Chương 127: Mason Dillon

Leah and Mason had been talking for hours. It was now deep into the night. Many had already gone to bed, while some, too drunk even to make it to their rooms, had collapsed onto the tables. Leah took another sip of mead and stared at Mason through bleary eyes. Her head spun slightly. She felt as though she were immersed in a dream.

"And then what did you do?" she asked, her voice slurred with alcohol.

"Did you kill him?" Mason refilled her glass and calmly handed it back to her.

"No. I spared him. He was too young to die". Leah let out a tired laugh and took another sip.

"After everything he did to you…you still decided to spare him". She shook her head.

"You really are a hero". Mason smiled faintly, lowering his gaze for a moment.

"I try. Every day. But it's never easy". Leah studied him, her eyes now struggling to focus.

"You're humble too…do you have any flaws?" She leaned a little closer.

"I don't want to sound like a reckless woman…but you look like you stepped straight out of a fairy tale". The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Mason looked her in the eyes.

"Out of a fairy tale? Really?" Leah nodded.

"Yes. I mean it".

"And do you say that because of my heroic deeds, or for another reason?"

"Well…you really want to embarrass me, don't you?"

"I would never. I just want to know why you think I'm a hero". Leah leaned even closer to his face.

"I'm not blind. You really are a handsome man. Those red eyes, that incredibly long hair…you don't see people like that every day".

"I'm truly flattered, Miss Fox".

"Leah…call me Leah". Mason raised an eyebrow slightly.

"But we've only known each other for a few hours". By now completely drunk, Leah took his hand.

"I know…but I feel like I've known you forever". And so they continued talking, laughing, and drinking. Not far away, in another tavern just as squalid as the rest of the city of Axi, two bounty hunters sat at the counter. Their swords hung from their belts, and their thick beards were steeped in the smell of alcohol.

"Who's on the list this week?" one of them asked.

"Not much. A few petty thieves. They're offering a handful of coins for them". The other sighed.

"Tough times. Where have all the real criminals gone?"

"The real criminals are always around. It's the kingdom that's issuing fewer bounties since the war began. And the ones it does issue come with increasingly pathetic rewards".

"Well, whatever the reason, if things keep going like this, I'll have to find another line of work".

"I'd rather starve than do anything else".

"You only say that because you don't have children".

"You chose to have them. No one forced you".

"Then you don't know my wife…she desperately wanted children long before I even married her". They continued arguing about their lives for a few more minutes, until the tavern door opened with a creak. A third bounty hunter entered the establishment. He was just as unkempt as the other two and approached the counter. Without saying a word, he slapped a parchment down on the wood. The two hunters looked at it.

"Mason Dillon", one of them read.

"Three hundred crowns". The other let out a low whistle.

"Three hundred? What the hell did he do?" The newcomer smiled. It was a dirty smile.

"Apparently, he raped dozens of women in the Frozen Lands. No one ever really cared". He paused briefly.

"But his latest victim was the daughter of an official".

"That explains the price", one of the two commented.

"That bastard…I'd kill him for free".

"Well, they're paying us anyway. So, shall we split the reward?" asked the one who had brought in the bounty. The other two nodded. The man smiled.

"Let's go cut off his head".