Pale blues alit, they dart to Mason, slightly narrowed. "What are you doing!?" Lydia looked around, almost frantically, suprised no one else was making a move to help the boy. Suprised even more that Mason was stopping her from doing so.

"Keeping you from getting in trouble girl scout." Mason's voice was low, yet urgent. "This isn't any of your business."

"..none of my business?? Mason that man just-"

"I know!" It was nearly hissed out. Frowning, his voice lowered, and the grip on Lydia's arm relaxed somewhat. "I know.. but Lydia, slavery isn't illegal here. As much as I hate it, and as much as you hate it.. there's nothing to be done. The law will take his side. If the watch caught you trying to intervene, you'd get in a lot of trouble."

"I.." She looked from Mason back to the boy, and his..master, still tugging him, still dragging him. Despite any tears, any crying.. if anything, it only seemed to make it worse. "I.. don't care. Just because it's legal, it doesn't make it right." Lydia snatched her arm from Mason's grasp and moved towards the boy and the man, steps fast, eyes still glowing just a touch. No one had the right to take the freedom of another. No one.

"You get off of him!" Without hesitation the green haired elf shoved the man away from the boy, putting herself in front of him. Sure, he was less than savory looking, but he wasn't a big man, nor did she sense any hints of magic within him. Sure he could have had a weapon on him, but anger, not common sense, was motivating Lydia right now.

Now some people started to stop, gather around and watch. Slavery wasn't an abnormality, but someone doing something like this? Not something seen every day.

"The hell is your problem!? Get the hell away from my property!" The man? Hardly amused.

"This child is not your property! He's a-"

"That collar on his neck says otherwise!"

"I don't care what-"

"Lydia!" Mason stepped forward, taking a spot close to her side. Frowning, he glanced around at the gathering crowd. "We need to go now. If the watch shows up... there's nothin' you can do, I'm sorry."

The scowling man was regarded for a few moments, then she turned to the boy. He looked terribly frightened.. and she wasn't helping. The glow in her eyes faded away as she turned back to the man, her expression almost defeated.

"Better do what he says. I won't hesitate to defend myself or my property!"

A comment was bitten back by Lydia, as the man pulled his jacket aside to show off a gun tucked into his belt. Those things were nasty... sure she could defend herself against him, but the surrounding people... "There's.. no need for that."

At the sight of the gun, Mason tensed, but remained quiet, placing a gentle hand to the boy's shoulder as he cowered. Some of the crowd had dispersed at the sight, but some were even more interested now. Mob mentality, they wanted to see a fight, a little bloodshed...

"Then do what this old man told you to do, and walk away."

Frown deepened considerably. Fighting was a no go, nor was it her desire. Walking away wasn't an option either though... Pale blues shift to Mason, then the boy, then the man. A few moments of consideration, then she spoke up again. "..how much?"

The man looked her up and down, examining, considering, and leering just a little. "...eh? You don't got enough for-"

A roll of her shoulder let her bag fall a little and open up. Reaching in, she grabbed the first jingling pouch that she laid hand on and tossed it to the man. "That'll be enough, yeah?"

The man swiped the pouch from the air, and opened it up, a bit suprised at what he saw inside. That was certainly.. a good deal of money. "You'd pay this for that runt?"

"There a problem with that?"

"Bad business bitch, I could get three of him with this much." The man sneered and shook his head, reaching into a pocket. "You want him that bad though, take him." Key pulled out of his pocket, he tossed it on the ground at Lydia's feet. Without another word, and since he was more than pleased with that transaction, he turned and moved away, shoving through the dispersing crowd.

Still silent, Mason kneeled down and plucked the key off the ground, looking it over as he rose to his feet. Grey eyes move to Lydia for a moment, then the boy, and back again. "He's.. yours then..?" The key was offered over.

Shaking her head, Lydia took the key. "No, he's not.." Kneeling down, she did her best to muster a smile up for the boy. "Hey... it's okay now, you'll be alright." He still seemed frightened though, wouldn't talk, wouldn't respond, just kept an eye on the lady with the eerie eyes. "Lemme get you out of this thing..." Movements were kept slow as she reached up, placing hands upon the collar. It was turned slightly as she looked it over, searching.. searching.. and there it was. Key was inserted into the lock, and twisted carefully. Click.

Collar pulled off, she let it fall to the ground and offered the boy another smile. "You're free now."

He didn't waste any time either. He turned and ran away as fast as he could.