Duke Rickman led his great army for a brief respite within the castle walls.
Enraged, Joyce grabbed a few vassals and harshly interrogated them before realizing that his wealth had been distributed to the poor within the castle by Ryder.
Moreover, some had even followed the other side, fleeing before their arrival.
Indignant, Joyce cursed loudly, and immediately gathered all the poor vassals still lingering in his domain, ordering them to return all the wealth they had received and to pay an additional twenty silver coins as punishment. Those who couldn't pay would suffer a lashing!
In the beginning, Joyce personally administered the punishment, whipping several vassals until their flesh was a bloody pulp. He finally caught his breath, satisfied, and then left the guards to carry out the task.
