you can hardly expect the guildmaster to pardon them before they have made some substantial contribution to make up for their crimes.
he was asked to pardon them, not to put them on parole. that's a big difference, and i wouldn't expect anyone to pardon thieves without a substantial contribution to society/having served their punishment.
Very fair @quagzlor. A full pardon is certainly a big step especially with only one guy's word. Still, there's definite grounds to open negotiations, for example saying what sort of steps would be needed to show penitence before matters could be considered rectified.
@Red225 there are other sentences than jail, community service for example, hard cash to be used to make right for their crimes is another one, don't put words in my mouth, I never said anything about jail.