A Death in the Cold

A sharp wind battered her barren face, her hair whipping into a golden torrent behind her. Her icy blue eyes reflected the snowy hills before her. She trudged steadily up the wooded path, her gray cloak held tightly around her by her gloved hands. The cold air made red her cheeks and dry her lips; she continued on. Her black boots, although tied tightly and insulated quite well, had taken on water over the course of her journey and her once-dry wool socks, now saturated with water, left her toes begging for warmth. She pressed on.

The miles had become longer, and the hours of day slowly passed into the purple hues of dusk. She had been walking since morning and knew that if she did not find her destination soon she would die in these icy woods.

Just as the last beams of sun sunk behind the horizon behind her, she crested a hill and saw the cabin, its log walls illuminated with the yellow-orange light of the candles and fire within. She smiled broadly, but quickly closed her mouth as the wind sucked it dry. Carefully, she moved down the hill toward the cabin, taking extra caution not to topple and roll down the hill. As she approached the cabin door she drew her pistol from within her cloak.

Gingerly, she tapped on the door.

"Monsieur, je suis perdu et froid." The slow creaking of a chair followed by the heavy footsteps of a man soon followed. She prepared herself and, as he opened the door with a smile and a blanket in hand, she exclaimed, "Monsieur, you are found guilty of murder," before pulling the trigger and lodging two bullets in the man's chest.

She moved inside and checked the cabin for others before she calmly dragged his body to the corner of the cabin. She then latched the door and moved to the fire where a hot pot of fresh-brewed tea sat idly, awaiting the thirsty lips of a successful bounty hunter.

Part 1.1: The Bounty Collected

With Monsieur Boutin's head resting severed in her satchel and having made it back to the city of Annecy to collect her bounty, she stepped through the doors of the regional magistrate and dumped the head of Monsieur Bountin onto the clerk's cluttered desk.

"May I speak to the magistrate, please?" she asked with a smile. The clerk, shocked, rose and rushed to fetch the magistrate, who entered with several armed guards before relaxing his tense posture and smiling broadly.

"Madame Evony Jäger, it has been years! What brings you to my corner of France?"

Evony responded with a laugh and a gesture toward the bleeding severed head on the clerk's desk.

"I heard France's best bounty hunters could not find Monsieur Boutin, and I've always wanted to visit Annecy." The Magistrate chuckled and waved off his guards and the clerk before wrapping an arm lovingly around Evony's shoulders and guiding her to his office. Once inside, he offered her a seat.

"Would you be interested in some Kirshwasser? I remember how much you enjoyed it when we lived in Freiburg."

Evony waved off the offer and instead invited the magistrate to take a seat at his desk. "Monsieur, you must be aware that I came for more than a simple bounty and a visit. I am the best bounty hunter in Western Europe, and while I am glad to see you once again, I have pressing issues that we must discuss." The magistrate sat down and motioned for Evony to continue.

"Magistrate, I have recently been commissioned to investigate the potential existence of a murderer within the area, including Annecy and Geneva. I believe the culprit is using the mountains and the border to kill and evade the authorities. The government of Switzerland has given me express authority to find him and apprehend him for trial. I am seeking your approval to operate within your jurisdiction." Evony looked toward the magistrate for a response. He mulled over everything she had just said and huffed with stress before leaning forward and speaking.

"Madame, you come to my office in good faith and seek my approval to make safer my area of responsibility. If you believe there is in fact a murderer loose, then I grant you the authority you require."

Evony smiled. "Thank you Magistrate." The Magistrate stood and extended his hand in respect and conclusion.

"Madame, I wish you the best of luck." Evony grasped the Magistrates hand.

"Before I take my leave, I believe I am owed a bounty for Monsieur Bountin's head, yes?"