Robin turned around to see Ilida physically leaning back against the door, effectively locking Robin in the room.
Crossing her arms, Robin looked between the three of them. “So what is it that you need to tell me?”
Bernard lifted his hands, as if freeing himself from any responsibility.
“Not me,” Ilida said. “Ian.”
Robin knew the gaze she sent toward Ian was far from friendly.
“Again, this was not my idea,” Ian said. “I was just helping Ilida look over the accounts yesterday—”
“And he thinks I am right!” Ilida cut in before Robin had figured out what they were discussing.
“About what?” Robin asked.
Ian inhaled. “There is apossibilitythat the village of Doulast is taking far more food than they need.”
“And you discovered this by simply looking at some accounts?” Robin asked.
“I joined Ilida in distributing the food yesterday,” Ian said. “We counted how many villagers took an additional share of food. Then we looked at the accounts this morning.”
“There is no way to verify that,” Robin said quickly. “Many villagers take more than a single share. They might be picking up supplies for multiple people in their family. We do not know how many young or old they are also feeding.”
Ian nodded along, listening to her words. His face appeared attentive, but Robin still felt the need to raise her voice.
“We even ask how many are in the household so we can distribute the food evenly,” Robin continued, feeling defensive of their process.
“I understand,” Ian said. “I saw how the process worked. It is well set up and operates justly. But I did notice a few things that Ilida...that I want to discuss with you.”
Again, Robin looked between the three of them. Ian seemed to be waiting for acknowledgment from her before he continued. Ilida looked far too smug. And Bernard pretended to be focusing on the parchment of numbers in front of him.
Robin gave Ian no encouragement to continue. This was their ambush. She would listen, but she did not have to enjoy it.
After a few more moments of silence, Ian continued. “Ilida has kept detailed records of how much food it takes to feed your community here at Lockwood, and the Majis community as well. These records include the number of people you are feedingas well as the monthly amounts of food you are growing and purchasing to support each.”
Robin nodded. She knew this.
“The village of Doulast has a documented population of about one hundred and twenty,” Ian continued. “But they are consistently taking supplies for over two hundred people.”
Robin squeezed her shoulder blades together, straightening her back as she felt a touch of anger. That was a larger discrepancy than she had anticipated.
“And,” Ilida said, jumping into the conversation and finally moving away from the door she had been blocking. “We noticed something else about the people who claim to have the largest households.”
Robin turned to her steward, her own interest actually piqued. She raised an eyebrow.
“They are all servants of the village reeve!” Ilida shouted triumphantly.
Robin uncrossed her arms, considering this. “What are you saying?” she asked, although she had a pretty good idea.
“We think it is highly possible,” Ian said, “that the reeve is using his position of power to have his servants and staff collect extra food.”
“He’s hoarding it for himself!” Ilida cried.
“You are sure that Doulast is taking nearly double the necessary supplies?” Robin asked.
Ilida nodded.
“Even Bernard confirmed that the census numbers for the village are correct,” Ian said.
