'Well, I lost both my parents by the time I was 16, even though they're both still alive today. You could say my early adult life was one of independence and freedom. I ran off to West Point as soon as I was finished with school on Colorado, and that was that. Beyond that it's just a long list of mistakes; you'd be my age by the time I got through them all.'
Mason grabbed his flask and took a sip of its contents, his gaze seeming calmer. He set the flask back down, lazily making eye contact with the young man across the table.