expect him to be held back for it! She thought they would just take whatever it was he was trying to hide and send him on his way. But she should have known that it would end up like this. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything, but it was too late to take it back now.
Now the Lady was coming towards Audrey. Had she done something else wrong? She felt panic rise in her as she curtsied. She hoped she wouldn't have to spend more time in the stretch-neck or join the journalist in a sack.