[ It's also possible that Maya keeps Peter around because it's a blatant reminder for the monks that none of them has her favor. Peter doesn't either, so she tells herself, but she lets him get away with being more familiar with her. She enjoys how the Brothers silently fume whenever the mercenary gets close, the way they try to garner her favor with petty backstabbing and favors and what they think passes for subtle politics.

It's amusing, if nothing else.

She dismisses Peter's concerns with a wave of her hand. ]

This is the last one, if you're really so concerned. Bring him in.

[ The doors to the room- once presumably a sanctuary of some kind, now long since stripped of its pews and altar and made into something of a throne room- swing open, and two warriors of the Order drag in a small boy. He's probably no more than eleven or twelve, dirty and thin, and for a moment even Maya isn't able to keep the surprise off her face. This is the first time she's had to judge a child.

Another monk steps forward to lay out the charges against the child. Apparently a group of urchins were attempting to rob some of the Brothers as they collected their Tithe in one of the larger cities- this one is their ringleader.

There's talk of rebellion among the citizens, Your Worship, says the monk. This is merely the beginning.

For his own part, the boy remains silent, his gaze locked on the Siren, determined and fierce, despite the trembling of his lower lip.

Maya leans forward in her seat. ] What you've done here is punishable by death, boy.